New-York tribune., 1902-01-30
SIX BLOWN DOWNSTAIRS
FIRElIEN INJURED BY BACK
ORA UGHT AND EXPLOSION.
A HARD FIGHT WITH FLAMES ON THE
UPPER FLOORS OF A CORTLANDT-ST.
BUILDING-DAMAGE, $4,000.

Six firemen severely burned and other
wise injured while fighting fire that broke out
Iast night IN the four story brick building at No.
oo Cortlandt-st. Caught by back draught on
the third floor, where the fire was raging two
nre captains and their men. who were dragging
a line of hose through the building, were blown
Gown flight of stairs to the second floor, where
they lay dazed. The flames swept down the
stairs to the second floor, nearly enveloping
lrem but two companies rushed upstairs and
carried the injured men to the street
Hurry calls were sent to the Hudson Street
hospital, and two ambulances. carrying three
surgeons, responded. The injured fremen were
removed to the Church-st. station which was
converted temporarily into a hospital There
thelr purns and wounds were dressed. Later
they were all removed to the hospital.
Ihe injured are Captain William Clark Fire
men Ihomas Murtha, John O'Connor and
Charles Murphy, of Engine Company No 6, and
Captain Charles Autenrieth and Fireman John
Walsh. of Hook and Ladder Company No. 10.
The fire was raging so fiercey when Battalion
Chief Kruger arrived the first alarm that he
turned in second. The flames had eaten
through the fourth floor, burst through the roof
and were leaping twenty feet in the air. lighting
up Cortlandt-st. In less than an hour the fire
men had the blaze under control
The cause of the fire is not known to a GER
tainty, but Chief Croker SAID he was under the
impression that explosion had caused It,
When the back draught caught Captains Clark
and Autenrieth and their men there was an ex-
plosion which blew the windows out in the front
ana rear on the third floor. Robert Hyman, a
manufacturer of picture frames and mouldings,
occupies the two upper floors. where he has
stored quantities of varnsh, chemicals and ex-
plosive materials.
discovered bV
Coots, of the Church-st. station. He was at
Cortlandt and Church SITS. when he noticed a
thin column of smoke issuing from a window Of
the building on the third floor He turned in
an alarm. Chief Kruger had the front door
broken down, and ordered his men upstairs
with lines OF hose. There flame visible
on the second floor, and the fiTemen rushed to
the third where they a locked door.
They battered it down and attempted TO dash in
but Just at that moment there was loud ex-
posion in the rear, and the back draught caught
them The entire floor was a mass of flame
The back draught was caused by the batterng
down OF the door.
Several companies OF firemen climbed the fire
escapes the front OF the building. and poured
streams of water through the windows. while
others were sent to the roofs of the buildings
adjoining. whence they fought the blaze.
Chief Croker arrived the second alarm and
directed the work of the firemen. 1t was feared
first that the fire would spread to the ad-
Joining buildings. as the flames were licking
along the corDice and threatened 10 ignite the
adjoining roofs. The quick work Of the nremen.
however, prevented the flames from spreading.
Several times the firemen were menaced by
flying glass which was coming in ali directions
and a few cut slightly. They were at
tended by Ambulance Surgeons old. Cooke ana
Beckwith, who remained at the tre after the
injured firemen had been removed 20 the hos
pital
The ground floor of the building Is occupied
by Martin Kahn, dealer in hats and furnish
ings; the second by the New-YorlS and New
Jersey Lubricant Company, and the two upper
floors were occupied by Robert Hyman. The
Turkish Trading Tobacco Company, occupied
a loft in the the third floor.
It was said at the Hudson Street Hospital
last night that of the firemen were in
jured fatally.
The damage TO building and stock was esti-
mated at $4,000