Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-26
Twenty-Five Succumb to Gas
and Smoke at. Fire.
DEPUTYcH!EFT TWICE SAVED
Shannon, Unconscious, Found in
Rising Pool Of Water.
SURGEONS REVIVE VICTIMS
Men Rush Into Cellar to Put Out
Flames-Persist in Work
Despite Danger.

Special Dispatch to The star.
NEW YORK. July 25-Twenty- Ave Are
men, among them Acting Deputy Chief
John Shannon. were overcome by gas and
smoke this afternoon at a fire in the eel
lar of the four-story brick building at
the southeast corner Of Broadway and
4th street.
The damage, principally to the stock
of C. II. Tenney. a halter. Of Mercer
and 4th streets, was estimated at $4,000.
The fire was discovered shortly after 2
o'clock. Smoke was then seen issuing
from the freight elevator shaft on the
4th street side. The building had been
closed since shortly after noon.
When tho first hrenen responded they
were compelled to break into the doors
leading to the elevator shaft before they
were able to ascertain whence the smoke
was coming. It was seen that the fire
was located either in the cellar or the
subcellar Streams were placed at graf
ines, while q heavy stream from one Of
the new salt water mains was poured Into
the elevator shaft.
Shannon Leads Way.
AS soon as Shannon. who commanded
the sixth battalion, arrived he sent IN q
second alarm, which brought CHIEF Croker.
The smoke in the cellar had somewhat
subsidized when Shannon led some Of his
men into the darkness.
Those who had gone in last called back
that they needed assistance. Other men
Capt. Edward O'Connor Of engine 70
had fallen at the foot OF the ladder down
which the men had gone. he was the
first brought to the street.
Then the men helped Shannon to the
sidewalk. There he remained only long
enough to get a breath Of fresh air. He
went to the cellar again. Then Tor some
time no one saw ham.
In the meantime ambulance calls were
sent in. There were ambulances from
Bellevue, New York and st. Vincent's hos
pitfalls. DIR. Pooley, who came with the
first ambulance from Bellevue. went into
the cellar.
There. by attending the men. he was
enough to admit Of their getting to the
street. Others, however. were not 30
fortunate. They had to be brought up
bodily.
Found in Pool Of Water.
Shannon was found in the subcellar.
lying on his back unconscious in the wa
ter that was momentarily rising. His
rescue at this moment may have saved
him from drowning. Other men. as they
fell. dropped into the water. which was
nearly a foot deep. But the water re-
vived them, and they staggered to their
feet.
AS fast as they were brought to the
street they were laid on the sidewalk and
attended by surgeons.
Chief Croker mad a tiff with two sur
geons in charge of ambulances from st.
Vincent's Hospital because they started
to the hospital with men in their ambu-
lances. The men were not allowed to 60.
After that none was put in an ambulance.
The entire companies Of engines Is. %
and 80 were knocked out by the escaping
gas and smoke. as were several of the
crews of engine IS and truck 8, and pa
troll 2.
1t was nearly two hours before the fire
was out and the last man able to leave
the scene. The origin of the fire is not
known.
The first floor Of the building is occupied
by the Northern Bank of New York. The
fire was In the subcellar below the bank.
Flames did not work their way into the
bank itself Wooden stock used in the
manufacture of hats was the principal
material in the 4uhcellar