The evening world., 1912-06-03
ROOF BLOWN Off
BY EXPLOSION IN
BLAZING BUILDING
Rare Linens and Laces De.
Stroyed in the Wholesale
Dry Goods District.
DAMAGE IS 100000.
Million Gallons If \N,iar liz
DAMAGE IS 100000.
Million Gallons of Water I'm.
der High Pressure Prevent
a Disastrous Blaze.

one million gallons Of water driveI
through high pressure lines prevented ,
disastrous CONFEDERATION In White stree
to-day. but could not save the six-stor,
building at No. IL. where 10000 wortl
OF Irish linen and laco and shirts wer.
destroyed. as well As the Interior Of rh,
building from sub-ccllar to roof.
With hre Companies located n block
away the apparatus did not get TO the
burning structure until n back draughi
had blown out the upper facade OF the
building and part OF the roof. A second
and third alarm were sent In as fast as
the commanders OF bataliions arrived.
The fiirc started In either the sub-ceilar
or cellar OF the building In which hun.
dreds Of cases OF Irish lace beion gin 4
to Ireland Brothers were stored. This
concern occupied the cellars and the
ground floor. The upper floors were oc.
cupied by I. Gitenstein. manufacturer
OF shirts.
II was almost o'clock before Pa.
trolman Murphy Of the Leonard street
station noticed a lurid glare back OF
the fourth. NTH ana slxth story win
dows. The fire had, burned up through
the elevator SHAFT and muhroomed In
the upper floors. As he watched he
saw smoke curl up from under the
cornice. whereat he jumped to a IRE
call box.
Two minutes later Deputy Chief King
whirled around the corner and narrowly
escaped death 40 the upper part Of the
building blew out with roar that shook
the neighborhood.
Bricks fell around him. but neither
he nor his horse was injured. The
Deputy Chief darted to the signal bog
and turned In . second alarm. A few
minutes later Acting Chief Martin
came along and turned In . third
alarm.
The are had probably smouidsrsd q
long time In the cellar before andins .
draught In tho elevator shaft. This
shaft had sent . column Of name ss
high ~ the root. whore II mush.
roomed. eating IL way through the
closed upper floors. but swing no evi-
dence Of tn presence on the outside
until II burst with q terrific explosion.
FiREMEN HAD TO FIGHT WAY
THROUGH sM0kE.
The FIRST companies of nrsmen to en-
ter the building had to night their way
. "a ne
flame that Kicked at them on every
hand. Minor explosions followed the
FIRST big bang that tore away the front
OF tho upper stories. and Assistant
Foreman Otto KinG was 30 badly hurt
by nylns glass and debris that he had
to be taken TO the Hudson Street Hos
pitAL
were connected the nremen fought the
blaze from the adjoining roofs and from
front and rear. pouring q tremendous
food Of water on the flames and beat
ing them down by sheer liquid weight.
Acting Chief Martin asked the high
pressure station for all the pressure he
thought his lines would stand ana 4
was not until $4,000 gallons OF water
had been poured into the building that
the pressure was eased on. Altogether
1900. 80 gallons Of water were used be-
fore the fre was completely under con-
troll and the adjoining buildings saved.
Nos. II and I6 White street 10 oceu-
pied by Castle. ireland a. Co. lace and
linen importers. and while the fire was
kept out OF their lofts. 4 food Of water
streamed In and did an immense amount
OF damage. There was heavy water
damage also In No. 10 Waite street. oc-
aupied by scofeld & Co.. manufacturer
Of hosiery.
Four companies OF nremen. under
Deputy Chief King. went to tho roofs
Of Nos. 8. II and 10 Walker street and
poured cataracts Of water on the flames
from there. Acting Chief Martin di.
rected operations from the roof OF No.
10 White street. where he was Joined
by Deputy Commissioners olvanney
The dense masses OF smoke that
poured through the roof OF the burn
ing building and enveloped the ctes-
and again. but did not prevent them
from keeping a constant play OF water
an the blaze,
So great was the food OF water used
that the cellars all along the side OF the
clock where the IRE burned were Hood
ei and overiowed into the street. A
river OF water poured down the street
10 West broadway and the fremen and
policemen within the fre lines were con-
stantly SHINING into A and being swept
along the cutters. At s.%5 o'clock Acting
Chief Martin sent word TO the high
pressure station that he had the fire
well In hand and that the pressure could
be lowered to normal. Half an hour
later there was only smoke and damp
In the Quilted building.