BROOKLYN, NY: Nov. 5, 1907 — A century-old mansion built by a Dutch family was destroyed by a fire that apparently was started by young boys. The huge house at the corner of North Rockaway Road and Elders Street burned with a fury as Brooklyn firemen struggled to force the stout front doors. The fire gained considerable headway and attracted a large crowd that hampered firefighting. At one point, a fire hose was used to push back the crowd and let firemen do their job. Eventually, the stone walls gave way and the structure collapsed into a smoking heap.
CAMBRIDGE, MA: Nov. 5, 1907 — Five hundred Harvard students helped the local fire department battle a stubborn lodging house blaze in the heart of the college district. Students advised the best positions to direct streams of water and aided in stretching and connecting hoses. Students also lent a hand in removing furniture and other valuables from the fire's path. The fire was held to the original fire building.
DULUTH, MN: Nov. 8, 1907 — A raging fire tore through the Great Northern grain elevator, destroying more than 600,000 bushels of wheat before spreading to several other structures including a mill, a large ship moored at a dock, a finishing plant and a large storehouse. Four fire tugs were driven back from the slips by the heat, but they saved several steamers and the adjoining property.
NEW YORK CITY: Nov. 10, 1907 — A man attending a wedding party in Manhattan apparently became involved in a fist fight inside the hall. When he began losing, he went outside to look for a policeman. With none in sight, he pulled a fire alarm box. Three minutes later, several fire apparatus and a policeman arrived. The man explained why he pulled the alarm box to the cop and was promptly arrested.
IQUIQU, CHILE: Nov. 10, 1907 — A fire in a poor residential section of the town quickly became out of control. Flames leaped from wooden structure to wooden structure in the tightly packed poor area. Seven and a half blocks of housing was destroyed causing more than $1 million in damage. More than 2,000 people were left homeless.
BAY ST. LOUIS, MS: Nov. 16, 1907 — A fire swept by high gulf winds burned everything in its path and caused nearly a quarter-million dollars in damage. Included in the destruction were the Oisane Theatre, the Hotel Clifton, a telephone building, St. Joseph's Convent, a parsonage and the Catholic Church.
PHILADELPHIA: Nov. 16, 1907 — For more than 50 years, Abraham Bender had been growing a beard which, until this morning reached down to his knees. In two seconds, it went up in smoke despite the fact that Engine 10 hurriedly answered the alarm. Two young men were held on bail for igniting the beard as a prank. The firehouse, just feet away, responded immediately, but the damage was already done.
NEW YORK CITY: Nov. 18, 1907 — Huge crowds gathered at the corner of 142nd Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem as a distraught young woman threatened suicide from the ledge of a building 75 feet above the sidewalk. Walking back and forth along the stone ledge of the building, she taunted the crowd below as firemen from Ladder 28 slowly moved into position. As she moved toward one partially hidden fireman named Quinn, he reached out to grab her. They struggled on the small ledge until other hands could assist Quinn and pull the young woman inside to safety.
TARRYTOWN, NY: Nov. 18, 1907 — A fire started in the home of George Orris and quickly spread to several nearby cottages before extending to the new cow barns of William Rockefeller. The new building housed many prized cattle, and the animals were trapped by the fast-spreading flames. Arriving firemen were helpless as there was no adequate water supply to fight the blaze.
MANLY, LA: Nov. 18, 1907 — An early-morning fire swept through the business district during the late night. Numerous wood buildings were ablaze as the fire edged closer to several large brick structures. At this point, firemen made a stand and halted the blaze.
PAUL HASHAGEN, a Firehouse® contributing editor, is a retired FDNY firefighter who was assigned to Rescue Company 1 in Manhattan. He is also an ex-chief of the Freeport, NY, Fire Department. Hashagen is the author of FDNY 1865-2000: Millennium Book, a history of the New York City Fire Department, and other fire service history books.
