Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-05
New York Firemen Display
Extreme Bravery.
Fight Flames Until Most Of their
Clothing IS Burned OF.
ExtInguish Blaze and Save Many
Tenements From Burning.

New York, Nov. 4.-Fire in the large
eix-story factory building, running
from 533 to 500 West 18th street. early
Saturday, sent s250.000 worth of prop
erty I'D in smoke and flame, drove
thousands Of persons living in nearby
tenements to the street and gave 23 fire
fighters a chance to get their names on
the roll of honor
Seldom has the New York fire depart
nent been called upon to fight a more
dangerous fire. Every tenement house
in the vicinity was smoking not and
seemed ready to break into flames for
an hour or more, and only the risk OF
Me by the f1remen prevented a disaster.
The blaze was discovered by Herman
Kramer, q night Waterman in Jacobs
Bros piano factory. 1t was in the base
ment, and was burning furiously when
Engine l, under Capt. Ahearn: Engine
Is, under Capt. Brennan, and Hook and
Ladder Company s, under Capt. FitZ-
gerald, came up.
Flames had climbed to the second
floor, and were shooting out through
the doors and windows when Chief
Devanny called to the % men cOmpris-
ing the three companies: Get into the
building"
Other engines and hook and ladder
comDanies were on the scene by this
time, but the firemen who get to a blaze
first are always honored by the chief
in charge in being sent to the danger
spots.
The men. without a moments kesita-
ton, rushed into the building. They
r I, ;nI, time
was like a furnace. Those who saw
the f1remen enter the cellar, believed
they were going to their death.
Then there came roar that was like
the bursting of a cannon. a barrel Of
polishing fluid had exploded, and the
stuff was hurled about the basement
and over the clothes of the firemen.
The men were forced to run for their
lives. Some Of them could not run as
so much smoke and heat had been
taken into their lungs. Their COM
panions assisted them and they got to
the open air with the flesh on their
faces and hands blistered and their
clothes scorched.
The exploding oil seemed to give the
flames fresh impetus. They climbed
from floor to floor and shot out above
the roof. Now and then n gust of wind
would "N'r. the tongues of fire in the
dir no. ~ the tcnements.
sec"',i alarm brought Chief Croker
He sounded a third for engines. The
police were told to clear all tcnements
In the neighborhood. The awakened
families fled to the street. many of
them I'm their night clothes.
The factory building was made of
Georgia pine, which burned slowly and
gave forth 4 lur:d flame that was 50 hot
that the firemcn were driven back Tho
place was like a red oven when Chief
Croker called to Capt Ianly of Engine,
Co. IA:
'Will you so In there and test the first
floor"
IF am told to- replied Hanly
Its dangerow,." suggested the chief;
''but go. If you will"
Hanly leaped toward the BURNING, build
Ing. He ran through the flames ana then
made his way into the ground floor Such
w3s the heat that His hair was singctl
and his face was blackencd, but he went
to every part of the floor. testing its
strength.
While he worked the men on the street
marvelled that he was not burned to n
crisp. Once or twice. as there was a
burst Of smoke or flame. he was hidden
from view and he was thought to have
persisted.
Suddenly IIanly came plunging from
the building. For 4 few seconds Il" was
breathlcss. Then he called out quietly:
Its all right. chief; the floor will hold
the men,
Then Chief Croker sent men into the
flaming building. So hot was it that they
worked in relays. hut soon water was be
ing hurled through the center of the
blaze. and half an hour later there was
no danger of the fire spreading.
When the fire was out the men who
had become wcllngh exhausted went
back to their engine houses. some Of them
with clothes almost burned from their
bodies
The loss includes Coo finished pianos and
1000 more that were nearing completion.
ANNIVERSARY OBSERVED.