New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-10-01
FIGHT FIRE ALL DAY.
Chief CrokerS BraUery and Danger
Stubborn Packing House Blaze.

After more than twenty-four hours Of des-
perate fighting OF fire in the block of packing
houses and refrigerator plants in Ninth and
Tenth aves. between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
SITS. the Aremen were still at work at late
hour last night. though the flames were under
control
Nearly one-third of the block was destroyed
and $250000 damage done. More than fifty fire
men were overcome by soft coal smoke and am
monia fumes. Chief Croker was badly injured
by fall through a hole Battalion Chief Shea
was temporarily blinded, and there were many
narrow escapes from death. 1t was with the
greatest difficulty that the flames were kept
away from the big ammonia tanks of the Con-
ron Hygisnic Ice Company and terrific expIo-
sion avetEed. Owing TO the soft coal in which
the are started and the bursting refrigerator
apparatls. it was one of the worst fires the de-
partmenS has had to deal with
The fiE started in the storehouses and Offices
Of the C1llahy Packing Company. Nos 454 and
456 WeEg Fourteenth-st, and quickly spread to
the waIEaouses of the packing firm of J. H
HammoS3 & co, and the Conron Conpany's
works II Conron and Cudahy plants are con-
nected w wooden pipe line. which facilitated
the spreaM of the flames, and It was at this
point tha he fight centred. The bulk of the
loss was ii his building
In the ba nent were 375 tons of soft coal On
the differen Doors Of the warehouses were many
tons of lard nd beef Ia these stores the fire
smouldered and broke out afresh at intervals
BY midnighf- told in yestc- lays Tribune,
about three-quarters OF an hour after the frst
alarm, the fire was getting beyond control and
a second alarm was rung. StlH the firemen
worked without apparent effect, and at 40 the
flames burst through the roof Of the Cudahy
building. Then a third alarm was sounded and
Chief Croker arrived with fresh fighters Again
and again the men dashed into the burning
buildings, only 10 retreat, some being dragged
out helpless by their companions.
The third alarm also brought the fire boats
New-Yorker and George b. Mcclellan and such
a volume of water was thrown on the burning
area that the cellars of the block were under
seven feet Of water by morning A sewer con-
Meeting with the Cudahy building. however, let
off the water there so rapidly that it was impos-
sible to drown the fire in the soft coal. Another
difficulty Of which the 1remen complained was
inadequate police protection.
At a. m. the flames burst through No. Is
| Tenth-ave.. occupied by the indianapolis Abat-
toir Company. Chief Croker had narrow es-
| cape from death while standing on the first floor
| OF the Cudahy plant directing the nght on the
! glowing coal below. The floor fell almost hil-
( der his feet, and he snatched back Just IN
| time by a fireman standing near HIM A niue
| later he stepped backward into a hoIS liat nae
been cut in the floor and only saved nlIhsei by
! his elbows. He injured his right arm and cut
his left hand.
! While directing the work from the ROOF OF a
| shed on the Tenth-aye. side Lieutenant An
! drews and Fireman Lenahan, of Engine no. , ID
| were overcome by fumes and Chief Croker
/ dashed UP the ladder just in time 10 save ths
! lieutenant from dangerous fan ALloqleilceS q @
| and surgeons were on hand all through the hre
| Late in the morning coffee and sandwiches were
served to the exhausted fremen IN a iuH II
| the fire. .,
| At noon the fire took new and danserou' %
| turn In the front of the Hammond plant IN
! ammonia fumes were driven directly IN lii'
| faces of the fremen and IL looked for time
| as though the building would be destroyed Ih'
! wind, however swerved little later ana gay,
| the men a chance to reach the names. Al l:4'
| D. m Chief Croker announced that the hre was
| under control but It broke out afresh again a
/ q little after O'Clock and gave the men an
| other lively time of it for quarter OF an houf
| For five minutes OF this time the blaze mad'
| its most spectacular appearance. AT ) o'clocf
| last evening Chief Croker ordered al! engines
| away but one which remained with the Georg'
| b Mcclellan and poured five streams of water
on the snouldering flames throughout the night