New-York tribune., 1901-12-23
FIREMEN BUILD TRESTbES.
HOSE CARRIED OVER THE BROADWAY
TRACKS-ANIBULANCE SURGEON.
TO DRESS HURTS.

The five story stone front building at No. y
to 26 Reade-st. wrecked yesterday by
fire which started in the sub-cellar at 2:3O D. m
and burned all the afternoon. Chief Croker
estimated the damage at $4,000 at o'clock
The building was owned by the estate OF
Thomas Vernon. Among the occupants were
Vernon Bros. & Co, first floor and Easements,
which were used a paper warehouse: the
Baldwin & Gleason Company, printers on celiu-
loid second floor; the Standard Water Meter
Company and William p Atkin. printer, third
floor: the Tension Envelope Company and Man
SELL Hunt Catty & Co, lace papers, fourth
floor and the Theodore Ricksecker Company,
perfumes, top floor.
The fire discovered by Policeman OCon-
nor of the Elizabeth-st. station. Battalion
Chief Kruger sent in second and third alarms IN
side of six minutes from the first The fire
seemed to be restricted to the basement at
first and all the fire apparatus present had ad-
justed elbow nozzles to play through holes
which had been chopped in the cellar gratings.
when flames suddenly appeared on the second
floor After that it was a stubborn fight for
the fremen until dark. The building was cut up
by partitions. so that it difficult to get
stream to the fire. which burning up through
the centre. The fumes of perfumery so
dense that little headway could be made from
the inside.
The building was accessible from the rear by
way of Manhattan Place. but the heavy iron
shutters acted as barrier. Several firemen
were injured in the attempts to get at the fire.
Captain Graham of Engine No. IL got a nasty
cut on the hand, but persisted in working until
his forearm became incased in frozen blood and
numb from weakness Fireman Keeler, of En-
gine No 80. and Captain Howe and Fireman
Jolly, of Truck No. 8, were also cut, and Fire
man Dugan, of Truck No 6, injured by a
fall down hatchWay. The injured men were
all treated by DR.. Harry T. Archer of Bellevue
Hospital, who assisted by two of the regu-
lar department surgeons. DR. Archer is chair
man of the citizens committee for next years
firemen's celebration.
The fire attracted a large crowd. and among
those who were passed through the lines
District Attorney-elect Jerome and Assistant
District Attorneys Schurnan and Garvan.
Streetcar traffic stopped in Broadway and
Centre-st. Shuttle cars were run up and down
Broadway TO Houston-st and the nearest switch
downtown, and the Second and Madison ave.
cars in Centre-st. started back from Duane-st
Fourteen engines, four trucks, a water tower
and three fire patrol wagons were called out by
the three alarms. Chief Croker arrived as soon
possible The firemen had hard fight with
out any resting spell. There were flames of
any magnitude but dense volumes of smoke at
all times The odor of the burning perfumery
was apparent in the street, and inside the build
ing the fumes were overpowering The firemen
could not work in them, and time after time
forced to leave some point Of vantage
which they mad attained on account of them.
It was Z o'clock before the fire was fully
under control and the last Pickering flames ex-
tinguished. Chief Croker then estimated the
damage at 100000 to contents and building
The chief stated that the perfumery esta bish-
ment on the top floor made the fire extremely
difficult to handle. alcohol being largely used in
perfumes. The water had little effect. The
streams of cologne and chemicals which ran over
the floors penetrated to every part Of the build
ing and seemed to burn fiercer. as If fed by the
water.
About 6 o'clock the fremen erected trestles
over the car tracks in Broadway to carry their
lines OF hose.
firms in the building thrown out of employ
ment by the fire. 1t is said that this is the
fourth time that the building has been de-
stroyed by fire in the last eight years. It was
burned about a year ago.