New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-27
COURT HOUSE BURN ED.
FIREMEN GO TO QUEENS.
Thrilling Escapes from Roof-Re-
building May Be Necessary,

The Queens County Court House was partly
wrecked by fire yesterday afternoon Chief
Croker. who went from Manhattan TO fight
the flames. said the building would have to be
rebuilt. In that case the loss would be $500.
600
For several weeks roofers had been at work
on the courthouse. Just before noon yesterday
one of the ttnsmiths must have set fire to the
roof inadvertently with his hand furnace, for
soon after that time Deputy Sheriff Semler dis
covered smoke and flames issuing from the
roof.
Semler gave the alarm. and there small
army of volunteer fire fighters on hand In a
moment -Four alarms were sounded, and en-
gines responded from Brooklyn and Manhat-
tan The heavy dome of the building fell and
several persons barely escaped being hit by fall
ing debris which atire. The roof fell in.
crashing through the dining halls and kitchens
on the top floor and finding it's way through to
the second floor where huge sections of it
smashed the rich furnishings of the Supreme
Court room and the District Attorneys offices.
Sufficient time was given for the removal of
most of the records of the District Attorneys
office on the second floor and from the Sherif's
office on the first floor
The nineteen workmen the roof were
trapped. The foreman, Emil Sterns. of Man
IL
fell. and. unfastening of the halyards. made
If fast to the base of the flagstaff. allowing the
loose end to swing downward 1t was caught
bv some one in the second story and held while
one by one the roofers passed down hand over
hand to safety.
Assistant District Attorney James A Gray
recollected that d certain record had been
locked in a safe and mounted a ladder placed
against the side of the courthouse to gain ac-
cess to the District Attorneys office through a
window He got the record. and was descending
the ladder when large piece OF the roof fell
within a couple of inches of his head
Fireman Patrick Lennon and other members
of Engine Company No. 15S ran to the top
floor and into the dining room, where they were
met bv a back draught. 1t was thought at
first that all escaped, but it was discovered that
Lennon was missing. A truck company arrived
lust then, and extension ladder was hoisted
to the sill of a window of the dining room.
Firemen ran up, entered through the window,
and found Lennon sitting in chair in front of
a ia BILE His head lay the table, and he
was unconscious. They picked him up, carried
him to the window. called for lifeline and
! lowered him to the ground. Dr. Kennedy was
waiting at the bottom of the ladder, and after a
hurried examination had the injured man placed
in an ambulance and taken TO st. Johns Hos
]
where he was revived
Matron Wells of the Jail had all her charges
bundle up their belongings and stand in the
CORRIDORS ready for departure should the fire
extend TO the jail. Chief Croker directed the
| fighting to such purpose that the flames were
! confined within fifteen minutes after his ar
| rival TO the part Of the building furthest from
! the iaJ The fire was under control at o'clock
| and extinguished hour later.
| Sheriff Meyerrose after the fire. inasmuch as
| his dining rooms and kitchens had been de-
| stroved wanted TO know how he could feed
| the prisoners.
The Queens County Courthouse cost s2'6.-
! 600 There have been frequent and costly re
pairs Before the site of the courthouse was
! ea,ected there was a long. bitter wrange be-
| tween various sections of Queens County
1t has not been settled where court VIII De
| bald Int II is believed that st. Mary's Lyceum,
which has been used when the courthouse was
! being repaired, will be used for the december