New-York tribune., 1907-01-07
THREE FIREMEN LOST.
PLUNGE IN BLAZING PIT;
Battalion chief Hangs by Fingers
When Floor Drops.

Three iremen are believed To have lost their
lives and two battalion chiefs and captain
were injured in a fire which started on the
fourth floor of the six story brick paper factory
at No. ~ Roosevelt street shortly after
O'Clock last night. The burned building was
between the two six story tenements, ana for
This reason Acting Chief Binns turned in three
alarms.
The three fremen who are believed by Chief
Binns to be buried in the ruins Daniel J.
Campbell John ]. G. Seifert and Thomas Len
non. all Of Engine 80. The men were at work
on the third floor when it fell. and they went
down with it. Acting Chief Binns had sounded
a warning q minute before. and the other men
got out in time
Battalion chief William Duffy Of the lst Bat
lalion had narrow escape. He was with the
men Of engines - and 81 on the third floor
of the building. when Acting Chief Rnns gave
the warning for every one 10 leave m" building.
He started Tor the stairway. and just as he
reached it the floor gavS way. Fortunately he
succeeded in seizug the windowsill Of a window
adjoining thc tenement AT No. - Roosevelt
street and there hung shouting for help until
rescued by his companions from the windows of
the tenement. The chief was cut in the alb
domon while being dragged through the window,
but after having the wound dressed he WAS able
10 return TO duty.
Battalion Chief Joseph \. O'Connor of tho 2d
Battalion led his men up the fire escape To the
fourth floor, which filed with dense smoke
but without moments hesitation tho chief en-
tered through a window, telling his men TO walt
outside When he did not return after little
while the men of engines II and - went in to
look for him. They found him lying unconscious
on the floor near the window. and dragged him
out on the fire escape. The fresh air revived
him somewhat and he staggered TO his feet. and,
before any of the men could grab him. fell
through the opening TO the floor below. From
,here he was carried TO the street and DR.. Gates,
of St Gregory's Hospital, attended him. The
doctor found that bones were broken, but
had to administer oxygen before the chief could
be revived sufficiently to get on his feet.
Captain Quinn of Engine 4. received his in
jury on the fire escape on the fourth floor by
accidentally showing his right hand through
pane OF glass He had the hand bound up and
went hack To work.
The aremen Of Engines j. and b had mar
row escape when the third floor FELL and if it
had not been for Chief Binns's warning cry they
would undoubtedly have gone down with the
falling floor 10 certain death. The instant they
heard the shout ;hey dropped the hose and
rushed for the fire escape, just reaching it be-
fore the floor fell with crash and an upward
leap of flame.
The flfe was Il SluDDOil Oilt, anu IL was I"o
hours before it was under control. At one time
it looked as if the tenement houses adjoining
would also catch fire, and the police ordered
every one out but water tower stationed d.
rectly in front OF the burning building finally
drowned out the flames. The firemen also car
ried several lengths Of hose over the roofs OF
the tenement houses in the rear and fought the
fire from there
The building and stock were owned by George
F. Hills. The damage, according to Chief
Binns will be about $4,000. Reserves from
several stations called to keep back the
crowd, attracted by thousands by the flames
shooting from the roof of the building.
At snidnight Chief Binns and Battalion Chier
Guerin made an inspection of the roof OF the
house at No SO Roosevelt street. having been
told by the fremen the roof that there was Serl-
Gus danger of the building falling into the ruins
There was a fissure in the remaining wall of the
ruined factory The walls were beginning to
BUCKLE" and Chief Binns decided that 1t was
safest to rout out the families, including $50
persons from this tenement