Evening star., 1924-11-30

ing. Before this catastrophe had oc-
Cured, the companies which had
responded to the fifth alarm had
been assigned positions in the build
ings to the east and north. where
they connected to the standpipes and
threw powerful streams into the
upper floors Of the burning structure.
Their efforts were successful, and at
this point the flames were held in
check.
Capt. Farley of Hook and Ladder
now reported to me that he and
his men had removed Capt. Bass and
some members OF Engine Company
and Hook and Ladder 1 from the
collapsed part of the building.
then ordered a roll call and discover
ed that Battalion Chief Walsh was
missing. a search party was sent to
rescue him. but failed In the attempt.
! learned that as Chief Walsh was
about to descend the stairs to the
third floor the unmistakable rumble
Of falling walls warned him OF his
danger. Had he remained whore he
was, he would have been unscathed,
but he sprang over the rail- and DASH
ed towards a door on the left lead
ing to Nassau street. Could he have
reached it he would have cheated
fate, as did two of his comrades: but
he was buried in the wreckage with
in two feet of safety.
Never have / known a man more
devoted to his calling: il was the
breath of his existence. Brave as
lion, and loving a fight for it's own
sake. he constantly studied to in
crease his technical skill. 1t was my
knowledge of the man, Of his bulldog
grit and determination to conquer or
die, that caused me to be so insist
ent In my commands to him to leave
his post of danger. His heroic spirit
was shown in his last action. Aware
OF peril, he called to Capt. Bass. of
Engine Company 4, Go at once.
Save yourself and your men," and
the roll of those who have died
nobly in harness.
TT was now that the full forco of
l. the millions of gallons of water
began to tell The water tower on
Nassau street was sending forth a
heavy stream through the two-inch
mast nozzle at a pressure of 120
pounds to the square inch. supplied
by the high-pressure main in Maiden
lane. This was directed against the
flames roaring through the Lawyers
Club on the fourth floor. while from
the roof Of the bank across Nassau
street, Acting Battlion Chief Kelly
was performing admirable service.
On the south Battalion Chief Rush
had avaiIed himself of the stand
pipes in the buildings and was using
our steamers in conjunction with the
house pumps. thus being able to OBJ
tain a considerable pressure. The
same plan was carried into effect on
Cd
was covered on all sides.
I was congratulating myself that
we were masters Of the situation
when the fury Of the gale increased.
Gusts of wind, attaining velocity
of 20 miles an hour. swept across the
open space formed by Trinity grave
yard at the southwest side of Broad
way. and the mercury fell steadily
and remorselessly.
So intense became the cold that
dripping walls turned to ice and the
streets were frozen lakes, while
enormous volumes of water were
turned to spray by the wind a few
feet from the nozzle. Men were re-
peatedly thrown down In efforts to
cross the path of this hurricane. and
I myself was taken from my feet. not
once, but 20 times. and dashed
against the wall of the building
where I stood.
The Equitable now resembled a
volcano in eruption. Great masses
of granite from it's walls were being
tossed high in the air like thistle
down and exploding hundred feet
above our heads from the intense
heat, their fragments falling IN
meteorlc showers about US.
great section of the outer wall
burst near the corner of Pine street
and Broadway and a piece Of stone
weighing several tons fell near Rob-
ert Manner, with whom / had been
speaking. missing him. it seemed. by
only q few inches. I then closed
that side Of Pine street. even forbid
ding hremen to pass along II. The
intense cold seemed to give the
names peculiar glow. while the
high wind spread them fanwise, flick
ering and beckoning over the Ice
bound streets.
The roof and floors of the Eouita-
Bile Building were heavy, and the in
tensity of the heat was so great that
feared 1t would expand and force
the outer walls. Under such weather
conditions as existed, and In the mar
row streets, this would have been q
serious matter. and every nerve was
strained to its utmost to drive the
fire back and to hold 1t in the center
OF the building. This attempt was
crowned with success, due. not only
to the powerful apparatus at my dis