The sun., 1904-08-07
ROOF FALLS ON 8 FIREMEN.
STATEN ISLAND BLAZE PROBABLY
OF INCENDIARY ORIGIN.
All the Engines in staten Island Summoned
-Fireboat New Yorker and Several
TUGS Fight the Flames-Shipyard
managed $50, OOO-Gans Suspected.


--F1reboat New Yorker and Several
Tues FIght the Flames-shipyard
MANAGED $50, OOO-GanS Suspected.
The sbipyard Of James Mclean. at the
,oo, OF Arrietta street, Tompkinsvilie
staten Island, and the dock Of the Staten
Island Rapid Transit ferry, on which was
a storeholse, were destroyed by fire last
n,uht. and the Werner Hotel, on the op-
nosite side OF the street, was gutted. Pier
~ the American Cotton docks, which was
filled with cotton. had narrow escape.
Several firemen were injured by the falling
In Of roof.
II ia believed the fire was Of inoendiary
origin. as It seemed TO start In the lumber
ward in several places at once. The flames
were seen for miles and hundreds Of persons
came from South and Midland beaches to
the scene. thinking that their homes might
he in danger. All the fire apparatus on
the island was called out.
The shipyard plant extended 100 feet on
Arrietta street and ran to the water front.
People living in the vicinity OF the shipyard
saw flames bursting forth from a dozen
nlaces in the yard at sl5 last night. The
police we're notified and single fire alarm
was at first sent out, but 1t was quickly
followed by three more alarms, and both the
Edgewater and North Shore departments
were called out.
About 100 firemen joined in fighting the
flames. When it was seen that the cotton
docks we're threatened word was sent to
Manhattan and the fireboat New Yorker
was soon on the scene. The Rapid Transit
Ferry Company sent the tugs Baltimore,
ryo,ora apd Murray to assist.
Within five minutes after the fire started
the whole yard was ablaze, and the flames
spread quickly to the storehouse on tho
ferry dock, which was filed with lumber.
Excelsior Hose Company 1 and the Nj
agara Engine Company, both Of the Edge
water department, were the first to arrive.
and the storehouse roof was then all ablaze.
The men started to fight the flames from
the inside Of the storebouse. and while they
were thus engaged the roof fell In on
five men.
Fireman William Ryan, who escaped
when the roof crashed in, pulled his five
comrades from the wreckage and got them
to place Of safety.
The injured men are George Stumpe,
John McCaffrey and James Tracey Of
Excelsior Hose Company, and Thomas
Garrigan and Andrew O'Brien Of Mag
ara Engine Company. They are all burned
about the heads and hands, but none Is
dangerously hurt. After their injuries
we're dressed they were sent to their homes.
Several other fremen were partly over
come by smoke and heat but soon recovered.
From the shipyard and warehouse sparks
flew to the Werner Hotel across the street,
and the roof was soon ablaze. 1t has not
been used as hotel for several yearA
John Swanson. his wife and two small
children lived on the second floor. They
we're all got out safely by the fremen.
Some OF the fremen entered the hotel and
went up to the roof to fight the flames,
but when they reached it 1t was half con-
sumed, 81.
Their escape vas cut OF while they were
trying to get a stream Of water on the
flames and they shouted to their COM
rades on the street below to put up ladders.
The department on Staten Island u not
supplied with scaling ladders. Two ladders
were fastened together. however. and all
were brought down safely.
The Werner Hotel djoins tho American
Cotton docks, and burning embers were
carried by the strong southerly wind that
was blowing to the roof Of the warehouse
on the cotton docks. Tho hreboat and tho
tugs poured such volume Of water on the
roof. however. that the hrs did little
damage and the cotton docks and the
hundreds OF bales OF cotton On them
escaped destruction.
The losses are estimated as fol1ows:
shipyard plant, $40, 900; ferry docks, 5000;
Werner Hotel $4,000. The loss Is partly
covered by insurance.
Fire Marshal James Lestrange and the
police will make an investigation as to the
origin Of the fire. A gang OF rowdies had
been in the habit OF hanging around the
docks at night and it is thought they may
know something about how the fire started.
Several persons living in the vicinity are
positive that the flames burst simultan-
eously from dozen different places in the
yard. and the police think that the blaze
ba Il, -