New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-28
NEWARK STORES BURN OUT
BLAZE STARTS IN w. V. SNYDER & cos
AND DOES HEAVY DAMAGE
FOUR FIRE FIGHTERS BADLY HURT BY A
FALLING WALL-oNE MAN SERIOUSLY
BURNED WHILE BEING RESCUED
BY FIREMEN.

The most destructive fire that has occurred in
Newark in many years broke out at 6:2O o'clock
last night in the department store Of w. V
Snyder & Co.. at the northwest corner of Broad
and Cedar SITS. The store closes at 6 o'clock
and all the employees had gone except the sweep
ers. People passing by noticed an illumination
in the rear of the first floor, and then saw it ex-
tend in shaft UP the rear to the roof as If
sucked by draught Of air. In a few seconds
two-thirds of the establishment was in a full
glow
AT this moment a man appeared at third
story window appealing for aid. A truck COM
pany ran ladder up to the window, the ladder
smashing the glass. The draught thus made
caused rush of smoke and flame to the window
as the man climbed out on the ladder and set
his clothes and hair fire. A fireman swung
himself around to the under side of the ladder
and held the while two other f1remen
stripped off his burning clothes and then car
ried him. badly burned. down the ladder The
man o. o. Shackleton. superintendent of
Snyder & Co.'S store
Meanwhile the fire enveloped the building
and the inside of 1t was a seething furnace. The
adjoining hosiery and lace store of ]. NJ. Mentz
to the north, quickly caught the flames and the
fire extended to Bernstein & Co.'S shoe store
Both stores were destroyed. The rear Of Thomas
D. <AiIeu COnIeCIlOnary store ana restaurant
the store of C. B. Peddie & Co.. trunks and bags
and David Straus & Co.. department store were
all damaged by fire and water on the upper
floors Of these buildings were the Boston dental
paror, the Teusch photograph gallery. and
other tenants who suffered considerable loss.
On the opposite side of Cedar-st,, to the south
the jewelry store of W. T. Rae and the adjoin-
ing pharmacy of p. J. Garrigan were wrecked
Rae got out his valuable stock. Cairns's photo
graph gallery, studio and several small bust
ness concerns the upper floors also
burned out The Bee Hive department store
occupying nearly block, and adjoining Garri-
gans drug store, was in imminent danger of de-
strpction. The building was packed on it's six
floors with inhammable goods and fremen
worked heroically to save 1t. The floors
patroed by insurance men, and the fremen
flooded the roof and side exposed to the fierce
heat. The fire finally got Judgement in the
rear but put out.
On the north side of Cedar-st., adjoining
Snyder & Co, three three story buildings which
extend over from dwellings into small stores,
were burned out. On the opposite side of Cedar
st, Bierman's pawnbroker shop also de-
stroyed.
For more than an hour the fire ragged
checked, and it looked if two whole business
blocks would go. Fortunately, there not
much wind, and, although the heat was intense.
while the falling walls threatened danger TO life.
the firemeu were enabled to fight the flames at
close quarters.
Approximate figures only be given as to
the losses. Snyder & Co.'s loss is 100000;
Mentz & Co.'s, about 100000; Bornsteins,
$1,000; Peddie & Co.'S, $1,000: Strauss. about
So, 900, by smoke and water; Garrgan's, about
$4,000; Rae's about 5000; Bierman's, 5000;
Aliens, $4,000; the three buildings destroyed
in Cedar-st about $4,000. Other minor losses
aggregate $4,000. There great damage to
the stock Of the Bee Hive, and estimate
could be given, but it may exceed $4,000. The
total loss by fire, smoke and water will APP
proximate 81 100000 the police think.
Mr.. Shackleton, who was injured had
manned in the building to see that everything
was secure, and on the upper floor, while the
cashier and two sweepers were on the first
floor The cashier saw flames coming from the
rear. and he and the two sweepers readily
escaped.
At 11:15 o'clock wall of the building adjoin-
ing Snyder's store in Cedar-st, collapsed. bury
ing four firemen who were using hose close by.
The men were Captain Walter Harrison and Ell
wood Gardner OF Engine No. 4, and Andrew Bes-
singer and Thomas Brown of Engine No. 6. The
comrades Of the injured men sprang TO the res
cue with picks and shovels. and by energetic work
got all out. Brown and Harrison were found to
be so seriously injured that they will probably
die. Gardner received a scalp wound, and Bes-
singer suffered bad bruises. The two badly hurt
ones were taken to the hospital.
Watson Snyder. the cashier, thinks the fire
started from an electric wire.