Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-11
Damaged to the Extent Of Half a
Million Dollars,
TWO YEARS WORK LOST.
Several Steamers Had Narrow Es.
capes Fire started In n Tool shed
-wasa Very Spectacular Scene.

New York, Nov. 1O,-The new East
river bridge in process of construc-
ton between New York and Brooklyn,
was damaged to the amount Of at least
$4,000 tonight by a fire that for four
hours ragged 3j5 feet in the air, on the
summit of the great steel tower ON
the New York side, There was prob
ably no loss Of life. owing to the
enormous height of the tower 1t 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, burning away the sup
ports. Nearly 100000 feet OF blazing
lumber fell with a crash and hiss
into the stream. The falling foot
bridge carried away a score Vt lighter
cables and guys, which trai.ed In the
water rendering 1t necessary for the
purpose Of safety TO stop all traffic
up and down the river The steamer
Puritan and other craft had narrow
escapes while running the gauntlet Of
the fiery brands that fell in showers
from the burning bridge. The fire was
the most spectacular cOnhagration that
has ever been seen In New York.
The fire started in a tool shed, and
from this 1t spread TO the framework
Within five minutes after the discov-
cry Of the fire the whole top OF the
tower was In blaze. Then the foot
bridges fell, carrying with them many
tons OF bolts, riyets, nuts and tools
At that moment the Brooklyn fire boat
was just below the bridge, and a heavy
beam fell on her, breaking her rud-
der and sending her drifting down the
stream Sound steamers and all other
up-riyer navigation was stopped.
While the fire was at its height a
party Of tiremen were cut off at the
base Of the tower, where they were
exposed to torrent Of brands and
redhot iron and steel. They were res
cued after several had been severely
burned. Brands from the tower set
fire TO the big storhouse of the Penn
sylyania steel company II was en-
tlrely consumed and the contents were
hurled into the river, together with two
hosting derrlcks on the platform.
II was IL o'clock before the flames
had devoured everything oombustible,
leaving only the steel tower and the
four great iSh-inch steel cables
stretching across the river These
cables were recently completed. save
for the steel sheathing, and ii Is feared
that they have been badly damaged
by the intense heat. Should It be
necessary to replace them, the labor Of
two years would be lost,
Chief Engineer Martin, in charge Of
the bridge construction. said today
that four steel saddles, Weighing 81
tons, on the top Of the tower, were red
hot. but were not damaged. OF the four
cables resting upon the saddles two, he
thought. would have TO be partially re-
placed by splicing. This will involve q
delay Of at least four months. The re-
naming cables suffered little injury.
The loss on the two foot bridges is es-
timated at 100000.
The contractors are John A. Roeb-
ling's Sons & Co. The bridge extends
from the foot Of Delaney street, Man
haitian, TO the foot of South Fifth
street. Brooklyn. II was designed 10
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 i3S
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 was soon TO
have been begun The cost Of the
bridge was placed at about $4,000.
000