The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-06
FIRE THRILLS
THOUSANDS IN
FIFTH AVENUE
Spectacular 100000 Blaze
Near st. Patrick's De-
strOys Shops.
$1,5OO.OOO GEMS IN
SAFE ARE UNFRAMED

A spectacular hre in the six story
loft building at $40 Fifth avenue. op-
posite 81. Patrick's Cathedral. started
at 7%5 o'clock last night. just In time
10 draw a crowd OF 5000 people who
pas up and down the avenue at that
hour to the theatre or other places OF
entertainment.
When the blaze was under control. at
$3.50. Chief Kenion estimated the dam
age at between $4,000 and 500, 900.
mostly to high class dressmaking es-
tablishmenu. There were two alarms.
and at times the high shooting flames
on the front Of the building made II
look as IL another might be needed.
Fire Msfshals Prial and eastman be-
gan an investigation soon after the
building cooled which lasted some time.
When they left they said the origin OF
the fire was still sufficiently in doubt to
Justify n more thorough investigation
to-day.
The ringing of the frat alarm ut Po-
lice Headquarters sent an order to Capt.
Gildea Of the Second Branch Detective
Bureau to hurry a wagonload OF de.
tectives to the scene In case the alarm
might mean a bomb explosion in St.
Patrick's Cathedral
Service Not Interrupted.
The detectives found the cathedral un-
touched and the Rev. Father John j,
Byrne conducting a Lenten service with
congregation of 800. lie kept right
on to the end, though fire engines
chugged on the sidewalk almost at the
cathedral door. The detectives did. how
ever. order the crowd to keep . goodly
distance from the cathedral SO that none
might take advantage OF the confusion
and explode bomb.
Fifth avenue from Forty-ninth 10
Fifty second street was filled with hre
apparatus and hose. and the stream OF
automobiles was turned east or west for
three blocks, as were also the Fifth ave.
nue. buses. Later the crowd was pushed
back that far also BY sixty policemen
under Inspector Morris. but still thou
sands Of people stayed on. watching the
flames and showers Of sparks as part OF
the roof fell in.
So far as Chief Kenlon could tell last
night the fre started near the stair
case on the fourth floor which II oc-
Laisa. who deals IN underwear Wher-
ever IL started, the FIRE pretty effectually
destroyed the three top floors. burned
through the roof and demolished pen'
house atop it, The janitor fed over the
roof to the building next door
Before a water tower had driven ths
| flames to the rear Of the l3o FOOT build
ting they streamed out OF the front ant
up into tho air. making fine sight fo'
the crowd. The windows OF the Cit.
| Club. Just north OF the cathedral, and o
the Hotel Birmingham. just south OF II
were filled with people. and at the Bur
| llnsham watchmen were stationed on th'
roof TO watch for sparks and all the win
dows were closed
Firms That suffered.
The firms that were almost entirel,
burned out were the Greenberg Jewelry
Manufacturing Company. y. G. Pietro
tn. sculptor: William Burton. stag
photographer. on the top floor; Lemaitr'
L. Mack dresses. and A. q. Carrick, cor
sets. on the nth floor, and Joseph ant
Katherine Laisia on tho fourth.
There was heavy water damage I,
valuable stocks aud furnishings belong
ing to Miss Rust. who sells laces an'
dresses on the second floor. and to tn
| fine dresSnak KING estaDlSnment OF
Schullck on the third floor. f.. W. Cat
tie. the 1eweller on the ground floor
had $500, 900 in Jewelry In his safe
but got Off easily. He expects his stor
TO be open to-day, The big building
of De Pima. clothing dealers. to tn
south, was not touched, nor was tn
loft building on the north.
Two firemen were injured and had +
he taken to Polyclinic Hospital. but tn
condition OF neither Is serious. Joh
| J. Hamilton OF Engine was overcom
BY smoke and Redmond Woodmeyer o
Truck % was cut by glass. Sobod
else was hurt.
The building belongs to Henry Clew
and was his residence until ne converte
II into a loft building. Only few day
ago he fled suit against Joseph. Inc
charging that his millinery machine
yibrated so inuch that the other tenant
were complaining. Joseph also has
floor In 634 Fifth avenue. next door. an
has cut through the two buildings. II
had s25O,000 worth OF gowns In tn
basement OF 634. and does not knot
how they Jared. Mr. Ciews's suit wa
to be decided to-day.