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| Williamsburg Bridge after November 10 fire. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, November 11, 1902.
GREAT BRIDGE AFIRE.
Tower of the New East River Bridge Destroyed.
THREE MEN THROWN INTO RIVER.
Spectacular Blaze 355 Feet Above the Water—Too High to Be Reached by Apparatus—A Million Feet of Blazing Lumber Fell Into River—Escape of Vessels.
New York, Nov. 11.—The new East river bridge in process of construction between New York and Brooklyn was damaged to the amount of at least half a million dollars last night by fire that for four hours raged 355 feet in the air on the summit of the great steel tower on the New York side.
Three men who were at work on the top of the tower when the fire broke out are reported to have fallen into the river.
Owing to the enormous height of the tower it was utterly impossible to reach the fire with any apparatus in the fire department and the flame, after devouring all the wood work on the top of the tower seized on the timber false work of the two footbridges suspended from the main cables, burning away the supports until nearly a million feet of blazing lumber fell with a mighty splash and hiss into the stream.
The fall of the foot bridge carried away scores of the lighter cables and guys, which trailed in the water, rendering it necessary for the police to stop all traffic up and down the river. The Fall River steamer Puritan and several other craft had narrow escapes while running the gauntlet of fiery brands that fell in showers from the burning bridge.
The fire was the most spectacular conflagration that has ever been seen in New York, the great body of flames being visible all over the city and lighting up the river and shores for miles up and down stream.
The fire started in a tool shed in which there were several forges used for heating rivets and from this spread to the great timber framework, where many casks of oil and tar and other inflammable material were located.
Within five minutes after the first discovery of the fire the whole top of the tower was in a blaze. The firemen succeeded after an hour's struggle in dragging 700 feet of hose to the top of the tower, but the pressure repeatedly burst the hose and the firemen were forced to retreat to the steel frame of the structure and watch the woodwork burn until the foot bridges fell, carrying with them many tons of bolts and rivets and tools.
At that moment the Brooklyn fire boat David A. Boody was just below the bridge and a heavy steel beam fell on her, breaking her rudder and sending her drifting helpless down stream. The Fall River steamer Priscilla, which followed in the wake of the Puritan, turned back rather than run through the hail of fire and steel from the bridge. She put back to her dock and her passengers were forwarded by train.
Daniel Brophy and his brother John of Montreal, A. P. McBride and an unknown man were reported to have been at work on the tower when the fire started. While they were helping the firemen to haul up the hose the framework on which they stood collapsed and the two Brophys and the unknown man were hurled into the river. McBride saved himself by catching a piece of projecting steel work.
While the fire was at its height a party of firemen were cut off at the base of the tower where they were exposed to a torrent of brands and red-hot pieces of steel. They were rescued after several had been severely burned.
Brands from the tower set fire to the big storehouse of the Pennsylvania Steel company on the level of the main roadway of the bridge, 125 feet above the water. The storehouse was entirely consumed and its contents of nuts, bolts, rivets and tools were hurled into the river together with two hoisting derricks on the platform.
It was 11 o'clock before the flames devoured everything combustible, leaving only the steel tower and the four great 18 1/2 inch steel cables stretching across the river.
These cables were recently completed save for the steel sheathing, and it is feared that they have been badly damaged by the intense heat. Should it be necessary to replace them the labor of two years would be brought to naught.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
Bond-Hay Treaty.
It is announced from Washington that the Bond-Hay treaty has been signed by Secretary Hay and British Ambassador Herbert. Canadians are informed that the treaty was read in Ottawa before it was signed. Canada stopped the Bond-Blaine treaty, but full authority for its renewal was granted last summer to Premier Bond of Newfoundland, and a treaty was completed by him and Secretary Hay.
This convention establishes partial reciprocity. Facilities are granted to our fishermen in Newfoundland waters, and fish from that island are to come into our ports free or under a low duty. Were it not for the objections of American corporations engaged in fishing the same arrangement might be made with Canada. Possibly some arrangement will eventually be made. The supply of fish in American waters is being rapidly exhausted, and is not likely to be soon restored by the work of the fish commission. When Canada concludes to drop her absurd claims about the Alaska boundary it will be possible to negotiate.
ODD FELLOWS NIGHT.
Vesta Lodge Entertains Over Five Hundred Visitors.
A SPECIAL TRAIN FROM AUBURN
Brings Representatives from the Prison City, from Moravia, Locke and Groton—Other County Lodges Also Guests—Degree Work in Dramatic Form—A Sumptuous Banquet—A Toast List Following.
Last evening Vesta lodge, No. 255, I. O. O. F., entertained at least 500 members of lodges from Auburn and other places in that vicinity and from lodges in and near Cortland. The first degree was put on in dramatic form and merited the hearty approval that the visitors accorded the effort.
Originally the plan was to entertain 100 members from Hardenburg lodge of Auburn, but the reputation of Vesta lodge in degree work is more than local, and when the special train started out of Auburn last evening it had aboard 207 lodgemen, who wished to see the degree demonstrated. The numbers were augmented at Locke, Moravia and other places along the line, and when it steamed into Cortland it had fully 250 men aboard.
Upon arriving here the visitors were ushered at once to the lodgerooms, where the first degree, under the direction of Mr. James F. Costello, was put on in dramatic form. The work pleased the visitors and was the topic of much favorable comment during the entire evening.
After this a spread was served in the spacious parlors, the capacity of which was taxed to the utmost.
After the spread was over the guests reassembled in the lodgerooms and speeches were in order.
Rev. U. S. Milburn presided as toastmaster and under his genial management the evening was full of spirit and much wit and good natured repartee entered into the program. H. A. Halstead, past grand, C. K. R. Laird, W. E. Rupert, past grand, W. H. Lowe, P. D. D. G. M., E. A. Tuttle, C. G. Adams, past grand and Mr. Kelley, noble grand of Auburn and Moravia, responded.
Representatives from Auburn, Skaneateles, Moravia, Locke, Groton, New Hope, Scott, Preble, Homer, Dryden, McGraw, Cincinnatus and the John L. Lewis lodge were present.
While coming to Cortland on the special train from Auburn the Odd Fellows met with a delay that made them late in Cortland. The engine, which was just out of the repair shop, failed to work, and once on the way the fire had to be drawn. The lodgemen improved the time that the railroad men were busy at the engine in decorating their cars with pumpkins, cornstalks and other field crops gathered from the vicinity.
Daniels' & Swan Bros.' harp orchestra furnished excellent music for the evening.
A SLIGHT FIRE
And a Big Smoke in a Closet in the Squires Building.
At about 5:45 0'clock last night Miss Edith Rice, a member of the Salvation Army who rooms upon the third floor of the Squires building discovered smoke issuing from a coal closet upon that floor and following this up discovered flames in the closet. She at once gave the alarm and the fire bell was sounded from box 432 at the York hotel across the way. The department responded quickly, but no water was thrown. The flames were practically out from buckets of water when the firemen arrived and a chemical extinguisher from the hook and ladder truck finished the business. No damage of any account was done and whatever this was was abundantly covered by insurance.
Auction, Nov. 18.
Henry E. Phelps will sell at auction on Tuesday, Nov. 18, on his farm 2 ½ miles east of McGrawville, fourteen young cows giving milk, twelve dry heifers coming 3 years old, seven heifers coming 2 years old, coming in profit in the spring, one grade Holstein bull coming 2 years old. A choice lot, some of them thoroughbred Holsteins and others high grade Durhams and Holsteins. A quantity of hay and straw will also be sold.
Six months' credit on approved interest-bearing notes payable at National bank of Cortland. Two per cent off for cash. [Paid ad.]
Benn Conger.
CASAR CASE ON TRIAL
Charged With Trying to Blackmail Hon. Benn Conger.
The trial of the case of The People vs. Harlow Casar was begun in Tompkins county at Ithaca yesterday. The defendant was arrested Aug. 9 on the charge of trying to extort $12,000 from Hon. Benn Conger of Groton, which attempt was foiled by a posse of deputies. The Ithaca Journal of last night gives the following account of the opening of the trial:
The prisoner's toilet had been well made. His eye was bright and he showed no signs of anxiety. He wore a black cutaway coat, with vest to match, and a pair of light colored worsted trousers. His linen of white was clean and was set off by a neat black bow tie.
Taking the seat beside his counsel, M. M. Sweetland, the two exchanged good mornings and then entered into a brief, whispered conversation. Throughout the proceeding of selecting the jury the prisoner was alert.
In answer to an inquiry made by Counsel Sweetland, District Attorney Blood explained that Casar would be tried on the point in the indictment alleging blackmail. Some time was consumed in choosing the jury. Each juror was examined separately and under oath.
The panel of jurors was exhausted when twelve men, who were satisfactory to both sides, were found to constitute the Casar jury. The last man called made the twelfth, and just filled the box. These men will decide the fate of the prisoner: Francis L. Nourse, Danby; John Warren, Ulysses; O. M. Newell, Ulysses: Eugene Dorn, Danby; Daniel Harrison, Ulysses; George S. Tucker, Enfield; M. Truman Smith, Ulysses; Judson J. Jennings, Danby; R. J. Rich, Caroline; A. T. Lott, Caroline; Daniel Ogden, Dryden and Frank Moran, Lansing.
It was 2:45 o'clock when the district attorney opened the prosecution. He reviewed the circumstances in which Mr. Conger was ordered to place $6,000 in gold and $6,000 in bills in a black sack, on the Brooks farm in an out of the way place near Groton. This was to be done on Aug. 9. Mr. Blood said he would attempt to show that Harlow Casar wrote the threatening letter which Mr. Conger had received thereby committing the crime of blackmail.
BREVITIES.
—The Fortnightly club will meet tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 with Miss Lillie H. Stone, 18 Arthur-ave.
—There will be a meeting of the Kindergarten association in the Normal kindergarten on Thursday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock.
—The new display advertisements today are—F. E. Brogden, Cough cordial, page 5; G. H. Wiltsie, Dress goods, etc., page 6; A. Mahan, Pianos, page 5; W. W. Walters, Shoes, page 7; M. A. Case, Underwear, etc., page 7; The New York Store, Dry goods, etc., page 4; The Hollister Hardware and Plumbing Co., Hardware, page 8.
—In the editorial page of the Standard today will be found an article under the head of ''Winning two Elections in one,'' which we commend to the notice of our readers, and trust that every one of them will read it carefully. The table of election results and electoral votes of the different states of the Union will be useful for reference in the future.
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