New-York tribune., 1901-11-01
FIRE SCARE IN DENSE DARK.
HOTEL NETHERLAND GUESTS USE
CANDLES FOR LIGHT.
MEN LIGHT WOMEN DOWNSTAIRS WITH
MATCHES-FLAMES IN A SU3-CEL-
LAR CUT OFF ELECTRICITY.


The guests and help In the Hotel Netherland.
at Fifty -ninth-st. and Fifth-ave., were thrown
into excitement just before II o'clock last night
when the electric lights throughout the hotel
went out, leaving the place in total darkness.
There rush for the elevators and stair
ways by the guests and help who happened to
be in their rooms, while those who down
stairs in the corridors and dining rooms were
quieted by the hotel help before they left their
seats.
The extinguishing of the lights the result
of slight fire which started in the sub-cellar
where the electrical apparatus Is situated 1t
said that a brush connected with of
the dynamos burned out causing a dense smoke.
John Harrigan. the engineer, and his assistants
attempted to put out the fire. but failing in this,
Harrigan ran to the automatic fire box and
tried to send in alarm. The box failed to
york
In the mean time the smoke had worked its
way up the elevator and air shaft to the corridor
of the hotel, and was noticed by Policeman Nc
Mahon, of the East Fifty-frst-st. station, who
sent In an alarm. On the arrival of Engine
Company No. s. Captain Free turned in a sec
ond alarm. This brought Chief Croker to the
scene The fire was soon put out, but every part
of the Immense structure was filed with smoke.
and guests and the help hurryng to the
street
AS soon as the smoke began to make its way
through the halls. two elevator boys. named
Hayes and Hansen, who have charge of the
freight and help elevator the Fifty-ninth-st
side of the hotel. hurried to the seventeenth and
eighteenth floors, where the women servants
sleep, and brought down many of the women.
Others. some Of whom were only half dressed
picked up pitchers containing water, and start
cd down he
floors were made by Penfeld. McVey and Nc
Laughlta who have charge Of the women's ele-
vator in the front Of the building. and many OF
the women guests were carried to the ground
floors.
One of the guests in the hotel is H. *. Burras
q member OF the Stock Exchange. Mr Burras
always keeps in his room a hremans lantern
He was preparing to retire when the light In his
room went out He opened the door. and, de-
tecting the smoke, lighted his lantern ana
started downstairs. In the hallway he met sew
eral women, and with the light from his lantern
led them downstairs
Samuel L. Baer. fire insurance broker, at
No - Pine-st.. and his son.. who live on the
thirteenth floor of the hotel, also assisted many
women downstairs, by striking matches 10 show
them the way.
On the ground floor and In the dining room
considerable excitement prevailed The hotei
clerks sot 1 procured candles. and. lighting then
handed one 20 each Of the guests who happened
70 he in that part OF the house. Then saucers
we're secured and many guests some OF whonn
,yer- In evening dress were seen 10 make their
way about the place. carrying a lighted candle
ir. a
Iosepb Sweeney, of No. 235 West Thlrty-sev-
en,h-st who is employed at the Plaza Hotel
made his way TO the upper floors and carried
,o paI ia
Among the other guests at the hotei last hish'
were Mrs Philip D. Armour. jr.. and hey TWO
children. Lester and Philip; Senator Pettigrew'
Of South Dakota: Senator Butler, of North caro-
Tina. Martin Herman q Broad-st banker; MOT
timer Schir of Kuhn, Loeb & Co. bankers
and Jerome ]. Danzig.
large crowd soon gathered about the hotet
and watched the firemen at work lfaihc oii
,he Fif,v-ninth-st crosstown line was stopped
for acme time John Stephenson. hremah hau
ono or his feet badly cut by glass He was at
tended bv DR. Doremus of Flower Hospital
The Hotel Netherland is owned by Johh 'aco"
Astor and IS leased by H P. Whitaker. ABOUT
,brae years ago fire occurred on one OF the
MINER floors of the building. and did consioeraoie
damage. 49, +,
The loss caused by last nights oiaze ls
though. 10 be less than 500. 1t was soon re-
naired and the lights were soon restored