New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-15
SMOKE BARS FIREMEN.
BAD BLAZE IN cellar.
Many Overcome in Broadzcay Fire
and Sent to HOsmtaI.

In the history of the Fire Department the
fire in the cellar of the Remington Typewriter
Building, at Nos 800 and 327 Broadway, yester
day will go down merely "one alarm fire.
and. as such will scarcely be considered worth
mentioning when the records OF the department
are talked of. But in the recollection Of those
who witnessed the wonderful bravery of the men
who fought the blaze ii will linger long after
fercer fires are forgotten.
The fire was discovered and the alarm
given by John Gill the elevator boy. who found
a heavy cloud of dank, black smoke issuing
from mass of goods in the cellar Here were
stored a large number of typewriters, desks
rubber coverings for the machines. carbon paper
and other stock of the company Gill wasted no
time but shot his elevator to the fifth floor. and,
telling the girls employed there to hurry, carried
them down, in several trips. TO safety. AS d
matter of fact. of the occupants of the
building were al any time IN danger. although
there was much excitement.
Among the first companies to respond to the
alarm was Engine - led by Foreman Dono-
van. From the entrance the cellar. which is
on a level with the Broadway sidewalk huge
volumes of smoke were issuing. Donovan led
his men down the steps TO the cellar hose in
hand. But the fumes were too pungent for
any human being to stand. and they had 10
stagger back to the stairs and climb their way
slowly to the air above there falling limp
and unconscious.
In rapid succession there followed Engines
-, 81 and I and Trucks 8 and I. From each
of the companies the crews braved the sitting
smoke and descended 10 the cellar where they
remained only a few moments before being
overcome So many acts of bravery were per
formed that it would be ihvidious 10 mention
any deed more heroic than the rest. AS a
man dropped in the cellar some comrade would
carry him to the air above. where rescued and
rescuer would be stretched out on the sidewalk
while surgeons from ST. Gregorys. Gouverneur,
New York or the Hudson Street hospital would
bring them back to consciousness Then the
men would go back again, and yet again.
While the fire being fought from the
Broadway side, other men making an at
tack on It from a small alley which separates
the Remington Building from the 1obbng house
Of J. Spencer Turner & Co. Here Chief VI. r
c. Graham of the Sd Battalion assisted by
Fireman Timothy Healy. burst in an iron shut
ter and endeavored TO effect an entrance. Both
he and Healy We're overcome by tho smoke and
tumbled unconscious TO the cellar floor. Fire
Harry HeaIey of Engine II. who is noted
for his strength went down after them and
brought both to the street.
The number Of men who were disabled by the
fire was. taking into consideration the small
number Of companies engaged. almost unpreCe-
dented. At one time there were AT least two
score laid out on the sidewalk. being ministered
to by ambulance surgeons and volunteers Among
the latter were many of the Remington com
pany's employees. who. their first alarm passed.
returned to the scene and did splendid work as
nurses under the direction Of the surgeons
Eichy and milk and other cooling beverages
were supplied ad libitum by cafes and restaur-
ants in the neghborhood. Most Of the overcome
men were treated on the scene and either re-
turned TO fight the fire or went back to their
headquarters. but a large number were in such
bad shape that they had 10 be taken 10 hospi-
tails The Hudson Street Hospital treated about
a dozen men, Gouverneur Hospital two and
s.. Gregory four. All Of them were able to go
home in a short time, except Fireman Walter
Jones and Fireman Joseph Moore. Of Engine IL.
who remained at the Hudson Street Hospital but
were said 10 be doing we'll last night
A feature OF the blaze was the splendid way
In which the fire lines handled by the
police Inspector Schmittberger was in com
maHd. and he had the reserves from several
nearby precincts called and also turned out the
mounted squad on duty downtown. The result
was that the firemen at no time impeded
and while the Broadway cars were halted for
a time they were set going again more quickly
than is usual The inspector was enthusiastic
about the bravery of the hremen. In all NV
experience never a fire like this" he said
or one where the hremen showed greater
bravery"
While the cause was not absolutely deter
mined. the fire is believed to have been begun
by the dropping Of a lighted candle by an cc-
Vator inspector In rubbish at the bottom Of tn,
elevator shaft. Chief Croker. who did not arrive
until the blaze practically over said that
Inc damage would probably he about $4,000