New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-02
I Firenen Barely
Escape Death by
Explosion in Fire

Captain Edward Gallagher OF Hook
and Ladder Company No. and SIX OF
his men were rescued at fire wnicn
completely destroyed the five story
brick building at 2l0 East twenty
third Street last night by the narrow
est Of margins
The fire, which started about 8
o'clock. was discovered by a Waterman.
He traced it TO the top floor, occupied
hy the METROPOLITAN Photo Engraving
Company. BY the time he had turned
in an alarm and the fremon from Hook
and Ladder Company and Engine
Company l6 had reached the building
the blaze had spread TO the fourth floor
and was eating its way rapidly through
the building
Firemen Rush Into Building
Calling to his men to follow him,
Captain Gallagher rushed into the
burning building. Closely following
the men from the truck were fremen
from the engine company, carrying the
first line Of hose.
On the fourth floor, where the smoke
was so thick that the men could not
see their way, one OF their number ac-
cidcntally kicked over d thirty-five gal
Ion carboy Of acid. The explosion
which followed blew the hosemen back
downstairs to the third floor and at
the same time scattered the burning
acid so as TO trap the seven men from
truck 40. : between the stairway and
the windows. Fumes from the acid
H.lco the entire floor and the flames
were spreading ripac.y. Without No
mcnt's hesitation the seven trJCkmen
climbed out of the windows and hung
suspended above the sidewalk.
A. flames shot through the windows,
licking a. their fingers and arms, other
Trcmcn on the street worked feverlSh-
" 70 raise two 4o-foo' ladders on which
they might make their escape. y
Just Saved in Time
Hanging from the window sills with
the captain were Acting Battalion Chief
Gal.arhey. John Creighton, August
Faber, John Horton, John Sauer and
Charles Turbett, all members of the
same truck company. When It seemed
certainty that the men would not
be able 20 hold their positions another
moment in the face Of steadily advanc-
ing flames. the top rung of the ladders
came 20 rest against the sides OF the
building and they lost little time IN
scrambling TO safety. The only one TO
suffer injury was Faber, whose arms
were so badly scorchcd that an ambu-
lance surgeon was called to dress them.
after being taken care Of, however, he
Insisted upon going back 10 the fire.
Three men from the engine company
were painfully hurt in their fall from
the fourth 70 the third floor. Captain
Dennis Mcnamara was the most seri-
ously injured, broken glass giving him
severe cut on the leg. William
Lehman and Herman Heincke, who had
been close beside their captain, had
slight sprains and bruises, none Of
them, however, serious enough TO keep
them away from the fire for more than
a few minutes.
Turn in Second Alarm
Acting Chief Martin, Of the Sixth
Battalion, who reached the building
moment after the explosion Of the acid,
Immediately turned in a second alarm.
The fire attracted an enormous crowd
and il finally became necessary for the
police reserves TO drive hundreds who
had climbed to th" platform Of the
Third Avenue elevated station al
Twenty-third Street to the street.
The cause of the fire has not been
ascertained. The damage to the build
ing was estimated at about $4,000 and
e, lo