The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-09
BROADWAY HOTEL IN
PATH OF FIRE PERIL
Smoke From Burning Building
in 28th Street Forces Ex-
odus From the Breslin.

Fire on the third floor CT the twelve
story ONCE building at 10 and Is East
Twenty-eighth street siDouldered for
some time last night before II was dis
covered and an alarm turned in from
Broadway and Twenty eighth street
shortly before 10 o'clock. Within half
an hour II had mushroomed through the
structure TO the roof, Transforming II
into a blazing furnace which threatened
that entire section OF the city. The
Hotel Breslin. at the southeast corner
Of Broadway and Twenty-ninth street,
was directly In rear OF the burning
building and within a few minutes
smoke began pouring through the win
dows of the hotel. Guests were awak-
ened from their sleep by the suffocating
vapor.
"smokey Joe" Martin. acting Fire
Chief. realized the danger and ordered
flremen to notify the hotel management
to get Its guests out. Employees Of the
hotel were sent through the smoke filled
corridors. tapping upon the doors. Half
clothed men and women appeared and
were rapidly shot down to the office
floor by the young women elevator op-
orators, who stuck to their posts with
admirable GOODNESS. In some instances
guests who displayed symptoms OF panic
were au!eted by the demeanor OF the ele-
vator women.
The burning building was on the
northsrly side Of Twenty-eighth street
east of Broadway. II had a frontage Of
rs feet and depth OF 100 feet, with a
large court in the centre. Almost as
soon as Acting Chief Martin arrived he
saw the FIRE was making its way from
the third to the fourth and nth floors
He ordered a second alarm turned In.
and a few minutes later this was sup
plemented by a third. Then at 10 80
O'Clock flames burst through the roof
and fourth alarm was sounded.
From the third TO the twelfth story
the FIRE was roaring before a draft OF
air which came up through the central
court. Cinders were being whirled over
a wide area and the firemen turned their
attention toward saving the Breslin.
which for time seemed In great danger.
Two water towers poured tons Of
water through the upper story windows
OF the ONCE building and lines Of hose
were run through the buildings on
Broadway. south of the Breslin. Other
streams got into action from the Fifth
avenue side.
A tremendous crowd damned into
Broadway and the side streets. blocking
for a time. and Inspector Boland ordered
out the reserves from every station
house in his inspection district Lines
were then formed and the crowd forced
back gradually TO admit OF the passage
OF the fremen and additional apparatus
Scores OF persons were deluged when q
line OF hose burst on Twenty-eighth
street west Of Broadway. There was
hasty scramble to avoid the chilly water
g. 49, Al.
three story brown stone building at
Z. 0 and IL West Twenty eighth street
and from a similar structure at 10 and
IL West Twenty-ninth street. Lines Of
hose were taken through the latter
building and played upon the fire from
the yard. Six streams Of water were
turned on the FIRE from the windows of
the Breslin and others from the hotel
annex on Twenty-ninth street.
Three searchlights aided the water
towers and gradually the deluge from
the high pressure system began to make
It's effect felt. BY II 40 o'clock Acting
Chief Martin said he had the flames
under control and that danger to the
near by buildings was over.
The Bresiin management quieted the
guests by explaining that the hotel was
tireproof. and one by one they returned
TO their rooms, Acting Chief Martin
said the fire was one OF the toughest"
lie ever had to fight
The flames started In Deutsch's wear
,ng apparel shop on the third floor. and
the entire interior of the building was
gated. II wac occupied by manufactur-
ing establishments as well as offices. and
the loss. according to Acting Chief Mar
tin. will exceed 100000.
Proctors Fifth Avenue Theatre is al
most across the street from the scene OF
the fire There was a large audience In
side whom the alarms were turned In
and the apparatus began Changing up
outside. Manager Quaide ordered the
doors closed 10 prevent smoke from en-
tering the auditorium and the perform
ance was continued. Most of those in
the theatre were unaware there had been
a fire In the neighborhood until after
they reached the street.