New-York tribune., 1907-06-17
CAB BARNS in RUINS.
CROWD SEES BIG FIRE.
HeaUy Traffic Saves RaiI1cay Com
pqHH from Serious Loss.

About twenty minutes past y o'clock yesterday
afternoon q helper in the barns of the Metro
poli.an Street Railway Company at S5th street and
Madison avenue smoke curling under the door
of stnrerOcnl. For ten minutes the compauy's
men fought tie blaze alone; then still alarm
turned ia. hut the fremen came too late. and in
three hours the building a mass of ruins,
blazing SCH. but gradually being cooled out by
streams frcm moro than twenty engines.
The barns contained few nev at any time,
and yesterday the heavy traffic OF a fine Sunday
had practically emptied them. Eot than
dozen cars were in the building when the fire
started. and nearly all of these pulled
cut. with cracked windows and damaged gear in
como cases. but al IA such shape that they will be
il Use again tomorrow The car barns were com
rietely destroyed
During tho b!aze forty electric automobiles. the
property OF the New York Transportation Com
psny, which were taken from the barns at Goth
street and Eighth avenue at the time OF the fire
there last March, We're DESTROYED. Ihey were OF
an old type and OF no great value. Inc total loss
placed at $250,0Ol This was the fourth disas-
trous fire that has occurred in the barns OF the
railroad company in year.
At No. East S5th street, which is a boarding
house kept by Mrs. Edward Clementes sixteen
women, the ma iority being school teachers. ran to
the street when it discovered that the roof of
the house was ahaze. After getting to the street
many returned to get their clothing and valuabes.
Miss Clara Swensen and Miss Elizabeth GTiggs ran
to the second floor. where they had rooms. and,
after gathering up their belongings started for tho
and sprained her ankle. She fell to the foor ana
her companion lifted her up and carried her down
stairs to the street where others helped her into
nearby house.
T. A. Delaney, superintendent Of transportation
Of the company, said that at the time the fire was
discovered there were two safes in the building
In there was 5000 in cash. and in the other
there about $500. These were locked, he said
ard he did not believe that the contents We're de-
stroyed. Books Of the company were lost he said
The first engine company the scene was No.
p which received still alarm between ten ana
fifteen minutes after the fire started. A second
alarm was at turned in, and. as the flames
lsaped through the roof. a third and fourth. The
fourth alarm brought Acting Chief Binns. who
directed his main efforts to saving the houses IN
S5th and S5th streets adjoining the barns streams
poured down on the burning building from
the roofs OF these houses ana as soon as tne iIIe
was fairly well under control on this side blanket
of water was kept on the walls Of the threatened
houses.
IN Madison avenue the side of the street opposite
20 the barn is lined with new stores. with large
plato glass windows. Every window was cracked
and broken by the heat, which was terl1hc Tor
more tldn two hours. and only the most persistent
work Of the hremen stopped the flames from leap
ing across the as the upper part OF the
walls fell into the street.
Inspector Dillon was in charge Of the police, and
worked for a time under the eye of Deputy Com
missioner Bugher who, however, took no active
part in the fight. Seventy-two ratrolmen ana
three ueutenants kept the curious crowds in check
The lines were drawn at Park avenue and Fifth
avenue and at S4th and SSth streets. Central Park
crowded when the clang OF the engines was
heard, and thousands saw the fire as best they
could from Fifth avenue.
AT first the blaze was spectacular. The flames
shot through the roof and once in a while as a
floor fell in a wall collapsed, great column
OF fire shot up. But it was not long before the
flames were hidden from those outside the fire
Ines by a great pail of yellow smoke, which soon
turned to black The belching smoke from the fire
engines added to the blackness, and for few
blocks the appearance Of the streets was Ike that
OF a heavy fog.
Only one man was hurt. He was a fireman whose
head got in the way Of a falling brick, and after
his hurt was bound up he seemed TO be more wor-
ried because he not allowed to go back 10
work than because of his injury.
The fire is not expected TO cripple the railroad
% any extent. There valuable machinery
IN the barn. and it is understood that the property
was soon To have been used for the erection Of an
apartment house or a hotel II will be difficult TO
find room for the which have been stored in
the barn. because the company's storage place
has been seriously reduced by the destruction OF
the Lenox avenue barns. in Harlem, which oc-
Cured some months ago. There will be some diff
Guilty too. IN arranging the Madison avenue ser
vice. Il has been the custom TO do much switch
ing from northbound TO southoound tracks at this
point and the congestion Of the line has been
much relieved. For day or two this Will prob
ably be impossible
Late last night the fire was practically out, and
hY this morning The last snark will probably he
dead. The fremen worked all night at the ruins
and several streams were kept going.