The New York Herald Newspaper, October 6, 1858, Page 1

‘ J THE NEW.YORK HERALD. WHOLE NO. 8068, LAST OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE Its Sudden and Tota Destruc- tion by Fire. The Splendid Building in Ruins in Half. an Hour. and a Half of Dollars Lost. Over a Million. WORKS OF ART DESTROYED. Thousa ads of Specimens of American Ski a} and Ingenuity Burned Up. Seem. “Engines, Splendid Pianos, Valuable Furs, Stat nes of Washington and Webster, Christ and tt @ Twelve Apostles, the Famous Amazon, Saw- ing Machines, Prize Hats, Premium Ploughs and all Sorts of Agricultural Implements, Preserved Meats, Brilliant Diamonds, Pickles, Atlantic Cable, Carpet Sweepers, Patchwork Bed Quilts of a Thousand Pisces Each, Oils, Fluids, Lamps, Cri- nolines, Rockaways, Big Squashes, Billiard Tables, Monster Pump- king, Elegant Mantillas, Fire Engines, the Calliope, Sheet- ings, Shawls, Firearms, &e., &e., &., Devoured in the Flames. Serious Losses and Sufferings of the Exhibitors. Seenes of Excitement and Alarm Among the Women and Children, THE CRASH OF THE BIG DOME. ONE MAN KILLED. OTHERS SUPPOSED TO BE UNDER THE RUINS, &e., &e., &eo. The Crystal Palace, the scene of so many of the great Public demonstrations which have taken place im this city of late yeare, was totally destroyed last evening by fire, and the site i# now a mase of smoking ruins, Not only the Palace itself, but everything that it contained, was burned up, and the exhibitors at the Great Fair of the American Institute, which was being held there for two weeks past, have lost all they had in the building, ‘There is every reason to believe that the fire was the work of au incendiary, as it orignated ina part of the building in which no fire was used, but which was tilled ‘with inflammable materia), the debris of the Palace, which war put in an out of the way place, for fear of accidents, ‘The fire was first discovered shortly before five o'clock in the afternoon, in the northeast corner of the building, about two hundred fect from where the machinery was on ex hibition, At this time there were about three thousand pereons in the building, mostly women and children, who were viewing the acticles on ex hibition. The building was so large that it proved difficult to epread an alarm, and it was some time before the visiters could be warned of their danger; andl the danger to all in the palace was most imminent, for the flames, when they got under headway, spread with fearful rapidity, and as if by magic the vast edilico was ‘one mass of glowing fire and flame. There were eight hydrants in the building; but the suddenness with which the Gre spread gave the employes of the American Insti- tute no time to use them; and almost before the hose could be screwed on the conflagration had made such headway that all attempts to save anything on exhibition, much lees the building, was entirely useless. ‘The scene in the Palace during the progress of the flames was one of indescribable confusion. A panic place three hours later, there is scarcely a doubt but that thousands of lives would bave been lost, as all could not have passed the doors before the dome fell. ‘The pitch pine which formed the flooring, stairs and fram: work of the entire ‘palace, afforded a most inflamma. bie pabolum for the conflagration to feed upon, and this explaing the reason of its rapid spread. The scene when the fire waa at its height was one of fearful magnificence. The huge dome was like a vast ball of fire, and the flames eaped up its sides in great waves of lurid light. At one time the whole palace was glowing like a burning coal, ‘and vomiting up fire at a rate that would have done credit to Vesuvius. All who witnessed the spectacle declare that it was one of those things rarely scen lifetime. About twenty-five minutes after the fire was first dis covered the dome fell with a fearful crash, and the lames made ove final leap opwards, aud sank to rise no more, To forty minutes from the breaking out of the fire the Palace and al! it contained were totally destroyed; and all that mark the aite of this once proud building are a few standing towors and a smoking heap of ruins. The destruction of this building will recall vividly to the public mind the various demonstrations of which \t as the scene. Commenced shortly after the brilliaut wuccess of the London Crystal Palace, its projectors in dulged in all sorts of golden visions respreting its fature stock Was subseribed jor with avidity, aud ran a great ways above par. It was opened in 1869 with a great fowrieh of trumpets, and the President of the Uninet States, the members of his Cabinet, and the chief State and city dignatarios assisted on the oocasion. But the great exhibition turned out to bo @ failure, as it wa wretchedly mismanaged from the start. To resiseitate th concern after the stock bad fallen a long ways below par Barnum was employed, and he got up a bogus demonstray, Gon that excited come curiosity and much mirth at th- time it took place, Bat Barnum, whose genius alway fails him when he gets beyond a dwarf of a woolly horsey fatien ingloriously in his efforts to put the Palace on i Jogs again, and the stock finally went down to nothing§ ‘The concern finally went into the hands of a receiver, aut the city has lately come into possession of it, as the coud tion of the jease given to the company had got been com plied with by them, For years past it has been used for various public de monstrations<for Jullien concerts, for the fairs of the American Institute, for balls (of whieh the disgraceful one (@f the Hunter Woodis Association was tho most notable), | and lastiy, the great civic cable demonstration which took place on tho let of September laat, Tt will be remembered that the Latéing Observatory, which was erceted along with the Crystal Palnor, ling also ‘veon destrayed by tre, ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE FIRB At about five o'clock last evening a fire was discovered in the north nave of the Chrystal Palace, on tive Forty eocond street side When firgt seem it aapeared &% pro MORNING EDITION—WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1858. ceed from the room used aga tumber room, and in which were stored a large quantity of old patterns left from the World’s Fair. There was no entrance on the north nave, and in the room where the fire is said to have started there was no fire or light o’ any description ever used, The managers of the fair state that there is but little doubt but that the firo was the work of an incendiary. The blaze was discovered almost immediately, and an attempt made to ex- tinguish it by the hose on the premires ; but the water not flowing freely, the flames spread to the ceiling, or under part of the balcony for, when the combustible character of the yellow pine floor- ing fed the devouring element, aud almost immediately enveloped the dome in a mass of flame, when, in from twelve to fiftoen minutes from the firstdiscovery of the fre, the dome fell in with a tremendous crash, and at the expi ration of twenty minutes the entire butlding and its con tents were @ mass of ruins. When the fire was first dis- covered there were about 1,000 persons in the building, and on the alarm being given consternation and fright seized upon the visiters, who rushed wildly in the diree- tion of the exits, crying and screaming in the most pitiable manner, Children were separated from their parents, and friend from friend. Many were knocked down and tram pled under foot, and sustained serious bodily injury. Wi feared, from the rapid spread of the smoke, and the litt knowledge the visiiers had of the means of exit, that seve ral lives have been lost. ‘The persons in the galery were in great joopardy,as in three minutes from the first disco- very of the fire Uie upper part of the building was go filled with smoke that it would have beew impossible for a hu- man being to have existed a minute. Up to the hour our reporter left, however, no body had been fonnd, aud it is to be hoped that all escaped from the building safely. It is impossible to estimate cor- rectly the value of the contributions, but it cannot be far from $300,000. There aye 8,900 contributions, varying in value from a few dollars to ‘ral thousands each. There were three fire engines, Nos, 28, 31 and 16, and No, 1 Hove carriage destroyed. ' There were only a few articles standing close to the doors that were taken out. ‘The heat became 80 ex- cessive that the people had to flee to save themselues from being burned, It seems almost incredible that a strac- ture like the Palace, made of iron, should in the space of twenty minutes be totally destroyed; but such was the case. The appearance of the buruing was grand and sab- lime, presenting the most magnificent tacle ever wit- neased in this city. The Crystal Palace was insured in ten or twelve insurance companies for $6,000 each. Ths destruction by fire sets at rest the dispute between the late association and the city as to its disposal. STATEMENT OF MR. BACON, OF BOSTON. At five minutes past tive o’clock the first alarm was given by some persons in the gallery of the Forty-second street side of the building, calling “Fire! fire!’ 1 was then standing in the centre of the building, nearly under the dome; my attention was at once drawn to to the direction whence emanated the cries,and I tirst saw the flanes right over the Forty-second street entrance. The people in that gallery immediately ted in opposite directions from the fire in dreadful consternation; the greater por- tion—nearly ali—were ladies, and naturally enough their flight was attended with great excitement and cries of fear; J did not, however, perceive any person pushed down or trampied upon.’ Perceiving a hose close by where Tswod, 1 immediately seized it, and with others carried it to a hydrant and attached it; but, from the shallowness of the water in the reservoir, the stream through this hose could not reach the flames; as T saw that our labor was useless, I stood calmly and watched the progress of the flames: the rapidity with which they spread, however, soon suggested the propriet of pre- paring for eecape, Taking what could get of the machine too!s I had on exhibition I hastened to the Fortieth street door for exit. It was with considerable difficulty that persons could get out at the time, as the doorway was jammed by engines and carriages, that son he hurry had tried to save from the flames. Before J eould get out the smoke inside be- came exceedingly oppressive. I had hardly reached For- Heth street when the dome fell with a terrible crash, 1 calculate, though it seems almost incredible, that from the tirst alarm to the fall of the dome, not more thao eleven minutes bad elapsed, MR. JAGGER'S STATEMENT. ‘When the alarm of fire was first made I thonght it was a false alarm. The confusion, however, soon commenced, particularly among the lady portion of the visiters, and wild excitement was soon manifest everywhere. Finding that I could do little to calm those around me, 1 immedi- ately directed them to the way of escape. Tdid not, at that time, believe that the danger was so great; | never- theless concluded that it was better for thom, under their excitement, to leave, in whieh Lalded them as much as possible, Lthen returned to my show case in the nave on Fortieth street. By that time the smoke was rapidly Bing the building. I got allof my goods from the case made the best of fhy way out at the Fortieth street door By the time that I got to the sidewalk the dome of th» building fell. There were many persons in the building at the ime. My opinion is that, from the small. beginning of the fire, had the hose for the prowetion of the building been in proper order and well managed, the building and contents toight have been enved with little trouble, IL saw ‘no one injured but from the crowd I presume that some would be injured by the fire. THE STATEMENT OF A LADY OVTSIDR. Mrs. White, who is boarding in the Marray Hill House, formerly the Fremont House, corner of Forticth street aud Sixth avenue, was sitting at the window, having di reetly in view the Palace, and saw the first indication of fire from the outside. Mrs. White say Shortly after fy clock I was looking at the Palace, when I discovered a very little #moke making ita appear- ance right above the principal entrance from Sixth avenue. Luext saw the dames issuing from the lower part of the dome. The wind wae then blowing in a southeasterly di. rection, which spread the flames with amazing rapiaity, towards Fortieth street. The people inside ruseed out im great confusion by the doors on Sixth avenue and Fortieth street. The crowd seemed so great at the doors that evidently those within were in great danger, I saw o8 Many asa dozen gentlemen leap through the glags on the somth side of the building on to the enclosed ie around. The fre was magnifeent nad publome beyana anything that Dever witnessed. 1 mglthave seen much more of interest, but the order was given to close the inside blinds, as he firemen wo the water upon the hovel to preserve it from The heat inside my room soon became oppreasively hot. MR. NEWTON B. SQUIRE'S STATEMENT. Thad charge of Tiffany & Co.'s goods in the Palace at the time the fire commenced. 1t is generally reported to have been a few minutes after five o'clock when the fire commenced, but [had jest looked at the Palace clock a moment before the first ery of fire was heard, and it was twenty minutes past five o'clock. I wag ranging some cable charms to place on the stand for ex. hibition, Thappemed te look towards the dome, and eaw ‘a dense volume of smoke issuing from the eutrance on Forty eecond street, aud then beard the of fire, Bo. lieving that there was danger, 1 immediately commenced to secure what I could of our articles ou exhibi- ton, As fT was the Forti. Soa “creryiaies’ eet _t cod mt hls et and everything’ — that cow ot T'was met by one of the Palace evinmitiee, who arsured me that there was no cange for alarm, though the perspt- ration of fear and excitement was rolling in torrents down bis own cheeks. Believing otherwiee, I rushed past him made tracks for the door, On arriving there I found it some of the enrploy os had bolted one part of the door, and was about closing the other portion of it, to k current of air from wafting the flames on Tinmoediately a few men took trucks that were cloee at hand, and rushed them the door and broke it down, throngh whieh the pongo ram in the wildest consternation. T newer saw flames aed with such rapidity. Wo had scarcely got out of the butid- ing before it was all in dames, The heat inside was soon Intense and insufferable, Any who had dithoulty io reaching the door must have ran great risk of life, 1 saved probably $250 of . but our lose must be very heavy, We had over $1,000 worth of cable ip our exhi bition, al! of whieh, of course, was destroyed, and pro- ably, from ite tar and gotta percha substance, contr!buted to the grandeur of the general blaze. STATEMENT OF MK. WHRELER. Mr, Wheeler, Jun., of Wheeler & on, Broadway, states: I wns entering the Palace when the first ery of fire was made. 1 immediately rushed to the pictoro gallery, where we bad pictures of penmanship on exhibition, in hopes of saving some. Ry the time that 1 reached there tho flames were about half way to the dome, There were probably apwards of 150 persons in that Nery principally ladies and children. They were ina dredged Ftate of exeltement, and were remning iv will confusion out of that gallery into the main gallery. 1 immediately seized two of our valuable pictures, and placing one unter exch arm, endeavored to gain the door, That not got more than fifty feet from the place where I took them til Lhad to drop them, and fall on the ground, and craw ton my hands and knees beneath the smoke to offect my escape. As I got to the foot of the gallery stairs, pieces 0 the dome were falling, and before f got ten feet from th» stairs the whole dome fell with a tremendons crash, raisin ¢ & terrible smoke, and spreading the flames in every dire tion in awfol grandeur. Twas fortunately well acqnainiet with the Palace, and knew in what difection to move, Otherwise the emoke was so dense T would have had reato + for despairing of making the outsile, Some of the picture that we bad on exhibition were highly valned by us a rare apeeimens of poumanebip, which will require moe time and labor from us to replace, We have probabt Jont about $2,000, STATEMENT? OF OTHERS. ‘Wr. Gibson, who had the sale of the confectionery in the Palace, stated to our reporter that his loss would et cred $2,500. The fitting up of his places for the sale of confectionery in the Palace, in the article of looking alone, cost him #500. The LW of the flames 20 hew dered everybody that very little could he seved. He hod upwards of Six persons engaged in the building as the tine, They yee, enough of time to with their fives oF tm and consequently left all t weale behind. There wan bo ume to i: g Captain EB. 8 Jolmson, superintendent of the Gata Percha Life Boat Company, wae going about tact evening with hic left hand bandaged, which bad been cons! ly burned in his eftorte 10 save hig exhibition Dif boat. He Jates that b't boat's ives 60 Bima bs $690, wai We cout have had numeroos statements from eye wit- nesses inside of the Palace; but the foregoing enibrans the whole of what can be said at the present writing. In fact, the destruction of the buikiing was. achieved in such an incredibly short space of time that it was flight at once, and no time left for observation. A Western exhibitor says that he has sen steamboats in flames, prairies on fire, but he never wit- nessed in any of them the rapid spread of flamos that he aw last night. The engine companies were early at (he conflagration, but could do little to arrest its progress. Amember of Engine Co. No. 18 informed us that that company had rescued @ number of ladies who had fainted inside, and who, when fonud, were utterly helpless, and could do nothing for their escape. Soine of the members of the above compan, lain of some of the directors ob- structing them in their efforts to save the property o exhibitors. They thought that had they been permit at once to demolich the ticket office they could have ¢ out considerable property. In their efforts to do this they were challenged, and ordered to desist. It is very pro bable that the directors had very little idea of the com plete destruction of the Palace. ‘The proprietors of the Muwray Hill House gave every accommodation in their power to who were fortunate enough to save something trom the devouring element, an parlor aust bar were crowded the wholo of the evening with exhibitors. While our reporter was taking down the foregoing statements, one of the exhibitors took the stump in the parlor and announced that the meeting of the exhibitors which was (o have taken place in the palace Jast evening, to protest against the unfair and unjust statements of a city paper, which bad had the teudeucy to discourage many persons from coming from the country to take part at the fair, should take place in the Murray Hill House before mentioned, this morning at $ o'clock. A full attendance war requested and expected. Even though this calamity would render their action in some degree unnecessary, it would nevertheless be the duty of the ex hibitors to meet and reply to the unfair statements referred to, THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. From al! the facts that could be possibly as from parties who were in the Palace atthe time tl originated, there cannot be a doubt but the fire was the work ef an incendiary. From the manner in which the flames shot np there mast have been either turpentine or camphene administered to aid the rapid progress of the fire. The room in which the fire was lirst dixeovered is located directly on the northeast wing, adjoining the stairway leading up to the gallery. It was at one time used for storing old boxes and the like, but at the time of the fire one of the managers stated that there was nothing therein but a quantity of wooden paterns, and the only paper material was some old tickets used at the cable celebration, A strong smell of turpentine, it is said, was pereeived at the beginning of the fire, which shows that there must have been villanous work in the matter, Just previous to the fire, a young lady, who was near atthe time, states that she saw a man come out of the above place: she described him as dressed in black, and that he was the first one, she said, to cry dre. The mana- gers state that the place was closed and a bar placed across the eutrance, so that if any person gained adimit- tance, he did so by taking down the bar. Mr. Brower, one of the managers, was present when the fire originated, and at one time had a very narrow eseape from being canght in the flames, As soon as he heard the ery of fire he ran to the spot, and saw the light of the lire through the glass; he immediately made for the door leading to the room where the fire shot out first und neath the stairway and extended with the greatest rapidi ty to the dome, giving no time to save a single article, so soon did it spread over the building. He, however, se- cured the books and prizes of the Institute and succeeded in getting them ont in safety. Atone time he feared it would immporsible for him to escape by the entrance, and he accordingly knocked out « glass, with the intention of jumping out. Mr. Brower does not think it originated among Mr. Hecker’s boxes, ax reported by many. He says he has not a single doubt but that the fire started in’ the room used for old rubbish, and where, at the time, was a quan- +, of old wooden: erus, here were nine hydrants in the Palace; but, strange to say, none of them had hose attached. A length was ob- tained from a carriage and placed on one of the bydrants and the water turned on, but the man who held the butt was shortly driven from bis post by the heat, NUMBER OF EXHIBITORS AND THEIR 1.088. The total number of exhibitors at this fair was about 3,960. Of these no catalogue has yet been made out, and it is diffleult to get at an estimate of the loss of each ex- hibiter, Some of the articles were, of course, of little or no value, but the majority of the articles were costly , and as they Were not insured, the Joss will fall heavily upon the exuibitors. The average value for each exhibitor Would not fall below $300. At this rate the total Joss would be as follows — 3.960 exhibitors, $300 euch. Cost of building......... 83,788,000 too high, but the item Total 108P.. 6. eee eeee ‘This estimate may be a little soem litle enough. The Palace ie said to have cost between $600,000 and $700,000. Mr. John W. White, who, up to a short tim: ago was receiver, states that there was most of the tin» ‘au insurance 8 the Palace, In June last, when he trans ferred it to the city, be had an insurance of $100,000, 0 thereabouts, on the same in several of the New Yorx companies. He oreaay informed Comptroller Flag: ‘of the fact, Who immediately had the Palace insired 1: the eame companies, and be thinks for about the saim> amount, Should this be the cave the loss on the Valac alone will be about $400,000. The Mechanies’ Institute will sustain a loss of over $10,000. They had a large amonnt of valuable machinery in the engine room—it i# thought that none of it is imsured. The loss to the coniributore, the managers of the Inst! tute estimate at over $600,000, about $160,000 of whieb is known to be insured. There were six hundred more entries during the present season than at any previous one for years; without doubt, therefore, the loss must be ail of, if not more than the above estimate, From all that we were able to learn, but little or nothing was saved; a few pistols, several sewing Machines, ond a few cases were got out, but pearly everything of value was destroyed. DESCRIPTION OF THR BUILDING, ‘We shall now go into the details of the site and size of the building. Reservoir square, on which it was erected, lies at the northern extremity of the city, weet of the Croton Distributing Reservoir, and between that mighty mass of stone’and the Sixth avenue. The precise distance from the Reservoir ta the Sixth avenne ts 445 fect, and the width, north and south, from Fortieth to Forty eecoud street, is 455 feet. The main features of the building werre as follows:—It ‘was, with the exception of the floor, roof and a portion of the donve, entirely constractel of iron and glass. The general idea of the edilice was a Greek crosa, surmounted by adome at the intersection, Each diameter of the cross was 265 fect five inches long. There were three similar en- trances—one on the Sixth avenne, one on Forticth and one on Forty-eecond street, Each entrance was 47 feet wide, and that oo the Sixth avenue was approached by a flight of ‘eight steps, over each front was a large #emicircular fan Night, 41 feet wide and 21 feet high, answering to the arch of the nave. Each arm of the cross was on the ground plan 149 feet broad, This was divided into a central nave and two aisles, one on each side—the nave 41 feet wide, each aisle 64 feet wide. The central portion or nave was car. and the semi cirenlar arch i 3 ? { 2 E the lantern, 149 feet. ph gee es 3 filled op with a triangular lean to feet high, which gave the ground an octagonal shape, each side or face being 149 feet wile, At each . —oe eight feet in diameter and 7 t 5 ‘Ten large and eight winding staircases connected tho Fey beard with the gallery, which opened on the three balconies that were situated over the entrance halls, and afforded ample space for flower decorations, statues, vaees, &e, The ten principal staircases consisted of two flights of steps, with two landing places to each; the eight winding staircases were placed in the octagonal towers, whieh led also to the small balconies on the tops of the towers and to the roof of the bnilding. The building contained on the ground floor 11100 eqnare: feet of space, and in its galleries, which were 64 feet wide, 62,000 square feet more, making a total arca of 173,000 square feet for the purpose of exbibition. There were thus on the groand two acres and a half, or exactly 252-100; in the galleries, one acre and 44 100—total, with in an inconsiderable fraction, four acres. There were on the gens Noor 190 octagonal cast iron cone above the floor, and eight inche diameter, cast hollow, of different thicknesses, hai an inch to one inch. ‘These columns received the east (to 1 girders. These were 26%; feet long and three feet high and served to sustain the galleries and the wrought iron construction of the roof, as well as to brace the whole structure in every direction. The girders, ae well as the second story columns, were fastened to the columns in the firet story by connecting pieces of the same shape as the columns, three feet four inches high, bavin ie wen np ewe all the pieces » its. The number of lower floor girders was 262, besides 12 wronght iron girders of the same height, and 41 foot epan over a part of the nave. The story containet 148 columns, of the same shape as those below, and 17 feet 7 inches high. These received another tier of girders, ninnbering 160, for the support of the roofs of the aisles, each nave being covered by sixteen cast jrom eemi-circu lar arches, each composed of four pieces The dome was sapported by twenty four colamne, which ascended above the second story to a height of 62 feet above the floor, and supported a combination of wrought tron arches and girders, on which rested a cast iron bed plate, 80 constrneted as to receive the thirty-two ribs of the dome. Tho light was communicated to the dome throogh the lantern, as well as from the sides, on which thirty two eseuteheons, in colored glass, remont. ing the arms of the Union and it8 several States, or the emblema of the diffrent mations, formed ‘@ part of the decorations smamente apace: op the Wterior of the dome wae painted jo imijaioa of fresco, the principal colors used being red, white, blue and yellow. e ceilings were ited somewhat after the ‘esque style, and the guards of the galleries and stairs were constructed of iron. band were vory light and beautiful}, and in tine harmony with the general ap- pearance of the building, ee wate of iron used for the building amounted to about tons, The roof covered an area of 144,000 square . ‘The glass for the building amounted to 39,000 square feet, in 9,027 panes, 16 by 34, or 38 inches. ‘On entering the building the observer's eye Was groeted by the vista of an arched nave, 41 feet wide, 67 feet high ‘and 865 feet long; while on approaching the contre he found himself under a dome 100 feet across and 118 feet e general mode of e1 ion by base pieces, columns, connecting pieces and gir wai the same with that of the great Hyde Park building; but the construction of the arched nave and of the dome was of course entirely pocu- Har, and the geners af the building was completely different, The London building was certainly deficient th architectural effect. The form of the New York edifice afforded the requisite scope for a pleasing variety of em bellishment, by which all anonotony could be avoided, and allowed a very economical use of the ground. The dome, independent of its eflect in the interior arrange- ment of the edifice, gave height and majesty to the ex The following are the objects which the architects ap- pear to have endeayored to combine i their plan:— 1, The greatest possible area compatible with the ground pt . Perfect safety and eleganee of construction. 3. A well calculated and Pleasing admission of tight. 4, A variety of coup d'qil in the interior. An additional structure was built in the rear for the working and stationary machinery. This building extend od the whole length of the rear, from Fortieth to Forty- second street, and, with the exception of a portion of the second story, which was reserved fora gallery of paint ings, was mainly cooupied by the machinery. “The boiler was placed in a brick building erected on the north side of Fortieth street, from which the steam was conveyed in pipes or conductors running under ground. ‘The gallery designed for the paintings was admirably adapted for the pui and formed one of the most attractive features of the whole exhibition, It was four hundred and itty feet in jength by twenty-one in width, aud the light was £0 di as to give the best efleet to the paintings, A part of the first story, we should state, was set apart for a refreshment saloon, and was fitted ap in a style corres pending with the general appearance of the building. ‘The building compares, in point of size, and itis thought of beauty, with some of the greatest edi of the Old World; and until the extension of the Capito! at Washing ton is completed, it was the largest in this country. It ‘was he that it would be a great and permanent areh)- tectural ornament to the city. WORKS OF ART DESTROYED. All the statuary and paintings in the palace were, of course, destroyed. Some of the statues were very tine, and ranked high as works of art. The most striking object in the statuary department was the Thorwaldsen group, represeuting our Saviour and the Twelve Apostles, which was greatly admired by all the visiters to the Palage. The figure of Christ was ropre- rented with outstretebed hands, as if in the actof bless. ing—the head slightly inclined. ' The statues of the Apos es etood on smaller pedestals, and were ranged in the form of a semi-circle, Kiss’ equestrian state of the Amazon Attacked by a Lion, attracted very general attention, and was usually sur. rounded by a group of persons. It was a splendid work of art, and its loss will be regretted, An equestrian statne of Washington, life size, by Baron Marocheui. An imposing group and much admired co losal statue of Daniel Webster, in marble, by Caven, of London. Lion and boa constrictor in death struggle. Colossal group of a man straggling with a bear—a very fine piece of statuary. In addition to these were a large number of life sized busts of O'Connell, Moore, Father Mathew, and Washington, in marble and plaster, To. gether with statuettes of nymphs, dryads, satyrs, god desses, &e. ‘The group of the Lovers Going to a Well. Allogether, in the matter of statuary there has beon a serious lose. The destruction of Kiss’ famous statuc is especially to be regretted. ‘ery litle effort had yet been made to fill the picture gallery, and juently in this respect the fine arts do not suiffer material ly. ‘icks, Gurney and some of the minor photographists had placed a few pictures there; and there were seyera! water color and crayon drawings, as also some daube remaiving from the old collection which had not been worth removing. Mr. Brady and several other prominent artists, who contemplated exhibit: fe aaa had net yot placed them in the ARTICLES ON EXHIBITION AND ESTIMATED L089, The following are the names of some of the contribu. tors and about the amount of their losses: — PIANOS, Chick & Co., twelve pianos, valued at $5,000. steinway Co. $3.00 Schultz & Ladol 3 Lamdle: 000. man, $1 . Rord-ran, Gray & Co., $1,000. Saebler & Scbandt one piano, $400. They were to have placed two more in the Palace to-day. Three steam callioper, worth $6,000. SEWING MACHLNES, Grover & Baker, Lad, Webster & Co. Bortholf. N, Finkle. Wheeler & Wilson. Wilcox, of Philadelphia Lk Hanig’a cose of vlectroty pe, loss $1,090. “cms . JARD TANIA, Boseford, Decker, D. Rait, lows $2,900, Tihany & Co., lose $1,000, W. IT. Wiiron, lows $900 in clocks. PHOTOOR API. Frederick. TLV RR WAR. Many, Baldwin & Many. AGRIC DTURAL IMPLEMENTS, RM. Allen, H. F, Dibblee. Mayher & MeNally, tetat 13,500. WAGONS, BTC Stivers & Smith, $6,000, F. Youngs, $2,800. BATS, Be P. Tl. Bigiow, $1,500. TRON FURNITURE, ere. J.B. & WAW. Corneil. AULIMATS AXD 60, of the Rhine and one of the voyage ‘The Putnam Machine Company love a large amount of The American Institute lore about $10,000. Mason & Hamblin, meloteons, $500. 5 eet ee eee ‘Tithny & Co. estimate their loss at over $2,000. The: had about $1,000 worth of Atlantic cable and a valuat ons . One of their clerks was present when the fire and made several attempts to ave their propert in so he was provented, it is said, by tome of the attaches of the Palace. He tinally succeeded in getting the case as far as the door, when acry was raised that the building was falling, and he rushed into the #trcet to save his bife, Hecker & Brothers will sustain a loss of about $500. No RY. Gurney, insurance, BV.B & Co, , dealers in glass and china ware, had a vali Stock of goods in the Palace. Their low will not fall short of $1,000. There were about $15,000 worth of ploughs in the south west corner of the Palace, owned by various parties ; all consumed. Dodworth’s Band had a large quantity of valuable mn- fic, and we understand, a number of pieces of brass in- stroments, which were all destroyed. Their loss will amount to over $500, The giass engine (steam), belonging to A. H. Ogden—a very curioas production—was lost; it was valned at $800, Alfred + Of Parsaic, N. J., bad on exhibition a large quantity of elderberry wine, valued at $180. HL. Hervey, of Quiney, Il. had a surveying instre ment valued at on exhibition, whveh was als lost T. HL. Alexander, of Was! , D.O., had an improved bogey. wheel which was also destroyed. hoe. Boone, of Brooklyn, lost a rope machine valued at B40. In the bat, cap and fur department were three largo cases, one of which contained rich sable, mink, ermine Ateb, &e., valned at 81,000; another with costly trimmed faney beaver and French felt hats for children, and another of hate and caps of rich materials, The whole of of 185 Fulton thie collection, exhibited by F. H. Big! street, Brooklyn, was valued at $1,600, without insurance. , batter, Canal street, had a very tasty assort ts avd caps, bis los will amount to No nee, re. Howard & Davis, of Boston, had a vainablo stock of clocks and watcher, The Waltham Wai Company had a most imposing aveplay of Watehes, were located in the southenst gallery, John N. Genin had about $500 worth of property de- stroyed, a portion of which is said to be insured. Mr. Genin was present at the fire, bet could not tell if he bad ~ insurance on his gools or pot jarney & Hathaway, Connecticut, bad about $2,500 worth of surveying instruments, all Of which were con eumed, ENGINES AND HOSE CARRIAGES DESTROYED. There were in the palace no less than three engines, three hose carriages, and a truck, all of which, with tho exception of the truck and one howe carriage, were do stroyed. Adriatic Engine No, 81, a very beautiful machine which cost $2,700, was totally . This is said to be the finest and most oostiy engine in the city. Mohawk Engine No. 16 and Vaciiie Engine No, 28 were both totally destroyed. The cost $2,000 and the on Mth aveuws, SAR ran foe impoeel ie to get thm on Sixth avenue, but it was found i ott out of the door, * ¥3 Eagle Hose No. 1 and Croton Hose No. 6 were also con. sumed. They were valued at over $3,000, Empire Hove No. 40 and Hook and Ladder Truck No. 12 wore got out and saved, ‘Nos. $1 and 28 were only placed in the fair abont ono ovelock in the afternoon. It was the intention of the —" No. 31 not to place their machine in until y. Two other on, were to have bean placed in today— No. 7 of this city, and No, 3 of Brookiyn. The membors Will, n0 doubt, consider themeelves lucky in not hurrying up. a8 they intended. POLIER. General Saperintendent Tallmadge, with Deputy Car. penter aud # force of wen from ihe Niveh, Sixigemts, Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-trst wards, were pre sent and rendered most eflicient zervice, the crowd Deiny kept back so that there was no interference with the Gre men or endangering their own lives by the falling of the iron wails, INCIDENTS. Aman was observed to jump ont of a window from the gallery to save bis life, He was severely hurt by the fail but not seriously. Awoman with a little yitl, in the fright fell the fult length of the stairs ronning up to the gallery. She, how ever, managed to get out in safety with her daughter, A fireman, it is said, Was somewhat injured by the fall of one of the iron pillars on lis leg. He was taken away by some of his friends. A few moments before the dome fell tb tis said, blew off steam, creating an and alarming the bystanders so that many an explosion, LATEST FROM THE FIRE, Ove o'CLock, A.M. The body of an unknown man was found in the ruins at a little before twelve o'clock, The remains were con. veyed to the Nineteenth ward station house, The disco: very of the above body created considerable excitement about the ruing, and from all accounts it is feared that others have been lost and buried beneath the ruins, Mon and firemen are hard at work removing the rubbish, as far as Jays in their power, in hopes, if any others are killed, they may be found. It is reported that two children are now missing. The police are endeavoring to ascortain the truth of the report. THE GEN. PAEZ RECEPTION. The Meeting=—The Delegation sent by Vene= zucla to Present to General J. A. Paez the Decree of the National Convention for the Return of the General to that Country, Yesterday, the Sth of October, 1868, was a day of great historical interest to la, An event steam whistle rows noise, » off, fearing occurred, which, while the passing scenes may be ve wholly neglected and forgotten, will be remem bered and recorded in never to be obliterated lines. Tt was « grand event, one such as Livy would have made the greatest and most interesting fea tures of one of his immortal Deewles, It was nothing less than the spectacle of a warrior, @ patriot, a good eitizen, beg publicly and solemnly re called from unjustifiable banishment by bis nob country and citizens, to resume the beim of affairs in a country, the liberties of which his warlike feats and noble exploits had been the means, with the illustrious Bolivar, of establishing. This great and imposing ceremony of the presentation of the decree of the National Convention to General Paez, ‘sterday in the rooms of the Metropolitan ral Paez has been for a short time Information of the event about to transpire having come generally known, there was a great gathering of citizens of New York, and a great crowding tagether of citizens of Venezuela, to witness the event of the day. Many of the foreign seadors to the United States from: the Sonth American States were present, ureat number of highly distinguished Venezuelans there to witness the manifestation of the yreat fact, viz: that in the course of time, though violence and evil may prosper, yetthey will eventually succumb and fail disgracefuily, and Virtue, truth, justice, honor and patriotism will triumph. Such, ’in fact, was the triumph, such was the justice, which, after Jong waiting for, was witnessed on this in teresting occasion, We repeat, it was an event which will occupy a large space in future history, though it may not be appreciated as it deserves at the moment of its hap- pening. Our readers are no doubt fully aware of the historical facts that General Paez, the great liberator of Venezuela, (conjoined with Bolivar,) (he pian who was foremost in battle, who headed ges of cavalry on the plains and prairies, who 1 one after another all the Spanish armies, wit hom Bolivar would have acted in vain—tbis man, after liberating his country from the Spa nish yoke—after having been, like Washington, her first and greaiest Presideut—was banished by the arte and chicanery Of the Monayases and their dependents from the country free, and which still loved him, Ho the reporter of w splendid his ecnll, ie the same who reported the his landing, a banished hero, upon Yet, sich was the respect for his name, his fame, and bis hietory, that on th..t solemn A mournfal occasion of the landing of a banished hero, and of a great man, in our midst, that the gallant soldiery of New York mustered to meet him, and he was welcomed with honor by the Mayor and city authorities of New York “on that oveasion Vesterday—after time had dome justin General Paez— afler that atrocious character of the tyrannous faction which cansed bis banishment bad been fully developed by Sears of misrule—a grand deputation of the National Con vention of the of Venezuela waited upoa General Paez, to communicate to him a decree of the National Convention, by whieh bis character was justified, bis for- mer services were acknowledged, the injuries anjustly ia theted upon him were lamented, and he was invited to ro- turn to bis country and resume, like another Washington, the reine of gov eut which he bad so well held be fore, and which had beew #0 unjustly suatched out of bis hands. At one o'clock the interesting ceremony took place. There was on the cceasion an assemblage f sent, composed of many of the leading men of the State N ork, of prominent meu of Venezuela, and others, Joined with a great number of distinguished ladies ‘The important moment having arrived, General Parz, habited in rieb military m, eacorted by a nambor be Anetrin, one of the mes commission despatched by the V velan government to reeall the banished chiettain from his exile, addressed General Paez as follows: — We have been sent by the goverenment of Venezela to eu tn yom the ner of Natta yaya hy which to our & 4 all hone acts which would stain could not change, indeed, the of favorable to yon: le, (Brave). by your bat your vot during J ot word, but co ome yeare veer Inerssent dey dtien for the Vonsatia, by of your democratic priachpies, ‘After a triumphant tevolation, ind Which you im the 0 Your greatest henor suel a glorious result 4 exile, - ners we it wae Conr ) Now, Ue the people ot Venezarla, yon, And, to snake the call more if; tbe Chiet Of the Stale bas selected, with great deheary, the Commintioa in whose name Tapeak. "Here you see a veteran of that valor. ‘ous arm: jumbia, which vor wy many times led ty viewry irkot sacriferd during many Feare vo the —your son, whe unites an act of patriot “ aties of the heart. As to mywelf, [ean- not express thr unbounded pleasure I feel In thas joining with these, iny good fellow countesmen, xfer abetting will yoru the biarinena of elt andthe anaes Venezuela free ty. sang, and the muatrens of Ber f. to her with om The moet ational Convention awaits one of The Chief of the The whale peop! sured that great will be the day for the country w lightened citizen of Venetuela agala treads her shores: dued applause.) THe DECREE. The National Conrention, cousdering that the duct, politient and ety il, . Jone Antenbo Consiant titelity to the ian principles prowl Venerueta since the year ISD, never have been on the contrary, have al nade ham Aeservtny tude of his felfow citizens. of Apure, glorious with him fa the war appointed him #8 ber represamtatter— red, Art. 1. The National will ane, with unbonnded aatiagact return to the country to eoeupy the pl nidted in one mts rt. 2 The National Convent! agatoe and condemns ne iniquions ail the public aris, invenled sivee tle your 18, to deprive Gen, Jose Antonty of Wa degrees, (Kies aud de- corations, and 10 tartish ts well merited fame. "ATL 8. ‘The National Conveution expresses her gratiinde ta the authorities and citizens of the Untiet Rintos, whe, with reat kindgesg aul gevervelty received aad shehered (ren ome » Pare. art Chief of the State {s hereby authorized to at a convention for toe delivery of this aet to the enlightened eith zen, and to accompany bim in his return: and for the honor of the repnblie all the expenses for the fuldlinent ot the present decree will be defrayed hy the national treme irr ‘Given le Valencia, fa the Hall of Sexsion of the Na! Con vention, tig 16th day of July, 1864, FL Fe ‘Leon be Las Casas, Seoretary, Wh RAMINZ The address having boen concluded, General Paez, with much emotion, responded as follows — ‘With all the respect due to so fllnetrions a body as the Na. tional Convention of oar conntry, f receive the decree you have he Pi tadeyondence, has re thet Antonio Pa woh be has been n commissioned & present; Faccept it as the consoling a solemn expression of the Justicn of the, nufon, upon Ww at constantly reited my exile, Afer yerons and noble an act, nothing should be said of iy sufferings. bbe: suffered only on behalf of the republic. Mistress of her own fate now, it should be our sole endeavor to inanre her future roaperity, never looking Into the ast, hut to derive from it frofkatle Yesmm of experience” (Applause ) The decree of Convention justifies me before the world, whilst it renders me the highest ‘With the di om whieh beewunes tier again I dewote spy life, ® the service rep 1 ean tot one fies my rep Her hay shall ever be my bbe still nehiewed if the government give will of the people: whilet, on the other hand, the people sustain the government in goo) faith, asf conb-iently anticipate they will, #9 that it may work out 4 rege mission, (Bravo) In the ational commission ove m Joven mein ae Mr, Pres dent, whore best titles to my gratetul appreciation are the por Huaingiiah yon, and the woaderfal cod abet Ue companton uf Ler of my own (amit, agonal qnalitivg wivte Adeiity you have dispAyod aw my & reat num by Ob dintingusbud poreows Cay JO ward aud Were pry PRICE TWO CENTS. rented to General Paez, who received them with elegant politeness and manifest feeling. A poem suilable to the occasion was then delivered with gerfat emphasis by M. de Betancourt. The young poet, a Venezuvian, was then presented to the General, who 1 raced fim with profound emotion. Ladies at the Utne pressed forward and presented the General with choica bouquets. New York, in its beanty, was proud of the occa. sion, and the men of our State were there to wish joy to the hero of the day, and rejoice in the tardy justice dona to bis distinguished merits. We noticed among the Vene~ vuclins and others present, the Ambassadors from Perty Trom Coste Rica, and frem Venezuela; also, General Fran= ceschi, an old soldier of the great Napoleon, who for soma time past his bocn a resident af Hoboken, in our neightor~ ood. AU th lusion of the angnst and imposing ceremony of recall to the banished patriot, an adjourninent was had ta the breakfast ta “ furnished ina style siel ag may be expe opolitan.” Hore, after the parties had refreshed themselves and united in festive enjoyment on the oreasion, after the cloth was removed, and the wine brought forward, Francis T. Meagher, Eiq., arose and addressed the assemlage as follows: Ladies and Gentlemen—As the old school fellow of the son@ of General Paez, T have a duty wo perform which justifies ma in claiming for a moment the favor of your gractons and kind attention. Thanks to the hospitality of Nistinguished eftizend in obe Venezuela, who have this day, eto the unanie moun’ will and wolemn deeree OF ihe repulic they. repreaan Crased from the splendid story of his life the sentence: whic baniaied Generaf Jona Antonio Paea from. the country. for which his sword bad won such triampha, and wl sagacity and striet pr aa chief Lop irregd riesie ite {it for se lon; perfect tranquility, an abundant treasury, an i world a soitd credit thanks, Tsay, to the how ‘distinguished citizens of Venezurliy we, cli: Zens of New York, have ll the privilege of witnewlag tla morning one of the most affecting and impressive fustances of national justice which history as yet has pines to relate. In the day of her recovered liberty Venezuela did not foremost ef hee toga, though he was far away from her, the soldiers, conneitions and states: on her y which, as tha hat suddenly deseeaded aud son or another nations ara 18. apt to forget their bene! 45 to caluinniate and disown t Aristides ty the present, this has be patriotism has had t take to My generally opnblicnns aa we i Wibe severest leason Whiek Indeed, 4 rigorounl, ly hae mitted and obvi hag it be- no pros 7 w rabid ely—aite error, attributes ingratitude cerely and proudly—we, citizens of New York, congratalayy Venezuvla that she has been one of the first of ancient ov moder republics, to contradict this lesson, and with an oppos alte teaching imate all the ef ul, Cor solatory and the world. — In the same aptrit, w like goodness and graciousness as that with W of Venezuela hag acted in this stance, the € who here personify her nationality and execute have, aratefully remembered the friends whom General Sowo'Anto~ 67. with fn this city, and whose sympathy and ed im, even in the gloombes: intervals of bis hanishment, ll And glowin, at this brit? Nant moment, when endence hie marvellous chivalry contri! to achieve, with a love ag tmportunate > s that of the Roman mother, Veturia, tnvokes him to return. Friends of his exile—faithful guardiang and hand- maida of the modest bouse in which, for ight long years past, his invaded fortunes compelled btm to take refuge—the “ommissioners of tional Assembly of Venezuela di 1 that you—you and I. st dati should be: edging the memorable privilega they have thus accorded us, 1 beg te propose, ‘fn an overtiowin, lace, the health and bappitiess of the Natovial Commledone of Ven Vv ‘sincerely and heartily wishing them a sufe and & swift vo; home with their illus guest; and with thie sentime: id the that the Veneznela may t gal haughtlest and the richest, maintain. the the lances of her habaneros won for her, and wisely improve the opportunity for welopement « tad Es vescrevehsies waasace oT ere ene This moet happy and eloquent address wae receive ® With unbounded applanse by the company presont. [6 represented in ail its warmth and falness the feelings of the citizens of New York who were present, and, wa might add, of all those, the frieuds of republicanivm and. patriotiem, who were absent. At the conclusion of this most eloqnent and able addres the toast which Mr, Meagher proposed was drank with three times three, amid the loudest applause and demon. strations of enthnsiasm, Hiram Kercntm, Esq., then proposed, after a snitabla and able speech, the health of General Paea, ‘This was ro~ sponded to with corresponding alacrity. « 1 Moxrcomery, of Philadelphia, then addressed the company in an apt and eloquent addrest Af which the numerons assemblage dispersed, highly fied with witnessing one of the greatest historical events in the history of repablican nations, and, as Mr. Meagher justly observed, one of the most unique and wouderful a the history of republics, ancient or modern, Time aud Space scarcely allow of our doing justice to this great seepe, which will form henceforth in the melo~ drama of nations and people one of the most interesting and remarkable events of our time, It only remains to be added that General Paez, aeceding to the wishes of his country, will now return, like another Cincinnatus, to restore, we hope, the bleesings of good government, of order and of peace bis long distracted country, Wai .ack's TeaTRe—OrENiNG wt That the opening. of this popular house under the baton of the veteran manager Was an event of more than ordinary importance was fully proven by the crowded and distingué audience which gathered last night to assist atit, Before the tain rose every seat and every inch of standing was occ pied, and wherever one loo he was sure to meet soma familiar face, It was emphatically a New York audience, and such @ one as we Lave not seen at any theatrical Performance thie season, ‘The bili of the night com- menced with the clever Iittle two act comely + Nothing Venture Nothing Win,” the plot of which wo described on Monday. It was well acted. Mr. Lester and Mra. Hoey were admirably suited to the parts of the dashing Chevalier and the proud Countess of the Eighteenth cen- tury; Mr. C, Wheatleigh was amusing as the Marquia de Vignen), and Mr, Sian made a great deal of the small part of the Major Demo, Mr, Dyott’s Duke da Van Dome was rather too much like a militia eolenel—wo boisterous, and not at all bri The piews was weil re- ceived, and at its close all the performers were recalled. Subsequently, Mr. Lester Wallack and Mre. Hoey wore summoned before the curtain, and afterwards there was @ unanimons call for Mr. Watlack, who, on his appoar- aber, was received with long continued applause, whictt he acknowledged with that grace of manger for which ha Is 0 justly celebrated. He ads rege d the audience briet- ly but pertinently, thanking the public for the favor tbat had been extended to him for tory when he was twenty four, and he had tothe Atlantic a8 one of the au acting was very good—that of Mr Mary Gannon partic etary, so—end tho piece alugetier « veritable success. Mr. Wallack's campaign commenons under the fairest auspices. Tue OreRa At THR ACADEMY. — "La Traviaia’? will ba given to-night for the last time, with the new tenor ag Germart and Mme. Gassicr as Violeta, The prima donna made a great sensation on Monday by her admirabia singing of the réle, As will be seen by the official an- nouncement, there will be but four more performances by this company, to wit, on Thursday (cheap night), Saturday (matinée) and Monda: if even grand benefit to Max Maretzek completion of his first managerial decade, The affair Promises to boone of the most brilliant fees that bag ever taken place here. Bowrey Tamitne—The management of the people'@ theatre seems determined not to be behind in the race for public favor. The attraction offered at present is a Series of Bourcicault’s popular dramas, which are well gotten up and played in a superior manner, A capital pantomime is ako given every evening. As might be append, co excellent an entertainment i# fully appreci~ ated by the public, and the theatre is in a most prosper- ‘ous condition Police Intelligence. Ovrnac® crow ax On Laoy.—Mre, Crossin, an aged lady, residing at No 637 Washington street, was beaten im a cruel manner by some rowdies on Friday night. They came to the boeement door, expecting to find ber som James, against whom they had @ spite, Crosaim opened the door at their knock, when one of them stracly her on the bead with a glass bottle, Another of the ey, threw a barrel at her, tnccking her down. Tho w arty then attacked the woman and beat Perime insenaite. The owe cuepicion of having been mp whom, Jobo Callaghan and Michael O°Counell, were com - mitted to prison by Justice Kelly, very critieal condiyon. Her feared that she will never recover, Polltical Goop News ror ti Ksow Nommves.—The Buitaio Commercial Advertiger says that it ia eredibiy informed that the best friends of Mr. Morgan have abandoned ail hope of hig snecess. Anal ty regard to the present amiety of © dived J republicans’ to unite on Mr. Burrows, it says the thing 8 ‘mpracticable now. The golden dppor. tunity was lost at Syractse. and the ouly course which remains je to secure A practical unioh OY givihg evough republican yers to the American ticket to elget &