New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-13
TWO RICHMOND BOROUGH FIRES.
THE TROLLEY BRIDGE IN ST GEORGE AND
THE CRICKET CLUB HOUSE IN LIv-
INGSTON DAMAGED.

THE CRICKET CLUB HOUSE IN LIv-
INGsTON DAMAGED.
Fire broke out under the trolley bridge which
leads the st. George Staten Island) ferryhouse
at O'Clock last evening and for a short time IL
gave promise OF being one of the largest and most
disastrous fires known the island in years.
Prompt work on the part Of the firemen, however.
averted considerable damage.
The flames originated in a storage house In which
kept several barrels Of oil for the use OF the
Staten Island Rapid Transit Railway Company.
The blaze quickly spread, and aided by the strong
northwest wind carried up to the bridge above.
on which the trolley cars of the Staten Island
Electric Railroad enter the ferry. This entrance.
which is the terminus of the road and is attached
to the main ferryhouse. was soon in flames. The
bridge is of iron. but the woodwork OF yellow
pine. This fact favored the rapid spread of the
fire.
The fire companies responded to the alarm. and
in twenty minutes had several streams OF water
turned on at various points The ferryboat Castle
ton, which had just arrived at the ferryhouse
turned a stream aiding in no small degree in
the work of saving the property The glass sides
Of the entrance the bridge quickly broken
in, and after thirty minutes work on the part Of
the fremen the flames under partial control.
BY 1870 o'clock they were practically out
J. II. Blackham dispatcher for the Staten Island
Electric Company, discovered the fire and sent IN
the alarm There were five cars IN at the time and
he Immediately sent them out They reached the
Mr.. Blackham was unable to state the cause Of
the fire. but thought 1t either spontaneous
combustion careessness on the part OF an en-
ploye The damage comparatively slight, and
will not exceed 5000.
A space fully one hundred and fifty feet long. the
whole width OF the bridge, was entirely stripped OF
the woodwork, and the trolley cars will be COM
PEELED to unload passengers at the entrance until
repairs have been made. The entrance for pedes-
TRANS escaped the flames, and i will be by this
means that trolley passengers Will gain the ferries.
The platforms Of the Rapid Transit Railroad Com
pany were not injured. although only few feet
from the fire. and the trains ran on schedule time
on both shores. The fire witnessed by at least
five thousand people. who were attracted by the
blaze The books and papers Of the railroad COM
pany and the ferry company were removed as soon
as the fire discovered to save them In case
the whole ferry building should be burned, as was
at first feared
At $3.50 o'clock half an hour after the ferry fire
was discovered an alarm was rung In from the
Staten Island Cricket Club. In Livingston, and sew
eral Of the fire companies were hurried off In that
direction. fire had started In some unknown
manner underneath the library but no flames
could be seen. although the smoke was pouring
out thickly from the cellar window. The hremen
I'm short time reached the fire and had 1t under
control. The damage from fire small. but a
| large number of valuable books were soaked with
water and the billiard room was Hooded The
| damage roughly estimated at $1,000.