New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-11
BIG CAR BARNS BURN,
SJYTT 4CTOS DESTROYED.
Fire Docs Mach Damage at Eighth
4renue and ,5Oth Street.

IRE destroyed a large portion OF the Metro
ro1-.sn Street Railway Companys car barns at
5o-h street and Eighth avenue and fifty or
.rrv automobiles owned by the New-York
Transportation Company. which occupied a part
~ the building, yesterday afternoon. The smoke
.ro, me fire was so dense that the hremen were
.-.rle "a work long where il penetrated. and
hour and a half a black pail hung over
Frat section Of the city within a radius Of a
nile Of the burning car barns
ne to,al damage is estimated AT between
sN0l0 and $4,000
som after O'Clock smoke was seen issu-
,r- from The top Aoor Of the three story struct-
r-e a. point about two hundred feet west Of
Eighth avenue on the 50th street side. Acting
chef LarCford. who responded on the first
alarm. Immediately sent in SECOND alarm
and FIVE minutes later third alarm was
sounded.
The fire began on the third floor. midway down
ne block in what was reported 10 he rubbish
nile In The repair shops OF the New-York Trans
no-tstior company. The fire quickly spread
throughout the repair shop and worked its way
down staircases and elevator shafts to the
soo- below. The second and third floors. for
distance II go feet in the centre Of the build
i1g soon became roaring hrebox.
while the police reserves Of seven neighbor-
inr stations were trying 10 control q throng
in SON street. the fremen got busy with lad
5e-s and soon started the battle with the
esnes from the roof of the car barns and every
roncetvable position The water pressure was
oV Everybody seemed 10 notice this except
Deputy commissioner Bonner. who told Fire
Commissioner O.Brien that he had heard no
raints about the water supply Despite the
ratement of Deputy Commissioner Bonner. the
--sneu Uele obliged 70 get up on ladders near
he windows 10 get d stream OF water through
hose windows.
Between seven and eight hundred automobiles
we're stored in the garage Of the New-York
TRANSPORTATION Company when the fire broke
gf A number of men got to work removing
these cars which were on the first floor above
M cgr harms and on the top floor. with the re-
81, thar probably only sixty automobiles We're
isstroyed.
acting Chief Langford found his men suffer
1g from The smoke. and the fremen were re-
ared from the building in groups Of four and
are 10 return after they had given their eyes
resi- from the fumes OF smoke. The street.
cars snow ploughs. express cars and fats
we're rolled out into Eighth avenue. and lined
u as Ear south as 39th street Forty-ninth
street from Sixth 10 Tenth avenues, was black
With automobiles, those taken from the car
barns being placed against the curb along this
street other automobiles were stored in Ninth
avenue
OFeu Root. II. general manager Of the Metro
p0itau Street Railway Company, said that the
.oss iC his company would not exceed $1,000
Nr Neade said his loss would not exceed $40
60 while the property loss would be slight IN
comparison
Depu-y Police Commissioner Rhlnelander
Waldo visited the scene Of the fire in one Of the
loios automobiles. Mr.. Waldo met with sew
erE rebGEs from policemen AZ the FIRE, but
Neathere5 every attack Roundsman Hachett,
q the West 47th street station. was directing
nay q dozen members Of the reserves from that
station house. about keeping the CROWDS back.
When Mr Waldo walked west on 5Oth street
toward Ninth avenue. Hackett stopped him.
saying SHARPLY:
% back, young man, you can't pass here
Ny Waldo un5uftoned his coat and showed
ne rounCs1-au his chield. and said
In next iu command" with a smile.
The rOurCsusn helped Mr.. Waldo past with
salute
Inc FIRE ltres We're extended for several blocks
L tle immediate vicinity Of the fire The smoke
entered the subway at J0th street, and 10 some
eAent delayed traffic
-Asrles smith q fireman. Of Hook and Ladder
LoHpa-y p WAS cut about the hands by falling
e. the IRE