New-York tribune., 1910-12-01
HURT IN AUTO SHOP FIRE
Employees Have Narrow Escapes
from Leaping Flames.
BLAZE AMID OILS AND PAINT
Whole 57th Street Block Threat
ened-Both Croker and Waldo
Hasten to Scene.

A three-aIarm fire of such proportions
way east and west through the block on
the south side of East 9th street. start
ed at 4;30 o'clock yesterday afternoon
on the third floor of Charles Barry'S car
riage and automobile body repair and
paint shop. at No. 154 East 51th street
Two employees, a painter and a machin-
list, received serious injuries
Driven by q brisk southerly wind
dense volumes of black smoke mingled
with sheets of flame were pouring from
the two upper floors of the four story
building, which stands opposite the
Yorkvitle Courthouse. when the first
engines and hook and ladder trucks ar
rived. less than five minutes after the
first alarm was sent in Chief John
Duffy, of the Eighth Battalion, and
Chief Engineer Turpenny. of the Ninth
Battalion. realizing the danger to sur
rounding property because of the paints,
oils, turpentine and other quick-firing
material in the building, sent in a sec
ond alarm. Fire Commissioner Rhine
lander Waldo and Chief Croker arrived
almost at the same moment and Croker
at once ordered a third alarm
Meanwhile the neighborhood was in an
uproar. Thousands had gathered to view
the fire, giving the reserves from the
East 51st street police station some
trouble for a while.
Ten men were at work in the build
ing when the fire started it is said
from a lighted match dropped too near
a can of benzine on the third floor. and
seven of them either jumped or slid down
pipe to the roof of the adjoining
house to escape the flames
The machinist, Arthur Taylor. twenty
seven years old. Of No 81 Broadway,
and the painter Joseph
Freich. thirty-three years old. of No. 462
East 10th street. We're trapped on the
two upper floors. where the flames
spread with Hghtninglike rapidity and
under the roof for a few
moments before bursting through
The building was literally crammed
with carriage and automobile bodies in
various stages of repair. Freich was
floor. when he saw a burst of flame In
trying to extinguish it with a pail of
water both his arms were burned to the
elbow. Cut off from escape going down.
stairs, he ran screaming with pain to a
rear window. through which he climbed
to the roof of an extension, and then
was helped down by the ffremen.
Taylor was not SO lucky. Finding
himself hemmed in on the top floor by
the flames. he jumped from the rear
to the roof. about ten feet be-
low He landed on his hands and both of
them were badly injured
Scott H. Anderson, of No 43i West
124th street and John J. Carolan. a let
terer. of No q: RyersOn street, Brook
lyn, were working on the second floor
and were baEely able TO escape. They
had 10 grope their way down the stairs
through binding smoke. The other
workmen. with the proprietor. his son
and many volunteers. saved two valuable
by rolling them out into the
street from the ground floor Just after
Taylor and Freich escaped there was
terrific explosion on the third floor
DR. Botsford and DIR. Knapp, who came
from Flower Hospital in the ambulance
found F'reich and Taylor at No. 162 East
51th street Mrs. Marie Stewart had
thrown open her fat on the third floor
for the injured men. who had been car
ried into the building by the firemen.
Their wounds were dressed and they de-
cided to go home.
Mr.. Barry said last night that the
damage was not less than $4,000. Many
horses We're taken from adjoining
stables. where they were supposed to be
in danger About fifty We're taken out
bv j. J. Mills and w. 5. Titus, agents
of the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty To Animals
Miss Mary Barry. the young daughter
of the proprietor, and secretary for the
concern, entered the smoke filled offices
on the ground floor and closed the safe
Then she caught up some of the more
valuable of the account books and made
her way to the street. She tainted after
depositing the books in the Yorkville
Court