New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-23
GREENPOINT'S BIG BLAZE.
NEARLY TWO BLOCKS OF FACTORIES
AND DWELLINGS DESTROYED.
AN EARLY MORNING FIRE WHICH CALLED ABOUT
THIRTY COMPANIES INTO ACTIVITY AND
MADE MANY FAMILIES HOMELESS.

AN EARLY MORNING FIRE WHICH CALLED ABOUT
THIRTY COMPANIES INTO ACTIVITY AND
MADE MANY FAMILIES HOMELESS.
Fire at an early hour yesterday morning destroyed
a great part OF two blocks all OF that bounded by
FrankI,n-st and Manhattan-ave and Freeman and
Eagle sts principally occupied by frame dwell
ings. and most OF the factories and shops on
the block on the opposite side OF freeinan-s''
1t was the largest blaze which has visited ureeh-
point in years. and 1t required the services ~
twenty-five engines and truck companies 10 suodue
II. Four factories, twenty-five dwellings ana
lerge amount of property were destroyed entaiihs
a loss OF $4,000
Tho fire began little after 2 o'clock, and got
start OF twenty minutes account OF the EFFORTS
OF those who first discovered II to wake the families
in the Eagle-st houses. Another man who ga"
the fire was unable 20 make the nearest hie-alarm
box work so that when the first engines arrived
the blaze was burning nercely. George Weed Oh
No. lO2 Eagle-st an employe OF the Long lsahd
Express Company, was up yesterday morning AT
o'clock. lie was leaving the house, when lie saw
flames coming from the planning mills OF kells
Brothers, at Franklin and Freeman SITS lie hrst
through the neighborhood, waking up the Steep
ing people by ringing the doorbells. 10 TINS lore
thought is probably due the fact that there were
no fatalities One or two lremen were shghuy
injured but only one was forced to leave his work
The fire spread rapidly down Freeman-st'' cams
back in Eagle-st and then jumped over into the
opposite block and started on the factories IN inc
block between Freeman and Greene SITS.
BY fortunate change In the direction or the
wind the hremen able to gain control or the
flames, although at time Chief Dale was AFRAID
that the fire would assume serious proportions.
Engine after engine was summoned by the hre
officials four alarms and four special calls being
sent in Seventeen engines. four trucks and the
hreboat David A. Boody fought the flames for
three hours, and II was not until o'clock that
the fire was declared to be out. The engines came
from as far away Pearl-st. near the Bridge, and
from Long Island City the north. The drawing
of so many companies from the Eastern District
caused doubling up and the sending OF companies In
the other parts Of the city TO the engine houses left
vacant so that in all nearly thirty companies were
kept up the OF the night account OF the fire.
Building Commissioner Guilfoyle visited the scene
of the fire. and ordered the removal OF the ruins OF
ten OF the houses and the walls OF Hopkins drug
factory. -,
The body OF Mrs. McGough was lying In the
house at No. 10 Eagle-st, and her family thougnt
that the house going to be destroyed, ana ala
not know where they would take the body. Al last
an undertaken arrived. and was preparing 10 re,
move the body. when It was found that there wouio
be no danger as the fire had gone the otner way.
So rapidly did the fire burn that the hremen were
obliged TO get out OF Freeman-st on the JUMP
They left several thousand feet Of hose which was
totally destroyed. One or two engines were also
injured by the fierce heat.