New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-26
FIRE TIES UP TRAFFIC.
MOTOR TRAINS SCORCHED.
Whiskey DistiIlery In Flames-Al-
most Panic among Girls.

dramatic fire. for which three alarms were
turned In. and which the fremen had to fight
for four hours before It was under control, broke
out yesterday afternoon on the second floor of
the six story building at No. 26S West Broad
way
The building the L of which extends TO
York-st., is occupied principally by p. W. Engs
& Son. whiskey distillers. The firm has all
cept the second floor, which is rented by c.
Kaufman & Son. manufacturers of novelties;
the Drydock Electroplating Works, and julius
Pollak, art photographer.
In some unknown manner the fire broke out
in that part of the second floor occupied by
Kaufman Sc Son. By the time the hremen
rived the fire had spread with great rapidity
through the entire second floor. The flames
swept through the building and burst out Of the
windows on both the West Broadway and York
St sides. shooting UP the outside walls toward
the upper stories. The fire fighting force was
in command of Acting Chief OF Department
Duane.
On the third floor were nine 7o0-gallon storage
tanks Of whiskey. On the contents Of the tanks
the flames fed until they reached the fourth
floor, where whiskey in barrels was stored.
Above this. on the fifth floor. were ten 400
gallon metallic tanks Of whiskey. and on the top
floor was the cooperage department. The in
hammable nature OF the contents Of the build
ing made the blaze one of the hottest in the
history Of the Fire Department Accompanied
by big clouds Of heavy black smoke. which per-
meated the atmosphere for blocks around. it
was hard fire TO fight. There was a succession
Of small explosions, as the barrels Of whiskey
caught fire.
Adjoining the burning building. on the south
side, Is the Wool Exchange Building. the base
ment Of which is occupied by the Varick Bank.
h1I{IT
No. 26S, and, like it. is in the shape Of an Il"
with the wing running toward York-st. The
hremen entered the Wool Exchange Building
and attaching hose to the standpipes which
are every floor fought the flames from these
vantage points.
The West Broadway side Of the building is
only few feet from the elevated railroad, The
fire had not been burning long before the flames
were almost licking the structure, and the thick,
black smoke enveloped IT. With whistles sound
ing three or four southbound trains ventured
through the smoke. the sides Of the being
scorched by the heat. AS soon Acting Chief
Duane arrived on the scene, however, he quickly
put stop to this and sent his men on the
structure. Lines OF hose were dragged up and
effective work was done from the station.
The traffic the SiXth-aVe. division OF the
elevated road was entirely suspended below
cars, too. had to suspend operations on the Sixth
and Eighth ave. lines for about the same time.
Al t!Shth-slr on the elevated ROAD, trains were
switched from the downtown track to the up
town, that the upper portions of the city did
not suffer much inconvenience.
Adjoining No 26S is a cigarette factory, which
employs two hundred girls. AS the factory led
with smoke, and the clanging OF the fire engines
was heard, something like panic broke out
in the factory, and the girls ran downstairs 70
the street. All Of them got out safely, though
many We're faint or hysterical from fright
The fire gradually burned itse.f out spreading
around the neiShborhood strong odor or Whls-
key. The building is owned by Edward L.
Snyder, who is the principal partner in the firm
of z. w. Engs & Sons Company. He would
not venture estimate of the damage. but
Acting Chief Duane said that, in his opinion, it |
would amount TO Nhout1 S1Ia 900.