. Our firemen. A history of the New York fire departments, volunteer and paid ... 650 engravings; 350 biographies. . which there wasaccess by a trap door. The carpenters shop was on the south side of thetheater, from which it was separated by an iron fire-proof door. It was about 336 Ol K V I K K M K N. six oclock when the flames were discovered, and before the fire-proof doorcould be closed they caughl t he scenery, and, like a Hash, the whole housewas ablaze. When Ihe engines arrived the theater was already carpenters and actors had manfully struggled, but in vain, to save theward
. Our firemen. A history of the New York fire departments, volunteer and paid ... 650 engravings; 350 biographies. . which there wasaccess by a trap door. The carpenters shop was on the south side of thetheater, from which it was separated by an iron fire-proof door. It was about 336 Ol K V I K K M K N. six oclock when the flames were discovered, and before the fire-proof doorcould be closed they caughl t he scenery, and, like a Hash, the whole housewas ablaze. When Ihe engines arrived the theater was already carpenters and actors had manfully struggled, but in vain, to save thewardrobes. Dense volumes of smoke drove them back. The firemen mainlydirected their efforts to saving the block of three-story houses opposite, andsucceeded after great exertions. At first, however, there was greal danger ofa wide-spreading conflagration. One of the greatest calamities feared was lestthe gas-house next the theater should take fire and explode. Happily, bow*ever, the flames did not touch it. When the lire burst through the roof andwindows of the playhouse the scene became one of mingled grandeur and. BURNING OF THE OLD TRIBUNE BUILDING. terror. The roaring of the flames, the breaking of glass, the cracking of theburning rafters, the continuous thud, thud, of the well-manned engines, andthe hoarse voices of the foremen as they gave the necessary directions, allcombined to increase the excitement. In about half an hour the fire was at itsheight, blazing with fearful intensity. The glowing heat was almost unbeara-ble, affecting the houses opposite; it was so intense, indeed, that those buildingswere often concealed under a dense cloud of steam from the constant streamsof water thrown on them by three engines. Soon the roof fell in and the fieryfurnace sent forth a cloud of ignited particles, which spread to a great distance,and endangered the surrounding property. About a quarter before seven thepeak of the rear wall on Elizabeth Street fell outward with a fearful cras
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidourfiremenhi, bookyear1887
