New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-03
CHIEF ALMOST LOST LIFE
Daniel { Con5cdy and Fireman
Hurt IN PescU-sf.

II ono of.the most stubborn fires that the fire
men have fought with in some time. Acting
Battalion chief Daniel c. Convey nearly lost
his life. and his driver. Fireman Luxe Henry.
Who was with him. was severely cut on both
hands Both fell into the cellar OF the five story
brick building at No. - vesey-st., where a fire
was raging last night. Chief Conway was burned
about the face head. neck and hands. and was
driven to the Hudson street Hospital in his own
carriage. where his injuries were dressed. Fire
man Henry had his injuries attended 70 NJ the
hospital but later vas able 70 leave.
The fire started in tie cellar Of the building
and for two hours after IL was discovered the
iremen were unable to get AZ it. owing to the
| density Of the smoke, When lire Of hose was
stretched into the cv'ler the fremen were driven
back. and fer TWO hours after they handled the
pipe in relays.
William Roache wno has O lease Of the build
ing. and who occupies the four upper floors and
the cellar is dealer IN electric batteries cleo
trical supplies and automobile fixtures and aP-
paratus. In the cellar he had stored large guam
titles of carbon. batteries insulation and pitch.
and when they got afsme the smoke that issued
from the cellar sitting.
How the fire started is not known. police
man of the Church-st. station discovered smoke
coming from me cellar. and Informed Truck No
10 in Fulton-st. When engines arrived q
line Of hose was stretched into the cellar. but
the freTren who handled it remained there only
a few seconds. They were almost suffocated
and when they reached the sidewalk they fell
exhausted.
Acting Battalion Chief Conway. who arrived
on the first alarm. ordered the cellar door
opened. Before /. ladder lowered he lost
his footing and plunged head foremost, his
driver Henry. who was behind him, falling on
top Of him Both scrambled 20 their feet, and,
cropping their way 70 the wall they shouted for
help The ladder was quickly lowered and the
two were rescued in the nick Of time CHIEF
Conway was badly burned while Henry escaped
with cuts and slight burns both hands.
When Chief Purroy responded he Immediately
sent in u second alarm. Smoke was pouring IN
dense volumes from the cellar and every time
the fremen attempted to go down with line OF
hose they We're forced to retreat Fearing that
the fire would get beyond control, Chief Purroy
ordered the 10 descend the ladder as lar
as they possibly could, and one by one they
went down and handled the pipe in relays But
the men couldn't stand the smoke. and after
remaining down one or two minutes they were
dragged to the sidewalk. Several or the pest
smoke eaters in Truck No. 10 and Engine
No. o worked the relay. but the intense neat
from the flames that raging in the cellar
made them beat hasty retreat
Chief Purroy finally decided to flood the cellar.
as this was the only means he had OF supdI1hg
the flames. He had men on the ground moor
in case the flames should shoot through from
the cellar. but the tons Of water that we're
poured into the cellar prevented the nre from
spreading to any other part Of the building.
shortly after midnight. after two hours OF the
hardest kind OF work, the men OF Truck NO w
got into the cellar By that time the cellar
was aImostly completely flooded. but the smoke
was still dense, and several Of the men were
almost overcome. Chief PurrOy said that the
damage the building and stock was S1.oOS-