New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-17
.F|REMEN HELPLESS 4
TO CHECK FLAMES
Lumber Yard and Stable Burn,
with Engines Useless for
Lack of Water.
FIREBOAT TO THE RESCUE
Nine Horses Perish in Spec
tacular Blaze in The
Bronx-S50,000 .
Damage.

DdludSc.
Once again the almost entire lack -
fire protection i'm certain sections OF Tn.
Bronx was demonstrated last night.
when fire destroyed a large stable and
lumber yard at 1JOth street and the Eas.
River
The flames started about $50 O'Clock.
and first alarm was sent in a few min
utes later. but il was almost o'clock
before the first stream Of water was
played upon them. the firebCat Lawrence
then getting to work The fire engines
reaching the spot were helpless. owing TO
lack OF water pressure. and were com
PEELED to wait in idIeness for the arrival
of the fireboats. The fire did $4,000
damage before il was got under control.
William DunfOrd. "A driver for the
Church F. Gates Lumber Company.
whose lumber yard and stable were d.
strOyed. and William n. Ryan. a fire.
man. of the New York. New Haven a
Hartford Railroad Company. whose
yards adjoin the lumber yard on the
north. We're the first to discover the fire.
They were standing near the stable
horses. and both men rushed 20 the
stable entrance TO rescue the animals
The stable was about two hundred feet
long and ran out over a 1,Oo0-foCt pier.
Met by a Burst OF Flame.
Ryan and DunfOrd threw open ths
door at the northern end of the stable
and were met by a burst Of flame
Wrapping their coats about their heads
they dashed through the smoke and
flames and into the stalls Of the horses.
which by this time were stamping and
kicking violently in their quarters.
/ Almost suffOcated and in constant fear
/ lest the roof of the structure should fall
in. Dunford and Ryan ran from stable to
stable. cutting the ropes which held the
horses. and then driving them 70 the
stable runway so that they could escape
through the doorway.
The men worked as fast as they could
and were successful in saving thirty-One
Of the forty horses in the stables. The
other horses were in the midst Of the
fire. and although they could be distinct
ly heard above the roar OF the flames.
them to their fate.
After they had hitched the rescued
horses I'm a distant part OF the ward.
Ryan and DunfOrd began to 1Ook for a
fire alarm box. but they were forced 20
60 TO LongwOOd and Barry avenues. a
distance of almost a mile. before they
found one After turning in an alarm
they returned to the stables and started
to work tn pull the wagons out 20 safety.
I'm this they we're assisted By several
switchmen and yardmen employed On
the New Haven railroad
Grsppled with the Fire.
The men then got hose and attached
it to standpipe in the factory Of the
\ Pease Piano Company. near by. but
( the small stream Of water had no ap-
preciable effect. While they worked
/ they heard the whistles and bells Of fire
I engines coming across the LOngwood
avenue bridge. which crosses the New
Haven tracks about half a mile south
| of the stable.
/ To reach the fire IL was necessary for
the engines 70 cross a vacant Tot between
the end Of the bridge and the fire. ard
across this lot are two stout wire fences.
The drivers of the engines drove their
horses as far a the end Of the bridge.
when they found that the street was not
cut through and the only thing 10 do
was TO turn back and reach the blsz1
I by way OF the Leggett avenue bridge. a
mile 70 the south.
/ The engines made the detour and
reached the fire after a delay % u1o-a
than twenty minutes. All the vay from,
the Leggett avenue bridge the heavy
engines had 70 travel along a dusty field
road. and the horses We're exhsustsd
when they reached the fire
Battalion Chief Smith. who vas In
charge Of the first engines. attached th~
hose lines. and. finding that there wa.
almost a total lack Of water pressure.
turned in a second alarm and waited FOR
the arrival of the Lawrence from her
berth at the foot Of the East River and
132d street.
Firebost Starts for the Fire.
The large crowds which had gathered
to watch the spectacular blaze gave a