Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-11
FIRE IN MID-AIR
OVER NEW YORK.
F1nmeS summit of New Bridge
Towcr-Three Workmen Hurled
Into the River.

NEW YORK. November 1o.-The new
East river bridge, in process of construc-
ton between New York and Brooklyn, was
damaged to the amount Of at least half a
million dollars tonight, by fire that for
four hours ragged. Asa feet in the air. on
the summit Of the great steel tower on the
New York side. Three men who were at
work on the top of the tower when the
fire broke out, are reported to have fallen
into the river.
Owing to the enormous height of the
tower. it was impossible to reach the
fire with any apparatus in the fire de-
partment and the flames after devouring
all the woodwork on the top of the tower,
seized on the timber of the false work of
the two foot bridges suspended from the
main cables. burning away the supports
until nearly a million feet Of blazing
lumber fell with a mighty splash and hiss
into the stream. The fall of the foot
bridge carried away scores of the lighter
cablcs and guys which trailed in the
water rendering it necessary for the
police to stop all traffic UP and down the
river The Fail river steamer Puritan,
and several other craft had narrow es-
capes while running the gauntlet of fiery
brands that fell in showers from the
burning bridge.
HIGHLY SPECTACULAR.
flagration that has ever been seen in New
York. It started in d tool shed, and from
This spread to the great timber framework
Within FIVE minutes after the first DIS
coyery of the fire the whole top Of the
tower was in blaze. Then the foot
bridges fell. carrying with them many
tons of bolts. rivets nuts and tools. AZ
that moment the Brooklyn iireboat was
lust below the bridge, and a heaVS steei
beam fell on her, breaking her ruodels
and sending her drifting helplessly down
the stream. Sound steamers ana all otiief
up-river craft were stopped
Daniel Brophy and his brother, John'
Of Montreal: A P. Mcbride, an unknown
man, were on top Of the tower when the
fire started. While they were helping
the tiremen to haul up the nose the
framework on which they stood collapsed.
and the two Brophys and the unknown
man were hurled into the river. NC
Bride saved himself by catching piece
of projecting steeiWork
While the fire was at its height, a par
ty of firemen were cut off at the base Oh
:he tower where they were exposed to
torrent of brands and redhot pieces OF
steel They were rescued after seVerai
had been severely burned. Brands from
the tower set fire to the big storehouse
OF the Pennsylvania Steel Company, on
the bridge. 1T was entirely consumed
and the contents were hurled into the
river. together with two hosting derrlcks
on the platform.
It was II o'clock before the flames had
deyoured everything combusuble, leav-
ing only the steel girder and the great IS
inch cables stretching across the river.
These cables were recently completed.
save for the steel sheathing, and 1t is
feared that they have been badly dam
aged by the intense heat. Should 1t be
necessary to replace them the labor or
two years will have been lost.
chief Engineer Martin in charge of the
bridge construction. said tonight that
of the four steel saddles, weighing A tons,
on top of the tower, three were red-hot,
but were unchanged. OF the four cables
resting on the saddles, two, ne 1ouna'
would have to be partly replaced by splic-
ing. This will involve a delay of at least
foI,r months. The remaining cables suf-
fered little injury.
The loss on the two foot-brldgeS is eS-
timated at 100000
The contractors are John A. Roebling,
Sons and Company. The bridge extends
from the foot of Delaney street, Manhat-
tan. to the foot of south Fifth street,
Brooklyn. 1t is designed to carry four
surface railroad tracks, two tracks Tor
elevated trains, two roadWays Tor Vehl-
cles, two foot-paths, and two cycle-paths
at an elevation of 1876 feet above the river,
in the center of the main span. The main
cables had recently been completed, and
the work Of laying the main span was
soon to have been begun. The cost OF the
bridge WIS placed at about $1o.ooooo0.
1t was officially announced that no lives
were lost during the fire the men report
ed killed having been accounted tor.