New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-06
FOUR FIRE HEROES HURT.
RISK LIVES FOR DUTY.
Fight Flames Where FiUe Gallons
of GasoJene Are Stored.

Knowing that there were five gallons of gaso-
lene stored in the cleaning and dyeing establish
ment Of Michael Cohen, at No. 2O1 Broome-st..
which caught fire last night, four firemen, heed
less Of danger plunged into the blazing room 10
subdue the flames. and few seconds later were
knocked unconscious by a terrific explosion.
But for the herosm Of their comrades and a
policeman they would probably have been
burned 10 death. for following the explosion the
flames shot through the building cutting off
escape on all sides and seemingly booming the
four firemen to death.
Roundsmen Magner, OF the 5th-st. station, and
f1remen who were fighting the flames from the
street heard the explosion. and Immediately
rushed into the building through flame and
smoke and rescued the unconscious men.
The injured
fad ana head SPs6s
HIRscH. Mrs Hannah of No 2os Broome-st,; suffering
from shoek attended by surgeon and removed to home
gqFaed a iSa fas s' head and Sa6S5
MDoNALD Frank acting battalion chief Of the % Bat
Sa0R to uRsG s9ogf fiee 5afe neck a
SMILING Roagd hrenan Of Engine c9DRa8y S 6o
surgeon and sent home.
Michael Cohen was at work in the basement
with two of his employees, Samuel sweiger and
Morris Meyer. window curtain blew against
a stove used for heating irons setting fire to the
woodwork. Cohen and his men tried to ex-
tfnguish the fire, but the flames spread so rap
idly they were forced to fee TO the street.
The upper floors of the building are occupied
by g. Hebrew synag ogue ard a school for Jewish
boys. There were fifty lads in the building at
the time. and a panic ensued soon as the cry
of fire was raised.
Acting Battalion Chief Mcdonald took COM
mand and while-he was about to lead the crew
Of Engine No. 90 into the building. Cohen yelled
that there were five gallons of gasolene in the
rooms that were ablaze. The men were getting
a pipe line ready to drag into the building. when
Chief Mcdonald halted them and said:
Boys, you heard what this fellow has said
five gallons Of gasolene in the place. You know
what that is Now, don't want to order any Of
you in there but some Of US have to go in, and
I'm going to be the first. How many of you
with me ~
Every man IN the company rushed to the chief
and asked that he be one to handle the pipe.
There's no time to lose" said Mcdonald, so
first come first served"
to reach the chiefs side, and the four plunged
through the smoke filed hallway and CROPPED
their way TO the basement. The flames by this
time had eaten through the door and wall. and
were spreading through the hall, but the four
directed the pipe into the room and hit the
Suddenly there was a terrific report. a sheet
of fame shot from the room, enveloping the four
rubber coated men, and dense smoke rolled out
Of the blazing workshop.
Chief Mcdonald and the other three heroes
were thrown headIong to the floor, unconscious
with the flames all around them their races
necks and heads burned
Roundsman Magner and the rest Of Engine
No 55's crew darted through the door ana maze
their way to the basement and dragged ths
unconscious men upstairs and to the street A
hurry call was sent to Gouverneur Hospital ana
the injured men were removed there. The sur
geons say that Mcdonald ketcham and Brocken
are in a serious condition
Meanwhile, there was panic among the PEG
pIe in the big five story tenements on either
side Of the burning building On the TOP moor
~ NJ 203 Mrs Hannah Hirsch had been sick
IN he'd for months. She tried to get out OF the
building, but fell and was fast being sunocaIeo
bv smoke when Policeman Casey, OF tne De5
Iogrcy-s+ station. rushed into the building and
carried her TO safety. 10000
The damage by the fire was about S2'ooo.