New-York tribune., 1902-01-20
MANY OVERCOME AT FIRE
FIFTEEN MEN STAMPEDE TO
ESCAPE FROM BUILDING
BRAVE WORK BY FIREMEN-DAMAGE
TO BROADWAY BUILDING AND
STOCK $4,000.

STOCK $4,000.
Many fremen were overcomel by smoke in
fighting a fire last evening in the five story
building at No. CSC Broadway Eighteen men
were at work, unconscious of a fire that was rag
ing IN the cellar and sub-cellar Even the
rattle Of the engines outside did not alarm them
and not until fremen rushed through the build
ing with lines Of hose We're they aware of the
fire Then there was a wild scramble to escape
from the building, and fifteen men who were on
the top floor fought frantically to get to the
street first. The fremen. when they saw that
there were people in the building turned their
attention TO getting them to the street in safety
Three alarms were turned in, and when Chief
Croker arrived the flames had spread rapidlv
and the cellars We're like furnaces The fire.
men had extreme difficulty in fighting the flames
owing TO the density of the smoke, and they
were driven back repeatedly.
Part Of the ground floor of the building is oc-
cupied by Blumenthal & Stiner. manufacturers
Of artificial flowers and feathers Mr.. Stiner
with clerks, was in the store all day going
over the books. Soon after p. m. they started
10 go, when the firemen brushed by them and
smashed down the locked door. Nr Stiner and
his clerks were taken completely by surprise
for it was the first intimation they had that
there a fire in the building.
The fire had a good start when the automatic
alarm went off. It had been raging fiercely for
time when a column OF fame shot up
through coal chute in the sidewalk in Broad
way. The fame went ten feet in the air. light
ing UP Broadway.
MEN PANICSTRICKEN.
The second floor is occupied by Roche, CrolI
& Co.. manufacturers of neckties. On the top
floor were fifteen men working for Samuel Fol-
kohf a manufacturer OF cloaks and suits When
firemen ed n fba ha-
came panic stricken, and several would have
jumped from the windows II the fremen had
not dragged them back.
Henry Hennig, of Engine Company No. %
was the first to be overcome by smoke. He was
rescued by his comrades and carried to the
street. He sent to st. Vincent's Hospital
The fremen overcome. after treatment by DR..
Banta, the department physician. returned to
their work. with the exception Of two-Hennig
and John ]. Seufert, of Engine Company No. 33.
The latter was at first taken to the headquar-
ters Of Engine No SO, in Great Jones-st, where
he was cared for Then an ambulance took him
10 st. VincentG Hospital Firemen Nugent,
Powers and Gillespie, of EnSine No IA Acting
Captain Callaghy, Of Hook and Ladder No "a
and Firemen McGough and Dunn, OF Engine No.
%, were all overcome and carried out by their
comrades. McGough was standing on a ladder
in the cellar holding a line Of hose when the
stream Of water from another line struck him
in the pit OF the stomach. knocking him breath
less and throwing him 10 the floor with great
force.
TWO FELL IN WATER
Lieutenant Boyle. of Engine No. 2S and Fire
man Reich. Of the same company, were at work
in the cellar Of the building, standing lad
der. They were overcome by smoke and fell
into about four feet of water. They were speed
ily rescued by their comrades and taken out.
Captain Reilly and Fireman William F. Purdy,
Of Truck No. ., were also at work in the base
ment when they were struck by an electric light
wire that had become loosened from its fasten-
ing. Both received a severe shock and were
knocked down and made unconscious. Purdy
sent 10 the New-York Hospital.
Fireman Louis Lang Of Engine No. 20, was
overcome by smoke and sent TO Bellevue Hos
pital; John Burke, Of Engine No. 90 TO the New
York Hospital, while Fireman Powers, of En-
gine No. II, was overcome three times. but each
time he returned to work Battalion Chief
Kenny was overpowered by the smoke. but was
soon revived and went with his work.
The building faces Broadway. and extends
back along Shinbone Alley. In the Broadway
part Of the building the fire was confined to the
cellar and sub-cellar. In the rear part down
Shinbone Alley, the building occupied by
Stglitz & Dinklespiel clothing. There the blaze
ale its way UP through the first floor into the
second.
In the rear part of the cellar the men of En-
gine Companies Nos. 2S and 13 at work.
They had gone some distance back when they
discovered that the fire had broken out near
the entrance. They found that unless they beat
quick retreat they would be cut off by the
flames and smothered by the smoke. They got
out, but had to leave half a dozen lengths OF
hose behind them. This destroyed.
Chief Croker estimated the damage at $4,000.
Stner said his firm had heavy stock which
was badly damaged by smoke and water.
Fireman Seufert has been on the force only
fourteen months, and seems to be unlucky. Soon
after entering the department he jumped into
a new wooden trimmed lifesavng net one day
from the third story window of Fire Head
quarters, to test the apparatus. He struck
across the wooden rim on his stomach and
BADLY injured. After coming from the hospital
ne was made a messenger at headquarters
Last summer, when the convention of police
chiefs was held here. he was dressed in woman's
Clothing, and in an exhibition for the Chiefs
Jumped in this costume into life net. The
net sagged and ne struck the ground uncom-
tortably hard
The fire caused blockade of the Broadway
cars that lasted for four hours Then cars
were brought down far Houston-st., where
tne passengers were transferred and the cars
sent back uptown The police reserves from all
the nearby precincts were called out, and
under command of Inspector Brooks and Cap
taln Chapman, OF the Mercer-st. station.