New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-27
SPECTACULAR BROADWAY FIRE
THOUSANDS IN BUSINESS DISTRICT WITCH FI11LES
DESTROY TWO BUILDINGS-TRAFFIC BLOCKED.
adams and Norris Erpess Companies Burned Ou-tsr Pressure
insufficient at Frst-Pistols Guard Strong BOres.

the changing Of bells and the shrieklng of
whistles tore the air. Twisting IN ths streets
on all sides were lines OF hose. Still Binns was
not satisfied. and he sounded the last CALI
9-9-3-3-42E23, TO which every engine and
truck from south OF Fifty-eishth-st responded
To their places hurried others from Harlem and
The Bronx which companies. with "duDlieats''
companies in some Of the houses guard the city
IN greatest emergency.
By this time the water power was all that
could be desired. The water tower directly IN
front OF No. 80 Broadway. was hurting q stream
into the fourth story OF the building with its
nozzle almost on the window ledge. From an
other standpire food was hurled into the Sec
ond floor. High on ladders frenen directed hose
into every available window. Around IN Trim
ity Place several companies we're fighting the
blaze from the rear. The power had been shut
or on the Sixth-ave. elevated road, and cling
ing 10 the structure. fremen played streams
through windows and over the roofs.
Chief Croker was at Bloomfield. n J.. with
his mother. who IS seriously III. when the nrc
began A telegram brought him hurryinE to the
scens soon after the 1.-TWO mines" He took
charge Immediately, and from then until the
fire was completely subdued was IN the thick OF
the work. directing men and lending a hand
with the hose n occasion required
Tt was hard fight" he said Iaconical1y.
FIREMEN BARELY ESCAPE CRUSHING.
The men connected with engine companies 6.
and - had trying time in the basement Of
the buildings The sidewalk lights had been
smashed and a ladder was lowered. Into this
hole. through which smoke was coming from
the mouth OF a volcano. the crews OF the three
companies went with their hose They remained
down SO long that the spectators feared they had
been sunocated. Finally they were driven from
lad
the street. begrimed and exhausted
Forty frernen who were working IN the rear
buildings barely escaped being crushed by a
falling walls. The men Of hook and ladder
companies Nos. 1 and 10 and engine COM
panies p and 81 were directing streams into
the rear windows from the ground floor OF the
Trinity Place buildings. when the rear wall OF
No. 80 fell A roof above the heads Of the fire.
men prevented them from seeing the wall as Il
toppled- Captain Autneth. who formerly COM
msnded No 10. saw the wall bulge. and shouted
TO HIS old comrades. They jumped back Just IN
time 20 avoid the tons Of brick that crushed IN
the roof beneath which they had been standing
Only one fireman injured at the FIRE
Charles Beckinghau-. CT Engine Company No 4
was cut in the back by falling glass. HIS injury
was dressed by DR.. Tould Of the Hudson Street
Hospital and he went home.
For time the employees in the weIls-Fargo
and the tenants oG the Empire Building watched
the fire. The dense smoke. however. flied every
nearby building. and fearing that the spread
OF the flames would take i1 everything I'D TO
RcctOr-st.. the tenants were driven out OF those
buildings. They merged into the great throng
on the sidewalks across Broadway. From the
Offices of the Pi7kertou Detective Agency. at
30. - Broadway. clerks carried most OF the
invaluable records Of the agency. Inspector
McClusky. who was keeping his weather eye
open for crooks below the deadline. became al
most anxious until he was told that the Pinksr-
tons records were safe.
Think what the crooks would DO n those
burned he reflected.
A. W. Zimmerman. assistant cashier of the
Wells-Fargo Company Bank on the ground
floor OF No. Go called on half dozen clerks 70
assist him in saving about $10OOC0 IN gold. sil-
Yer, specie and checks The money was thrown
into big canvas bags. the mouths OF which were
securely tied and guarded by two clerks with
loaded reyolvers. It was carried by Zimmer-
man and his assistants across Broadway TO the
Knickerbocker Trust Company. AZ No. 66.
Mayor Mcclellan got as near % the fire as he
could in his automobile. went through the lines
and made complete Inspection OF the fire from
every side. talking 20 engineers and fremen.
He declared that many Of the engines were not
doing their full work because of the low press
ure OF water. which should be-. BE- thought. an
excellent argument for system OF salt water
mains. Fire Commissioner Hayes and Score
tary Alfred II. DOwEes were among the first
ones at the FIRE. COMMISSIONS Woodbury. OF
the Street Cleaning Department: superintend-
ent Hopper. OF the Buildings Department who
left Deputy Superintendent Jordan in charge OF
the buildings after the fire was out: Inspector
Titus and Inspector Schmittberger were some OF
the others there.
STRONG BONES REMOVED.
Tne Manhattan Delivery Company. a SUBJ
sidiary company 20 the Adams Express Com
pany. occupied part Of No. 80 Broadway. In
addition TO L. Morris Express Company. No