The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-11
Nearly n Million Feet Of Burning Lum-
her Precipitated Into the River
355 Feet Below.
LOSS MAY EXCEED 100000
NOTHING LEFT EXCEPT THE STEEL
WORK AND BIG CABLES.
Narrow Escape Of VesseIs-Firemen in
Perf1-Long Delay i'm Completing
work Probable.

NEW YORK, Nov. 10-The new East
river bridge, in process of construction be-
tween New York and Brooklyn, was dam
aged TO the amount of at least 100000 to-
night by fire that for four hours ragged
30 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, had
Harrow escapes.
Owing to the height of the tower 1t was
impossible to reach the flames and the
fire, after devouring all the woodwork on
the top OF the tower, seized on the timber
false-work OF the two-foot bridges sus-
pended from the main cables, burning
away the supporters until nearly mil
lion feet of blazing lumber fell with
mighty splash and hiss into the stream.
The fall OF the foot bridge carried away
scores Of the lighter cables and guys,
which trailed in the water, rendering 1t
necessary for the police TO stop all traffic
up and down the river. The Fall River
steamer Puritan and several other crafts
had narrow escapes while running the
gauntlet of fiery brands that fell in show
ers from the burning bridge.
The fire was the most spectacular that
has ever been in New York. 1t
started in a tool shed and from this spread
to the great timber framework. Within
five minutes after the discovery of the fire
the whole top of the tower in blaze.
Then the foot bridges fell, carrying with
them many tons of bolts, rivets. nuts and
tools. At that moment the Brooklyn fire
boat was just below the bridge and a
heavy steel beam fell on her. breaking
her rudder and sending her drifting help
less down the stream. Sound steamers and
all other upriver navigation was stopped.
HURLED INTO THE RIVER.
Daniel Brophy and his brother John, of
Montreal. and A. p. Mcbride and another
man were at work on the tower when the
fire started. While they were helping the
firemen to haul up the hose the frame work
on which they stood collapsed and the men
were hurled into the river. Mcbride saved
himself by catching a piece of projecting
steel work. While the fire was at its height
a party Of firemen was cut off at the base
of the tower where they were exposed to
a torrent of brands and red-hot pieces of
steel. They were rescued after several had
been severely burned. Brands from the
tower set fire 10 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 hoisting derricks on the platform.
1t was IL O'Clock before the flames had
devoured everything combustible. leaving
only the steel tower and the four great steel
cables stretching across the river. These
cables were recently completed, save for the
steel sheathing. and IL is feared that they
have been badly damaged by the heat
Should 1t be necessary to replace them thu
labor of two years would be lost.
Chief Engineer Martin, in charge of the
bridge construction. said tonight that of
the four steel saddles, weighing thirty-fo
tons on the top of the tower, three were
red-hot but were undamaged. OF the four
cables resting on the saddles, two he found
would have TO be partly replaced by
splicing. This will involve a delay of at
least four months. The remaining cables
suffered little injury The loss on the two
foot bridges is estimated at 500, Co., The
contractors are John A. Roebling Sons
& Co.
The bridge extends from the foot of De-
lancy street. Manhattan, TO the foot of
South Fifth street. Brooklyn. Ii was de-
signed TO carry four surface railroad tracks
two tracks for elevated trains, two road
ways for vehicles, two foot paths and two
cycle paths. at an elevation of 135 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 fsvas soon to have been begun. The
cost of the bridge was placed at about $lO.-
000,O00.
IL was officially announced late tonight
that no lives were lost during the fire. the
three men reported killed having been ac-
counted for.