New-York tribune., 1900-08-26
TEN FIREMEN OVERCOME.
FRUSTRATED AT A BIG FACTORY FIRE
LOSS ESTIMATED AT s25OOOo.

For two hours yesterday afternoon the fire.
men battled with big fire in the drygoods dis
trict, and not until ten Of their number had
been overcome by smoke and $25O,OO0 worth OF
property destroyed did they master the flames.
The fire was on the top floor Of the six story
brick building Nos 46 As and 50 wooster-st.
All but the first and second floors Of the building
are occupied by Birkinfeld Strauss & Co..
manufacturers of women's hannelette under
wear, the other tenant being J. Kridel Sons &
c., importers of silk goods. Both firms dis
missed their employees ar 1 o'clock and closed
their premises for the day. Birkinfeld Strauss
& Co. employ four hundred persons. The fire
was discovered an hour later. when an auto
matte alarm in the building rang and brought
Engine Company No. 13 and Hook and Ladder
Company No. 20. A regular alarm sent
out from Greene and Grand SITS, and when
Deputy Chief Purroy arrived at the fire second
and third alarms were sent in. The 1renen at
tackled the flames from all sides. Those man
ming the Greene-st lines dragged their hose up
the fire escapes the rear OF the burning build
ing. and. thrusting the nozzles through the top
floor windows attempted to drive the flames
back.
The floor was filled with highly inhammable
stock, packed in paper boxes which burned
so hercely and made so dense smoke that the
fire fighters soon obliged TO back down the
fire escape to a place OF safety. The men OF
Engine Company No. 81 had trying experience
on the fire escape and one Of their number
P. ]. Sullivan, was overcome by smoke and had
to be carried to the street. He was taken to
No. 40 Wooster-st., and revived by Chaplain
Smith, but was unable to resume work.
Adjoining the burning building at Nos -
and A Wooster-st-. was seven story struct-
ure, occupied in part by A. s. Rosenthal & Fried
silk importers. who are said to have nearly
100000 worth Of stock on hand. The flames
which leaped from the windows Of the blazing
factory were prevented by numerous streams Of
water from taking hold Of these premises.
The hremen at work inside the building
suffered greatly from the suffocating smoke.
Several crews were stationed on the stairway
leading from the fifth TO the sixth floor. Clouds
Of smoke enveoped them, and the following men
were overcome: Captain Van Horn Of Hook
and Ladder Company No 8; Firemen Stubbs and
LawIess, Of Engine Company No. 13; McCus,
Howell, Kline, Murphy and Strauss. of Engine
Company No. 33, and Jeff LedeII Of Fire Pa
troll No. . They were carried to the street by
their comrades Some were taken into No As
Wooster-st. and others into a cafe at Broome
and Wooster SITS.
Chaplain Smith and number OF volunteers
assisted Drs. Hill and Kavanagh who had been
summoned from St vincent's Hospital. Electric
fans we're taken from their positions and held
by willing hands that their breezes would
help to revive the unconscious fremen, whose
faces and chests were bathed with ice water.
Some OF the men were anxious to return to duty
as soon as they revived Murphy actually
fought with those who restrained him. DR.. Hill
advised Captain Van Horn to go home. but the
captain refused
The fire was not got under control until $3.50
O'Clock and II was nearly D o'clock before the
last spark was extinguished. Chief Croker was
not present. Fireman Nicholson, a colored man,
and the only negro holding the rank OF fireman
IN the Department, made his first appearance al
a big fire this occasion. He was in civilian
attire but wore his badge After gazing for a
few minutes at his white comrades as they
battIed with smoke and fame. he withdrew
Nicholson was appointed by COMMISSIONS lie
Grange in reform days. but has never done &C
| tive duty as a fireman. He is detailed at Fire
! Headquarters 80
Mr.. Birkiufeld said that his firm had S1JOOot
F, worth of goods the fifth and six floors The
| loss on these goods will probably be total The
| flames were prevented from doing much damage
on the fifth floor but they ruined the floor above
| and the lower floors were flooded with water
| The total loss. II is estimated. will be between
! S25OOOO and 100000. The origin OF the fire Is
/ not known