SKYSCRAPER PANIC.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13557, 30 March 1908, Page 7

SKYSCRAPER PANIC.

EXCITING- RESCUES- ! DARING LEAI'S. I A budden calamity lias utterly destroyed the complacent confidence, of New York in the safety of ilis skyscrapers. All skyscrapers are* supposed to be fireproof, Yet recently, in full view of a multitude of 50,000 terrified people,. the great Parker Building, thirteen storeys high, and constructed of steel girders and concrete floors, was gutted by a lire which roared with scorn at the puny elfortis of the fire brigade to extinguish it. Never before had .such a spectacle been witnessed in New York. Starting on the fourth Moor, the home of a celebrated carper emporium, conducted by the Armenian firm of A. M. Karughensian, the flames spread upwards and downwards with lightning rapidity, melting girders and concrete flooring, creating a hurricane blast of wind which blew out the window frames, knocked firemen senseless, and threatened instant destruction to hotete and other buildings within a radius of several streets. Soon the entire skyscraper was enveloped in fire. The inhabitants of the neighbouring premises quitted their homes and rushed panic-stricken into the open-,-- carry-, ing with them such goods and chattels as first came to their hands. From the. Hotel Florence 300 guests ran dow-nstairs without iats or coats to escape the conflagration. While the excitement was. at its • height the forms of six men became dimly discernable on the roof. They had fled from the fifth floor, apparently doonn cd to destruction, for smoke and flames were already issuing from the roof.' Suddenly there was a loud report. A long line shot upwards from a fire gun. It landed in the midst of the despairing group, who : hauled -with frenzied energytill' a heavy rope came into view. This they fastened securely to a chimney. One

bygone the men slid from the dizzy height to "the roof of an hotel six floors below. Tho last man was 25 feet from safety when a burst 'of flame severed the rope, and he 1 fell breaking both ankles. ART COLLECTION DESTROYED. -In the lower stories awful scenes were meanwhile 'being enacted. . Through the fifth floor came .crashing a heavy printing press, .which toro its way cleanthrough to the basement, killing four fire-.

men and burying .twenty others,-, who were subsequently- Through the aperture thus- pEeated yth© flames leapt with ten fold fury, creating a draught which shivered doors and windows, and sent tons of glaas and wooden splinters flying into the street. Four firemen, who were caught in .the • death-trap, leapt from . a height of two stories on to a gigantic wire sign projecting from the fourth floor, and there hung until they were rescued by the fire escapes. Beyond the sixth floor the feeble jetis of water were unable to mount. The water towers failed to fufil their purpose, and hoses burst" asunder under the strain.

Now the rotten hoses -employed by .the fire brigade are the subject of intense indignation. The chief of the brigade declares 'that a completely new outfit> which will cost £50,000, is absolutely, necessary. Fortunately nearly -everybody employed in the great building had left v.<-ik .when the fire broke out, otherwise an' immense number of lives would have-been lost. The: damage to property is immense; it is estimated at £1,500,000. •, '

The entire collection of paintings and bric-a-bac - owned by Mr. Henry. Walter's family of Baltimore, was destroyed. It was stored on the tenth floor, and was worth £400,000. The Oriental rug store belonging to the Karaghensian firm was also completely destroyed. The fact that the fire originated' in the store occupied by them is believed, tq have a sinister significance. Last year the chief of the" firm was shot outside the Parker Buildings'by a Hentschakist Armenian, who is now •awaiting electrocution at Sing-Sing. Within the last few years the Hentschakist leaders in New* York have frequently threatened to execute a spectacular act of revenge unless the murderer was released from prison. Apparently the demolition of the skyscraper constitutes their revenge. Only its steel ribs now remain. At: any moment, they, too, may come crashing down. .