The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-30
FLAMES IN BIG GLASS HOUSE.
S2OO,OOO WORTH MELTED AND
CRACKED IN AN HOUR.

Straw Packing Carries Fire TO Every
Corner OF warehouse ut Warrington
and North Moore Streets-SmOke Fills
Miles OF Streets--Firemen In Peril.
A fierce fire In the wholesale glass house
Of j. Fitzpatrick d Co., at $40 Greenwich
street, on the southwest corner OF North
Moore street, damaged the building and
the stock in 1t to the amount OF $500 900 last
night. 1t was hard fire to fight and the
flames had reached all parts Of the interior
OF the building before the water could be
brought to bear on them by the firemen.
The great quantity of straw used in packing
the glass in all parts Of the building con-
tributed disastrously to the spread OF the
fire.
Dense clouds OF smoke from the burning
wood and straw were blown by stiff breeze
from the North River overythe entire neigh
borhood lying between Greenwich street
and Broadway. Every thoroughfare was
so choked with smoke that pedestrians
made their way as though in a thick fog.
Many tied handkerchief over their mouths
and noses to keep from inhaling the smoke
The breeze blew the smoke away from the
building so fast that the fremen could see
to work a great deal better than the crowd
could watch them.
Night Watchmen Michael Murphy and P.
O'Reilly first discovered the fire issuing
from the second story windows. They
turned in an alarm from the corner OF WASH
ington and North Moore streets. AS soon as
Chief Croker arrived he turned In two more
alarms Soon, more than dozen engines
were there with the water tower and search
lights and the fireboats New Yorker and
George B. Mcclellan were on hand to fight
the fire. Only the New Yorker, however
was used she kept four heavy streams OF
salt water playing on the fire until 1t was
under control. The water tower was used
to it's utmost capacity; both the tower and
deck pipes poured heavy streams into the
building.
The firemen climbed up on the Ninth
avenue elevated railroad structure almost
as soon as they arrived and for a time
worked in imminent danger Of their lives
from contact with the live third rail. The
trains were stopped running Immediately
and after few minutes the current on that
section was shut of at the power house.
A ladder was raised from the elevated
structure to the side OF the building, but
it had to be taken down.
The firemen at first tried to subdue the
flames in the interior Of the building. but
after a time 1t became evident that they
had gained too much Roadway. Chief
Croker feared that the building would
collapse on account Of the great weight Of
glass on all the floors, and he called all the
men from the walls, fire escapes and sheds
Every little while the flames would puff
up through the roof, showing that the
building was filled with gas. which added
seriously to the danger of collapse.
The building was five story brick struc-
ture, and on every floor was stored glass
OF various kinds, including French plate
mirrors, loaded glass for church windows,
coach window glass and other expensive
varieties.
The wholesale jelly and preserves store
Of Max AIMS adioined the glass house on
the south side. 1t and w. F. Dean d Sons
wholesale mustard and licorioe place on the
North Moore street side were damaged
to some extent by water.
Chief Croker said he could not tell what
the damage to the stock OF glass would be-
The insurance adjusters thought that
1900, 600 wo uld not be too big a figure,
AT midnight Chief Croker said the fire
was under control, although the building
might burn inside all night.
Chief Croker went to the fire IN his new
red automobile, which he received from
the factory yesterday. He had been to
two small fires before the alarm came in
from Washington and North Moore streets.
The car Is 40 horse power machine, weie hs
$500 pounds and can 60 fifty-five miles
nj hour