Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-26
SPECTACULAR BLAZE
Imposing and Destructive
New York Fire Today.
NEAR TRINITY CHURCH
ENTIRE CITY DEPARTMENT CALL
ED INTO SERVICE.
Started in the Basement of the Morris
Express Company on Broadway
Many Thrilling Incidents.

Express company on BroadWay-
Many Thrilling Incidents.
|. NEW YORK, March 26-All Wall street
and the downtown section of New York
were thrown into unusual excitement to-
day by fire which started in the building
at 61 Broadway, occupied by the Morris
European and American Express Company
When the neighborhood in which the fire
occurred is taken into consideration it was
the most spectacular daytime blaze that
has occurred for long time in that part
OF the city.
Thousands of people poured from the
thickly populated financial district into
the narrow canyon of Broadway and mass
ed back for squares above and below the
blaze. The towering skyscrapers that
faced the fire held a group of faces at
every window.
The burning buildings reached through
to a narrow alley in the rear, and as the
wind eddied through it swept clouds of
smoke into Broadway, so thick that only
occasionally could the red glare of the
flames be seen. The smoke rolled up the
street hemmed in by the tall buildings and
great flaming brands fell thickly in the
crowds.
Closely following the first alarm four
was turned In and then with the warning
of the Baltimore fire in mind, ''two-nine,'
the dreaded general alarm, followed.
Engine after engine, followed by their
hose trucks, water towers and ladder
trucks swept changing down Broadway, the
only street of access to the fire, bringing
in their wake added thousands of people
to swell the crowd that already packed
every inch of standing room in the vicinity
Bursting hose and "a backroH of choking
Irntr hnvS "a 0nk q n
aided the police reserves to clear the
streets.
Started in Basement.
The fire started in the basement of the
three express company buildings, which
adjoin each other. Smoke was first seen
coming from the tagging of the sidewalk,
and almost Immediately flames burst forth,
driving clerks from their desks and necessi-
tating hurried efforts to save books and
effects.
There is always delay in getting water
on fire in the financial district, due to
the difficulty of engines winding their way
in and out of the cars and traffic on Broad
way.
Before streams of water were at play
the fire had gained tremendous headway
and was eating It's way both to the south
toward Trinity place taking In the Adams
81
At first the occupants of the big Empire
building, which overlCoks the fire from the
north, enjoyed their vantage point, and the
windows on the south side were packed.
But as the flames gained headway clouds
of smoke and heated air drove them away
and many of the tenants of this and ad-
Joining buildings were forced to leave their
offices.
Old Hose Reels in Service.
For more than an hour after the first
alarm engines and other apparatus con-
tinued to sweep down Broadway, the two
nine" alarms calling out companies from
as far north as Harlem, the horses blown
from their eight-mle run.
For the first time in years the specta-
tors saw some of the old-fashioned ID two
wheel hose heels that were pressed into
service to bring extra pipe.
The last engine to reach the scene made
pretty nearly a long distance record. Il
came fiOm far up in Hailem and the
three big blacks that drew II were white
with lather, but made game run. never
tagging as they swept through the crowded
street and took position.
Soon fire apparatus was packed from the
scene OF the fire back uD Broadway to
Cortlandt street, distance of five blocks,
there being then about fifty companies on
the scene.
Near Historic Church.
Trinity Church is just north of the fire
and as the crowds began to pack the street
they overf1owed into the historic old
churchyard with its ancient graves and
monuments. An attempt was made to
clear them out and lock the gates, but
without much success.
At the beginning the fremen were handi-
capped by very low water pressure One
hydrant, almost in front OF the fire, did
not flow at all for fifteen or twenty min
utes and a water tower, hurredly put in
action. sent weak stream that 1t
hardly reached the building.
Details of the Fire.
The building. No. 61 Broadway, occupied
by the Morris Express Company, is burning
The building is old and four alarms were
turned in The flames spread rapidly.
On one side of the burning building is the
American Express Company and on the
other is the Adams Express Company. Oc
cupants of the burning building are being
removed by means of ladders.
The fire caused dense smoke. which
penet rated many of the big buildings in the
neighborhood. compelling cessation of all
work
The flames seem to be making headway
In the building. but 1t is believed all the
occupants on the upper floors who had been
cut off by the fire. have been removed by
ladder. On Broadway for a mile or more
are long lines of blocked ccrs. Not In many
months have so many> engines and water
towers been seen down town and from
Fulton street to the Battery all street traf
fic was made impossible.
Employees Removed.
Two employees of the American Express
Company were taken from second story
window In an unconscious condition.
The double nine" alarm. the biggest
signal used by the department, has just
been turned in, indicating the fire Is not
under control.
The flames have reached the roof of the
American Express Company building and
that building probably will be entirely de-
stroyed. The flames have spread to the
building Church street used as stables
by the express companies.
Firemen's Marrow Escape.
Eighteen iremen who were working their
way into the Adams Express building had
remarkably narrow escape from being
<>1f n. = s.<~k