Evening star., 1907-08-05
WESTERN UNION FIRE
BIG BUILDING IN NEW YORK
THREATENED.

NEW YORK. August 5.-Fire in a paint
shop this afternoon seriously threatened
the Mall and Express building and the
Western Union building. Soon after the
fire started the Western Union ordered its
employees on the upper floors to descend
to the lower floor.
Fire started In a five-story building oc-
cupied by the F. o. Pierce Paint Company,
and spread rapidly through that building.
In an Incredibly short space Of time the
blaze became so fierce that the tall struc-
ture Of the Mail and Express and also the
Western Union Telegraph Company were
threatened. The flames first threatened
the annex of the Western Union. in which
are situated various offices Of the Western
Union officers. The employees in these Of
fees were at once ordered to leave the
building
The offices Of the Associated Press are
on the same floor as the Headquarters OF
Supt. Milford. in the front OF the build
Ing on the Broadway side.
There was an explosion Of materials In
the paint shop. which gave the fire great
headway and added to the alarm Of per-
sons in the nearby buildings. There was
great excitement in the upper floors of the
Western Union building where more than
1000 persons are employed, many of them
young women, but all left the building In
an orderly manner. However. there was
young women. most of whom were greatly
frightened. Firemen in order to fight the
flames were obliged to destroy six large
Western Union cables.
Clerks Fought the Fire.
A foot court separates the building
in which the fire originated from the
annex Of the Western Union building. AS
the fire burst through the rear of the paint
store 1t swept up this court. which acted as
a natural flue. and licked in the windows
facing upon It, The Western Union fire
hose was coupled up and the employees OF
the building assisted the flremen in getting
streams into the threatened rooms. These
are soaked with water, and II Is probable
that a good many records have been de-
StrOyed
third alarm brought dozens Of fire en-
gines to the scene. and for two docks
around the fire there is an engine coupled
to every hydrant. Traffic on Broadway.
Church. Fulton. Dey and other adjacent
thoroughfares is suspended.
Ticker Out of Service.
Thousands of persons are packed behind
the fire lines. the crowd reaching back
humanity, and st. Paurs churchyard.
which faces the burning building, is also
filled with spectators.
All of the employees of the several large
office and business buildings contiguous to
the fire have been dismissed. and hundreds
of hatlesS girls are congreSated on the
sidewalks. many of them hysterical.
The tiremen are making every effort to
keep the flames away from a fireworks
establishment which is separated from the
burning paint store by narrow vacant
lot which a building has just been de-
moished.
The interruption to the Western Union
cables put the gold and stock ticker serv-
ice out of commission.
The fire brought under control at
2:.5. though the flames were still burning
fiercely on the lower floor of the building.
At the general land Office it was said to-
day that there is nothing on file there to in
dlcate any widespread conspiracy Of the
sort forecasted in the dispatch above.