New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-19
COSTLY FIRE IN SLXTH-AVE.
ANDREW J. CAMMEYER'S SHOE STORE
WRECKED.

The great retail shoe store Of A. ]. Cammeyer
extending from No. 80 to No. 31S Sixth-ave.
and occupying the greater part OF the block
between Nineteenth and Twentieth SITS. was
burned out last night The damage will be In
the nelghborhood of $5OO,O0O. II will certainly
exceed 100000, according to late estimates
The fire started in the basement about y
o'clock, and alarms were turned in almost SIM
ultaneously few minutes later by Patrick
Moore and Frank schreck. the watchmen on the
first floor OF the building and Patrick DAILY. a
watchman employed across the street by Simp-
son. Crawford & Simpson. The fremen arrived
with rush in response to first alarm, and
the first chief on the scene ordered first sec
ond and then third alarm.
The building is a six-story brick and stone
modern structure. supposed to be almost nre-
proof. 1t extends back in Twenteth-st for
about 80 feet, and recently Mr.. Cammeyer
purchased a dwelling in Nineteenth-st to give
his place an entrance from that thoroughfare
Part OF the Sixth ave. frontage Is occupied by
the shoe store Of Alexander & Co.. also large
concern. The basement and first. hfth and
sixth floors were occupied by the Cammeyer
establishment, the second floor was occupied by
K l.. Carey & Co. dressmakers: Nine Pool.
manufacturer OF corsets ard manufacturing
jeweller the third floor was vacant, and the
fourth floor was occupied by Nathan Kraus-
kopf. manufacturer Of infants clothing; $
Rauh &, Co. manufacturers Of overshoes and
lergirgs. and F. w. Dodge & Co.. proprietors OF
the New-York Building Material Exhibit.
The fremen worked hard, and at 10 o'clock
thought they had the flames confined to the
basement and vaults under the sidewalks and
under control when the fire broke out with
greater fury than ever the Twenteth-st
side. Immediately a fourth alarm was sent in.
The fire continued to gain headway. and hfth
call was turned in for more engines ard trucks
Thus reinforced the f1remen fought bravely from
every vantage point. The Sixth-ave. trestle was
Utilized and streams were played from the ROOFS
~ the big Siegel-Cooper building and the Alex
ander store.
About II o'clock however. the flames broke
out afresh In the part Of the first noor' on
the Twentieth-st side and half an hour later
great red tongues OF fire were licking the third
floor at the Sixth-ave. and Twentieth-st cor
ner. When Chief Bonner saw this outbreak ne
shook his head dubiously and said he had httle
hone Of saving the building. The fire. however
was kept below the second floor. and by
o'clock this morning under control.
Mr. Cammeyer was on the scene short time
after the fire broke out. lie was CoIiiPiVee's
overcome by the enormity Of the disaster which
had overtaken him. and he was unable 10 give
any information about the business for some
time. He managed to say at last that the nulld-
ing and ground were the property of the Rhine-
lander estate. He had possession by lease
for long term, and sub-eased to the various
other occupants He had put In his spring
stock and the basement and upper stories OF
the building were almost filled with this valu-
able property, making the loss heavy
Foreman Robert Clarke Of Engine NO Zl'
while lighting the fire In the basement was hit
on the head by piece Of wood. but was not
seriously hurt Two fremen OF Engine NO. "a
were cut by falling glass. but were able to keep
at work At different times hremen were over
come by the dense smoke and had to stop work.
but in every case they recovered quickly and
got back in the battle
The flames made the dwelling at No. 4S West
Twentieth-st uninhabitable. and its owner and
tenant Mrs II. r. Stanfeld, and her son and
daughter were obliged to get out. They man
aged TO get most of their furniture into vans
and out OF danger.