Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-17
LOSS OVER MILLION
Flames Sweep Big River Front
Warehouse in New York.
FIVE ALARMS SOUNDED
Engines Pump Floods of Water Into
Huge Structure.
MERCHANTS LOSE HEAVILY
Goods Consigned to Them Are De-
stroyed-Two Firemen Are
Seriously Injured.
MERCHANTS LOSE HEAVILY

NEW YORK, January 1.-THE seven
story warehouse Of the Terminal Storage
Company. occupying full city block
near the North river water front. between
27th and 2sth streets, and containing
merchandise valued at more. than xlu,-
100000. was swept by fire early today.
The fire was discovered few minutes
after midnight. 1t was not under con-
troll until 6:45 o'clock, when the loss was
estimated at s1,25OCOO.
Five alarms, sounded in quick success
sion, summoned to the scene practically
every available piece OF tire-fighting ap-
paratus in Manhattan, and this was re-
inforced by five tireboats, which were
tied up to the steamship piers a block
away. and pumped millions of gallons of
North river water through long lines of
hose and distributed it at high pressure
along the 18th avenue side Of the
building.
Was Modern Building.
The Terminal Storage Company's
warehouse was of brick and concrete
and was regarded as one OF the most
modern buildings in that part Of the
city. Seven stories in height, 1t was
the largest structure Of it's kind In
New York and one Of the largest in the
world. While the building itself was
fireproof and protected by fire walls,
sprinklers and all the modern fire.
prevention and ire-fghting. appliances.
it's contents. consisting mostly of goods
awaiting delivery to the big New York
department stores, were naturally OF
the most infiammable nature.
The building was divided into four
sections by fire walls two feet thick.
One of the sections was controlled by
John Wanamaker and contained mer-
chandise consigned to him. Another
section was rented by Gimbel Brothers,
while the two remaining sections had
as tenants nearly fifty smaller firms.
Two Sections Quilted.
The fire started In tho Wanamaker
compartment and worked it's way through
the fire wall to the Gimbel section. Both
these sections were completely gutted.
but the fire walls between them and the
other compartments held firm, and the
loss. therefore, is confined to the two
firms named
There was no loss Of life but two fire.
men were seriously injured when they
lost control of a high pressure hose. Both
suffered broken bones and internal in
jur.es.
When discovered by a passing patrol
man the flames had already gained sucn
headway that there was little opportunity
to use the fire-fighting devices within the
building. When the firemen arrived, they
found all the windows barred by thick
shutters of solid steel, and this obstacle
caused delays which were very costly.
AS the fire gained headway these bar
riers added danger to the work OF the
firemen, for the heat melted the fasten-
ings and the shutters fell heavily to the
street. Whenever they gave way flames
burst with a roar from the windows, out
the openings Immediately became the tar
gets for great streams OF water.
Flames Seen for Miles.
The flames reached a hundred feet or
more above the roof of the building and
could be plainly seen for miles around.
For time it was thought that the big
steamship piers along the river between
23d street and 3Oth street were In danger.
The building was the scene of similar
fire only two months ago, which caused
a loss of about 100000. A watchman was
burned to death at that time.