New-York tribune., 1903-01-22
FIRE HORSES RUN AWAY.
Blaze at Z. +. Ryan 'S-Three FIRE
men Injured.

There was slight fire last night in the home
of Thomas F. Ryan, president Of the Nor
ton Trust Company. and street railroad man, at
No. 60 Fffth-ave The fire was extingushed by
Mrs. Ryan and servants.
One of the servants ran to nearby corner
and sent in an alarm The men of Engine Com
pany No. - in Twelfth-st. University
place. answered the call. The regular driver Of
the engine is on sick leave, suffering from pneu-
monia. and the regular engine Of the company is
out for repairs. both driver and engine having
been used up in the large downtown fires of the
last week
very light engine is being used and Edward
O'Connor is driving Owing to the short distanc
of the run. OConnor did not strap himself to his
seat. is customary.
On the engine also were Lieutenant Walsh
and Engineer John Mclaughlin. OConnor
swung the three big horses into Fffth-ave-
south from Twelfth-st. As he did the rear
wheels slipped and struck with terrific force
against the curb. The engine skidded out into
the centre OF the street. 0.Coanos was htsried
from his seat and Walsh and Mclaughlin were
sent headlong TO the pavement. The three
horses released from guidance or restraint.
rushed on down Fifth-ave. ar a breakneck
speed.
When near the old Brevoort House at Eighth
St Special Policeman Dugan took in the situa-
tfon at a glance. There We're scores of carriages
standing about in Fifth-ave. at the time, and
Dugan blew his whistle. The carriages scat
tered into the side streets and the three fire
horses thundered by. They had run almost
down to WaverIey place when they swerved and
the near horse of the three struck his head
squareIy against a dead lamppost- His neck
was broken and he dropped dead instantly
The momentum of the engine. weighing four
tons. was so great that the other two horses
could not bring it to a stop. and engine and
horses slid along the street for about fifty feet,
the body of the dead animal being dragged along
the pavement
In the mean time the men of Fire Patrol No.
had responded to the fire alarm. and, driving up
Fifth-ave had met the team Of Engine No q
The driver saw what wrong and swung
about and gave chase. So when the horse fell
the men of the patrol were on hand to grasp the
other two of the team and restrain them.
O'Connor was picked up and carried back to
the engine house He is suffering mostly from
shock. but has been hurt about the hips seem
ing to be paraIyzed there. 1t is feared that his
spine is injured. Walsh and Mclaughlin were
shaken up and bruised but bones were
broken.
The fire in the Ryan house started in the
library which is on the second floor. In one
side of this room is a huge fireplace, In which
wood is burned All winter long there have
been kept two immense logs burning In this
fireplace In the room just back Of the library
is a similar fireplace. standing back 20 back
with the one in the library, 1t Is supposed that
in some manner some of the bricks In the par
tftfon between the two nreplaCes became loose
and permitted hOi Goals to come into contact
with the floor joiSts, Mrs, Ryan said she
smelled burning wood and saw smoke coming
up alongside the fireplace, She called the ser
wants, and when snouldering wood was found
1t took only two pailfuls of water TO end
the danger.
O'Connor Is one of the heroes OF the Park
Avenue Hotel fire. He was the first man 20 go
up on top Of the portico over the Park-aVe. en-
trance to the hotel, and when woman jumped
from the fourth floor he dropped on his hands
and knees, caught the icy railing and caught
the woman his back. S1e struck him with
great force and then rolled 70 the top OF the
portico, when O'ConnO- caught her and kept her
from falling TO the ground, She was unhurt.
O'Connor received a medal OF honor.