The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-11-18
LOFTY TOWER AFIRE.
Spectacular condagration in New
York City.
False Work on the New East River
Bridge BurMs-Debris Hurled Into
River, Stopping Tramc-Loss
More Than 100000.

New York, Nov. 1.-THE new East
river bridge, in process of construction
! between New York and Brooklyn, was
damaged to the amount of at least
half million dollars Monday night by
fire that for four hours ragged 355
feet in the air, on the summit of the
great steel tower on the New York
side.
Owing to the enormous height of
the tower it was impossible to reach
the fire with any apparatus in the
fire department, and the flames, after
devouring all the woodwork on the
top of the tower, seized on the timber
false work of the two foot bridges
suspended from the main cables, burn
ing away the support until nearly a
million feet of blazing lumber fell
with a mighty splash into the stream.
River Traffic stopped.
The fall of the foot bridge carried
away scores of the lighter cables and
guys, which traled in the water, rem
dering it necessary for the police to
stop all traffic up and down the river.
The Fall 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. The fire was the
most spectacular con1agration that
has ever been seen in New York.
Top OF Tower Ablnze.
The fire started in tool shed, and
from this spread to the great timber
framework. Within five minutes after
the first discovery of the fire the whole
top of the tower was in blaze. Then
the footbridges fell. carrying with
them many tons of bolts. rivets. nuts
and tools. At that moment the Brook
Ign fireboat was just below the bridge,
and heavy steel beam fell on her,
breaking her rudder and sending her
drifting helplessly down the stream.
Sound steamers and all other up-river
navigation was stopped.
Hurled Into the River.
Daniel Brophy and his brother John,
of Montreal, A. P. Mcbride and an un-
known man were at work on the tower
were helping the firemen to haul up
the hose the framework on which they
stood collapsed and the two Brophys
and the unknown man were hurled
into the river. Mcbride saved himself
by catching piece of projecting steel
work. The other three men were
thought to have been killed. but at
midnight it was officially announced
that they had been accounted for.
While the fire was at its height
party of firemen were cut off at the
base of the tower where they We're
exposed to a torrent of brands and
redhot pieces of steel. They were res
cued after several had been severely
burned Brands from the tower set
fire to the big storehouse of the Penn
| sylvania Steel company on the bridge.
| 1t was entirely consumed and the co1-
tents were hurled into the river, to-
gether with two hosting derricks on
the platform.
Only Tower and Cables Remain.
| 1t was II o'clock before the flames
had devoured everything combustible,
leaving only the steel tower and the
four great 1sh-inch steel cables
stretching across the river. These ca
bles were recently completed, save for
the steel sheathing, and it is feared
that they have been badly damaged
by the intense heat. Should it be nee
essary to replace them the labor of
two years would be lost. Chief Engi-
neer Martin, in charge of the bridge
construction, said that Of the four
steel saddles, weighing "a tons, on the
top of the tower three were redhot
but We're unchanged. Of the four ca
bles resting on the saddles two he
found would have to be partially re-
Dlaced by splicing