New-York tribune., 1902-11-03
CAR FELLS BURNING WALLS
WEALTHY NEW-YORKERS FIGHT FIRE
WHICH NEARLY DESTROYS LARCH-
MONT'S BUSINESS DISTRICT.

La-chmont's Fire Department. composed
largely of wealthy New Workers. had the fight
of its life early yesterday with fire which
nearly swept the business part of the town out
of existence. It started about $50 a m In the
basement of the Philadelphia Market. owned by
a. Fl. Kuhnast and spread TO five other build
ings, including two livery stables and the large
Larchmont Casino all of which were destroyed.
1t is estimated that the loss will aggregate
about 100000, about one-half of which is in
l. sured.
Fifty persons lived in the buildings They
had barely time to escape in their night clothing
and some nearly suffocated. They are
without homes or furniture. but yesterday a sub
scription TO buy clothing and household goods
for them was started by Frederick W Flint.
and in less than an hour $1,000 had been re-
ceived. Nearly a dozen yachtsmen put their
names down for 500 each. Wealthy women
have opened the Chattsworth Inn. large sum
mer hotel on the Boston Post Road. and will
provide food and shelter for the homeless fam
lilies until they can obtain better quarters.
The Alexander Building, used as an apartment
house; the Larchmont National Bank and J. l.
Coutant's pharmacy. adjoining the burned
buildings We're damaged by water TO the extent
Of several thousands Of dollars. It only by
the utmost efforts Of the iremen. who worked
like veterans in the intense heat. that they were
saved.
A milkman saw flames bursting from the
basement OF the market. There were seventeen
people asleep in the upper stories OF the build
ing. BY the time ne had spread the alarm the
flames were bursting from the big plate glass
windows OF the first floor and the tenants had
to flee for their lives. AS the fire poured out OF
the market it ignited the Casino. large shin
gled building. built almost wholly Of North
Carolina pine. William Fitzsimmons a market
man Of Larchmont ran into the Casino and.
cropping his way through the smoke. aroused
Patrick Fitzgibbons. a motorman. who lives
there. The motorman with his wife and two
children escaped Just before the flames cut of
egress.
When the alarm was. sounded Chief Bronson
of the Fire Department out Of town. In his
absence William Campbell. president of the
mar or. took charge of the situation, while As
sstant Chief Gerach commanded the dremen.
Mr. Campbell telephoned to Mayor Clark Of
New-Rochelle for help. The fire departments
of Port Chester. Rye and Mamaroneck were also
called up and advised 10 be in readiness.
Mayor Clark ordered an alarm of seven
strokes Of the fire bell in New Rochelle. This is
the out-of town alarm, and as it had never been
used before many of the iremen did not under
stand it. They thought that the fire alarm sys-
TEN was probably out of order, and turned over
and went TO sleep. Chief Ross. however. brought
CROUCH of his men together to handle the big
six ton fire engine and hose wagon. and they
made a record run to Larchmont Chief Ross
directed his attention to the adjoining buildings
and saved several of them, including the Larch-
mont Bank, from destruction. A wagonload Of
Mamaroneck fremen under Captain Jack
Hegeman. son of John r. Hegeman, president of
the Metropolitan Life, reached Larchmont about
the time that the New-Rochelle volunteers
arrived. and Joined in the battle against the
flames. Chief Bronson arrived on the first train
from this city and took charge of the operations.
AS the firemen fought they were served with
sandwiches hot coffee and other welcome
drinks. sent to them by the superintendent of
the Larchmont Yacht Club Mr.. Morrison. Frank
HaIdy. "Al" Montross and number of fremen
rushed into the two livery stables and rescued
thirty horses and a half dozen big automobiles
belonging to wealthy residents along the Sound.
Some good work also done by Charles A.
Singer, president of the New York and Stamford
Railroad, who runs the Larchmont fire engine
Mr.. Singer employed method of pulling
the walls of burned buildings down. When all
other efforts had failed he attached one of his
big trolley cars to the chains and, taking the
motor himself. applied the power. A big cheer
went up as the car moved Off and the walls tot
tered and fell with crash.
The fire was under control at noon and the
nelghborlng nremen left for home. AS they
started off the Larchmont firemen and many of
the residents along the Sound who had turned
out in their carriages and automobiles surround
ed them and gave them three cheers
The Larchmont Casino was built about eight
years ago by William Murray treasurer of the
LarchmOnt Yacht Club. 1t was used for sew
eral years by the yachtsmen and others for
dances and fairs. The Larchmont Athletic Club
recently leased the lower floor and the upper
stories were divided into apartments The loss
to the athletic club is about 50 600 and IL is in
sured for $1,000. It is not believed that Mr.
Murray will rebuild the casino as the new
Theatre Pandemonium, Of the I.archmont Yacht
Club. has taken its place almost wholly as a
place for dances and amusements