New-York tribune., 1917-12-31
800 Cars of Merchandise
Menaced, but All Except
Two Are Saved
Jersey Has Big Blaze
Plant Adjoining Federal Ship
building Company Is Dam
aged; Cause Unknown

An Office and storage building Of
the Long Island Railroad in the freight
yards in Long Island City was de-
stroyed last night by fire which
menaceG 500 freight cars. all but two
or which were saved. 1t is believed
that government property was do
stroyed. The damage was sl25,Ooo in
all. Abou, he same time two build
inrs Of the Post & McCord Company
blazed up in the meadows near kear-
ny. y. j., threatening for a time tn
structures Of the Federal Shipbuild-
ing Company.
The blaze in the Long Island City
freight yards was discovered about :
o'clock last night. The building IN
which it started is a corrugated iron
structure, two stories high and run
ming along Jackson Avenue from Arch
10 Crane street. A part Of its first
Foor is given over to freight Offices;
The remainder of the building Is used
Ior the storage Of freight.
Building Completely Gutted
\ half-nour after the FIRE was dis
covered this building had been com
pletelv gutted Everything in ~ was
DESTROYED. In the yards nearby we're
500 freight cars. As soon as u was
seen that the fire was getting OUT oi
hand. switch engines were rushed 70
shunt the cars out of the danger zone
Locomotive whistles chorused with
the sirens Of fire engines. and yardmen
worked frantically in a shower OF
sparks 10 get the cars away safe. All
but two of them we're saved. hese
two were consumed down to the trucks.
Besides the vast amount OF freight
that was burned, all of the records kept
in the Office were destroyed. These IN
cluded not only lists of the material
stored in the building but also bills Of
lading for all the cars in the yard.
The confusion that may result from
this loss is incalculable.
The fire started in the office. There
was a coal stove there which is kept
burning day and night. A half hour
before the first alarm was turned IN
Daniel Sweenv, n special patrolman
by the Long Island Railway,
was in the Office At that time, he
says, everything was all right.
Brakemeu Discover Fire
John Tumulty and Edward Bos-
worth, brakemen, were walking
through the yard when they saw red
glow against the Office window. They
shouted Fire" and Sweeny immedi-
ately turned in an alarm for the
freight yards Own fire engine
BY the time this arrived the flames
had eaten their way through the office
walls and were kindling on the great
masses Of freight piled in the main
part of the building. A city fire alarm
was Immediately turned in, followed
in rapid succession by second and
third.
The fremen had to fight hard TO keep
the flames confined TO the building and
the two freight cars. II is understood
that in the warehouse there was large
Shipment Of government material IN.
tended for Camp Upton. it is also said
that supplies for various munition
plants in Long Island City were also
stored there
The fire in the Office and storehouse
of the Post e McCOrd Company. on the
Kearny Meadows. was visible over
vide stretch Of country. The concern
has been working day and night turn
ing out steel plates and other parts for
the Federal Shipbuilding Company
plant, which adjoins it.
Firemen were called from Jersey City
to help those from Kearny and Engine
9, of Jersey City, lost its smokestack
while speeding under an overhead cross
ing. Permanent water mains had not
Jeen laid and the temporary system was
utterly inadequate. The fremen also
we're bothered by a temperature of
degrees below zero and q brisk wind.
but they prevented flames from spread
ing TO the Federal plant
The Hudson and the harbor carried
more ice foes, according to veteran
,Oatmen, than at any time in twenty
i've years. The Sprite, a tug. was
taught by the ice at its pier in Staple
ton, Staten Island, and sank a few
minutes after its crew scrambled TO
shore. Another tug was frozen into a
arge foe in the Hudson near Yonkers.
put took its plight calmly and flew no
distress signals. The Fort Lee ferry
boats made trips only at long intervals
Through train service generally was
ampered TO a considerable extent and
placards at train gates in the Grand
Central Terminal announced This
rain subject 20 delay owing 10 severe
weather conditions"
-s