The evening world., 1911-03-08
Charred Timbers Of Third
Story Collapse and Men
Narrowly Escape.
CROKER LEADS G
Three Slide to Basement,
Others Cling to Sill and
Walls.

Up on the thru Hoor OF the big build
Eng at No. g7 Third avenue. which
burned TO a shell last night, six fire.
men we're at work to-day we;tins down
the ~ice-hung and ruined interior. They
were Paul Enders. Michael Stephens.
Patrick Murphy. Robert Garrison and
Arthur Charzneau OF Hook and Ladder
Company No. l6. in Eas, s!xty-seventh
street. and Richard Hughes OF Engine
Company No. "a 81 LAST Fortie;h
street.
All Of a sudden there was a roar and
q splitting, rending sound and tho hoor
began TO SIM under their feet. Charz-
neat jumped for C window sill In the
wall and chung there like a squirrel In
a crotch. Garrison and Murphy caught
q brick ledge as the planking gave way
beneath hem and stuck there. half
choked by clouds OF dust and ashes.
Hughes, Enders and Stephens cid
down Q funnel which formed as the
rafters sagged toward the centrs and
dropped not rapidly but none the less
surely clear down 20 the cellar. As
they tumbled they caught at such pro-
3ections as they could reach and in
stead Of being killed they found them
selves In a minute or so waist deep In
the icy water that filled the basement
with tons OF debris poised perilously
Just above their heads.
Croker Leads Rescue.
Almost before they spisshed into their
cold bath the rescue was under way,
led personally by Chief Croker and Bat
TALON Chief Duffy. A squad OF axemen
bored right into the shell and chopped
out the three men In the cellar. They
were covered from read TO foot with
bruises and cuts. half stunned and
more than half drowned. but at the
Presbyterian Hospital. where they were
rushed In an ambulance. the surgeon.
DR.. McBurney, said they would be all
right In a few hours. lie didn't think
any of them had bsen internally In
jured.
While the frst squad was digging on
Hughes. Stephens and Enders anothe
group OF men had thrown ladders vi
against the side walls and was brNdg
Ing the yawnlng hoe TO where Charz
neau. Murphy and Garrison were cling
ing. These three came down unhur
except for small cuts ana Commissions.
After that Chief Croker ordered tn
men to stay outside the wrecked build
ing. He intimated that he might pull
down some OF the walls,
Mayor Watched Blaze.
When Mayor Gaynor rolled away I
his automobile from the scene of the fir
last night he was more convinced tina
ever that Chief Croker and his men ar
q brave and able lot. A crowd OF owe
10000 who watched the blaze agree
witt him.
The building where the fire stare,
had been occupied until a month ago b.
II. " Monahan q Sons. furniture Geal
efG IL was being made over for use a
moving picture theatre and the flame
spread rapidly through the vacant room
10 IN = nat extended TO Nos. 2O3 an
o4 Fifty-ninth street and 10 adjoinin
buildings In Third avenue occupied b
Lakes eating and lodging house. an
the Golden Dragon. u Chinese restau
rant. In these two places there wer
about thirty persons. who got out w!:h
out much difficulty.
The flames spread In three direction
from the Monahan Building, which wa
six stories In height, while those whic
surrounded IL were for the most pa
only three stories. Lines Of hose wei
run from the roofs OF these. while other
were trained from the IL" structure, o
which all trafhc wal suspended afte
that one train has been rushed throug
the flames.
The loss altogether amounted
$4,000. though the blaze locked 30 dal
gerous at the start that four alarm
were sent In.