New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-23
FALL KILLS FIREMAN.
BODY IHpILED on I'RUCK.
Loss al Spectacular Fire IN e. ~.
Bliss Company's Works $250,00O.

>AN"N~tn-'-
sixth story window during Gre in the r. ".
Bliss Cosnpany's immense machine shops. taking
n the c:.tre block bounded by Plyrnorth and
John and ADAMS and Pearl SITS. Brooklyn, As
slstant Foreman George w Gibson. of Truck NO
GS. fell TO his death yesterday afternoon. lie was
inpaled the iron rack OF his own truck,
which pierced his body, causing instant death
The fire. which burned nerCe!y throughout the
sixth story ana extended tc the nth floor, fur
nished one Of the finest fire spectacies that mas
ever been seen from the Brooklyn Bridge and
high points in Manhattan and Brooklyn. II. c.
Seaman. secretary of the company. refused last
night 10 give an estimate OF the loss. saying 1t
would be impossible to do Chief Kruger, Wio
came over from Manhattan 10 take charge OF
the fire. expressed The opinion that the loss
would be $2J00OG. An emplCye Of the company,
who would not give his name. said that. if much
Of the machinery had been badly damaged by
water, was quite likely. the loss might reach
some point the neighborhoOd OF $Io0COo
Eleven hundred men viii he thrown out OF en-
pioyment temporarily.
ORDER FOR GOVERNMENT DELAYED.
The e, W. Rl:ss plant is one of the largest
concerns III the country. 1t manufactures Dies
presses and other machinery for stamping metal
utensils c?d goods of various kinds. The conf
pany also manufactures the blank cases for the
Whitehead torpedoes used in the United states
Navy. \ large order for these from the govern
ment had just been started. and will not be
much delayed by the fire. f. ". Bliss. who
founded the business and was president Of the
company. died last July. ". r. Porter. first
vice-president. is the acting head of the
concern. Mr.. Bliss also the head of the
United States Projectiles Company, which man
ufactures shell cases for the government in Bay
Ridge. 1t probably this fact that caused
somebody TO start the rumor that there was
quantity Of powder in the burning building
The fremen. knew better however. and the alb
surd story worried only some curious onlookers
Fronting in Pearl-st. between Plymouth and
John sts is four story building about sixty
feet in depth, which is the old shop. The six
story building where the fire occurred. occupies
the remainder of the square block. 1t built
five years ago. and its substantial structure
enabled the iremen 10 keep the flames from
spreading. No portion of the walls fell. The
six story building was built in the form Of q
hollow square above the first floor. The ttop
floor was used as storeroom for supplies and
for the Offices The latter the corner
at Plymouth and Adams SITS
DEFECTIVE WIRING THOUGHT CAUSE.
1t was there that the fire broke out little
after + O'Clock, between the ceiling and the
double roof. Defective electric light wires are
held responsible for the fire. which had crept
into the offices. An alarm was sent IN. and the
men employees of the Office formed buckee
brigade while the worCeE were serlt d2u-Srssf
i the kievai9l4 lf,nrs Hayisna' theSei.gct5r
man. stuck by his until the lasa Smpoye-
and there more than hundred--in the
Offices had got down. The mer the other
floors made their way out in orderly manner
by way Of the stairs.
When the first hremen arrived the flames
~r-. Cfr rba ,.-ar
considerable area The second and third alarms
| were sounded in quick succession. and a fourth
about fifteen minutes later. II was the first
big fire that Deputy Chief Lally had to fight
since he placed in command of the force
IN Brooklyn and Queens. several days ago
Chief Kruger went from Manhattan on the
fourth alarm The entire force consisted of sew
| enteen engines. five trucks. water tower and
two freboats one Of them. the New Yorker
from Manhattan
FIRE TOO HIGH TO FIGHT.
Because Of the height of the fire it
| puzzling one to tackle Two big trucks
stationed in front Of the building and the lad
dcrs reached up to the sixth story window.
Assistant Foreman Gibson was the first
| up the ladder. shouting to his TO follow
| with a line Of hose. He had reached the top
when a back draught blew out the windows and
| the flames and hot air shot toward the lad
| dor GibsOn's hold seemed 10 be torn away. FOT
! forty feet he shot down straight along the lad
der then turned and fell straight onto one OF
| the iron upr!shts used for carrying the hooks.
| The iron passed through his lungs and almost
! through his body. Fire Chaplain AIcGronan ad-
| ministercd the last rites when the body was re-
moved 1t later taken to the lower Fulton
ST. station and then to an undertaker's shop.
Captain Conroy, Of Engine No. 103 almost
met similar fate. y back draught caused him
to lose his hold. He shot down for five feet but
was caught by Fireman O'Rourke. He
| helped to the street, where his slight burns were
| treated by Ambulance Surgeon Ingalls, from the
! Brooklyn Hospital. Fireman Radigan who was
| standing above Conroy vas also slightly burned.
| AS a precautionary measure three ambulances
! were sent to the fire. bur there were no other
| accidents.
UNDER CONTROL AFTER TWO HOURS.
After the firemen got all the apparatus work
| Ing in good shape the fire was got under con-
| troll in about hours. The entire sixth floor
which was filled with machinery was destroyed.
The tons of water poured into the building
reached every floor and damaged the
| chinery.
Across John-st. from the z. w. Bliss works
are the coal yards of the Moquin- -Heissenbuttel
| Oferman Coal Company. where twelve thousand
tons is stored. Big burning brands fell in the
coal and on many canal boats IN the vicinity.
| and II kept the employees OF the concern and
| the deckhands busy putting out the small
| blaZes Adjoining the coal yards Is the old
coffee house of the John Arbuckle Company.
| now used as a power plant for their inlmense
| sugar refinery and coffee roasting plant which
| is across Pearl-st. John Arbuckle himself wes
Oft in the street and directed the firemen how
| 10 lay lines to protect his property
TnoNr1,i icGGn and