The New York Herald Newspaper, February 9, 1876, Page 3

A TERRIBLE FIRE Destruction of Nearly a Block on Broadway, TOTAL LOSS OVER $4,000,000. Two Firemen Killed by Fall- ' ing Walls. FIVE OTHERS SEVERELY INJURED. A Brilliant and Impressive Spectacle... - THIRTY THOUSAND SPECTATORS. Graphic Description of the Scenes and Incidents. One of the largest and most destructive fires that have occurred im the city for many years broke out last even- ing at No, 444 Broadway, which adjoins the Continental Hotel, for many years a land mark in New York. Asa spectacle the fire was one of the most brilliant of its Kind, For three hours it held 30,000 per- sons enthralled by its awful grandeur, and its brilliancy {lumined not only, New York but shed a lurid light upon the church steeples and towers of Brooklyn and Jersey City. At precisely twenty-five minutes past six o’clock the pedestrians who were quietly moving up and down Broadway on their homeward way from store, workshop and factory were startled by tho cry of “Fire!” Alinost jn an (natant a fierce volume of flame burst forth above the heads of the crowd {rom the windows of tho fourth floor of the double iron front building Nos. 444 and 46. As if by magic the fierce torrent of flame scemed to wrap the upper portion of the huge build- ing, which extended from Broadway right through to Crosby street, a distance of 220 feet. So sudden was the outburst of the fire and so rapid was its progress even at the beginning, that, although the fremen were prompt in their response to the alarm given from three vr four telegraph boxes in the neighborhood, they found the heat from the burning -building so intense that they were from the start compelled to fight shy of the clement they came to conquer. By the time Engine Company No. 80 had arrived pon the ground and laid their hose the fire had run rapidly rearward along the floor where it originated, and made its appearance through the windows on the Crosby street front, thus showing conclusively that the entire edifice was doomed. Steamer after steamer ar- rived in quick succession, and as each company came upon the scene they took up their locations at bydrants \n Howard, Crosby, Grand and Broome streets, and also in Broadway. The firstalarm was quickly succeeded by a general one, thus calling to the fre every com- pany and every apparatus south of Fourteenth street, With admirable discipline and with great celerity the various . steamers: were located by the enginecrs, and soon long lines of hose were stretched for many blocks around. These serpentine conductors ali tended in one common course, and their long lines Yadiated in every direction. In fifteen minutes after the first alarm, and five after the general one, fully ‘twenty streams of water were playing upon the burning building. Thus the task of extinguishing the fire was fairly and earnestly commenced, GATHERING OF THE PXOPLE, By this time the livid light of the fierce conflagration had attracted an immense concourse of people who flocked, toward the scene trom every point of the compass, With them ecamé the, ,polieg. reserves fiom the various precincts neigtiboring to the fire, and these - immense masses of men, women and children found themselves beaten back beyond the confines of the vantage ground taken up by the Fire Department, Thus was the scene of busy motion and herculean effort kept cjear for the doughty but peaceful warriors against the consuming tlement, which at that moment was in the midst of its wild and fierce career, In half an‘hour after the dis- covery of the firetho flames had eaten up into and over the entire top of the building above de- scribed, and, owing to the inflammable nature of the goods stored therein and the wide area of surface of which the flames held possession, the light became intense in its brilliancy, fervid in its heat ani uncontrollable at the moment. While the biuge volume of flame thus consumed the upper portion of the building it forced its way, despite the torrent of water that was being poured upon it, down into the very heart of the building, and as each floor tell into the possession of the flamo the heat grew hotter and hotter until the building appeared moro like the crater of an active volcano than that of a burning building in the heart of a great city. Indeed, tho heat was so intense thatthe firemen with their hose were unable to stand before it; there. fore they turned their streams upon the adjoining buildings m the hope of confining the fire to the houses in which it had originated. On either side on Broadway, on Crosby street, these streams were steadily directed upon these build- ings. Those to the south were thus saved, owing to the direction of the wind; but to the north the effort ‘was unavailing, for the fire, beaten down by the wind ‘upon the housetops, ran along from coping to coping, from skylight to skylight, until it reached Grand @trect, consuming the upper half of the block, and causing a loss of several millions. PROGRESS OF THE FIRE. ‘The progress of the fre was an interesting and ab- sorbing sight. Viewed from the corner of Howard street and Broadway, the appearance of the burning buildings, as they were successively caten up by the devouring clement, was appailing, though grand. All of the buildings being constructed with iron tronts seemed first to become filled with smoke and flame, and next to curl and twist like so much cardboard under the intense” heat to which they were subjected. Strong pillars of ron and cast iron girders were bent and twisted and distorted until they were disunited and fell in crymbling masses either into the street or back into the seething flames behind. On Crosby street the scene was somewhat different, Here the spectator saw solid masses of uniform brick, and as he gazed upon them the very mortar seemed on fire and each brick was outlined by the flamo giving the walls a red hot appearance. As the foof of Nos, 444 and 446 fell in, which they dy ina very fow minutes after the firemen had fairly got to work, the Crosby strect front began tocurl and bulge, warning the busy hosemen that the moment of danger had already eome, compelling them to with- draw on either side, for already the topmost bricks began to fall, Standing at the corner of Howard Street the appearance of that portion of the building was unique and fascinating, The ‘Wrought tren shutters on the first floor grew red, and, being softened by the heat, were bent inward like sails upon a mast ina stiff gale, The windows above, being unprotected, were open and ied with flame. A moment after twenty fect of the rall suddenly bent outward and was poised for a few wconds over the sidewalk, to which it dnally fell with «thunder crash, At the same timo as the rear wall dbus fell the entire iron front on Broadway went down wo mother earth. Just before the Broadway wall went down a score of daring tire- men hai rushed to the rescue of steamer No, 30, Asthey did so the engincer,cast of his hydrant hose, threw open his throttle valve, and, with acheor, the litle band of heroeg dragged off the appa- ratus upder the Iriendly stream of a hose thrown upon them by their comrades, Scareely had the engine been drawa to a place of safety than the spot upon which it had stood a minute before in active motion was covered by a mass of red hot iron, The jnitial building being thus prone before the effocis of the fite some hope was entertained that the remaining buildings northward would be saved. But, like a demon, the fire seemed to gain new strength, nd, the party walls to the north being permeated by gue james, all of the joists in the adjoining building, NEW YORK HERALD; WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY’ 9, 1876—TkIPLY SHEET. No! 448) wore simultaueously ignited, In less than a minute every window was tiluminated, and » fow scconds after the glass im each was shivered and fell in molten showers, compelling the firemen again to beat a rotreat” ‘ : . WHOLESALE DESTRUCTION. Window after window became filled with flame; the root went crumbling dowa, and another building was addedto the general destruction. Pillar alter pillar, girder after girder, became distorted from the plumb line, and piece by piece they fell, until the entire front on Broadway had disappeared. The next building above shared a similar fate, and the same scepe was enacted; and so the torrent of flame ran on from house to house until Grand street was reached. Building after building was caught up by the fire, hidden by black volumes of smoke, and then crumbled, Along the Crosby street front of the block the flames mado similar progress, though it was not so rapia in its visible effects owing to the tenacity of the brick work forming the walls; bat the centre of each building being a seething mass of flame it eat out the heart of the block and.soom made {ts appearance on the Grand strect corher, which point 1 reached in precisely sixty minutes after the first alarm had been given. Along the front om Grund street the flames were fierce and intense, and had the strect been less wide another block would have been indanger, Thus the fire did its terrible work with celerity and complotencss, and over $4,000,000 of property lay smouldering and blackened. ‘The fire, as already said, was a brilliant spectacle Viewed, while at its height, the conflagration reminded old firemen of the night when the Academy of Music, the College of Physicians and Surgeons and adjoining ‘buildings went down ten years ago, At ono time the flames rose to a height of over 100 feet above the housetops, and towered up above the city like huge torch, illuminating with its light the country around for miles, So diverse and inflammable were the centents of the several build- ings then in progress of burning that ever and anon brilliant showers of blue and red sparks shot ap into the air like pyrotechnics ona Fourth of July. Above all was the moon, which, viewed through the lurid tower of the flame, lost his silvery appearance and seemed like @ disk of steel roasted ina furnace, Tho singular ap. pearance of the orb attracted every eye on Broadway Added to these adjuncts there arose trom the burning block showers of bright sparks, which were borne up- ward by the heated current and then’ waited far and wide by the breeze. At times these showers of sparks looked more like the golden rain in a theatrical specta- cle than the off-sboots of burning flamcs, The smoke was not heavy, owing to the heat and flerceness of the fire, ii WORK OF THE VIREMRN. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on tho fire companies that had the seemingly thankless task of saVing the buildings threatened by the far-reaching tongues of lame, ‘The new stores with tron—paint coated fronts were almost licked by the flery forks, aud seemed every moment in imminent danger of being involvea in the general conflagration, But the streams of the engines detailed for the duty of preser- vation were Unrown upon the face of the whole block extending to Broadway in such a manner as to keep the opposite edifices wet and cool, without breaking the windows, This was a work that called out the best judgment and the most'skilful efforts of the fremen, because within the stores were thousands of dollars worth of valuable goods that would as easily be irre- treivably damaged by the water as by the fire, so that it was absolutely necessary to avoid breaking a pane of glass. The streams were directed obliquely on the houses so as to Wash rather than strike them; hence ‘their force was lessened, and no damage was done by water. Hatta window been broken a spark might’ have flown in and spread destruction on the other side of the street; but, thanks to the cautious endeavors of the flremem, alt danger from either cle- ment was obviated and # vast amount of property was saved, On Broadway, in Grand, Crosby and Howard streets these roving streams were maintained, and they played upon the walls heated by the fire across the w: ‘The water was converted into vapor and teil npon the firemen and police like a-heavy shower of rain, whicn, though it wetted their elothing, was gratetul to their faces, for is deadened the heat to which they were necessarily exposed. ‘TUR ILLUMINATION, ‘One of the most remarkable effectsof the fire was its iuminatioa of city. Looking down Broadway the eye saw eboar'y. every: prominent house- top. Banks and stores stood out as clearly defined as in the ndonday sun. The ponderous Post Office building, with ite magnificent dome, could be clearly seen, while beyond stood the steeple of St. Paul’s, the peaked roof of the Western Union Telegraph Building, the clock tower of the Eyuitable Life Insurance Build- ing and the fretted spire of noble old Trinity. Each reflected the light of the fire, atid wherever metal formed the component part it glistened like silver. The upper windows of every bouse in the vicinity were more like burnished mirrors than sheets of limpidgiass. Looking up Broadway the St. Nicholas Hotel and the Metropol- itan were clearly visible, while the calcium lights in front of the variety theatres in that neighborhood Jost their power and were more like glowworms by ‘the wayside than blinding streams of light Above and beyond could be seen the graceful granite steeple of Grace Church, which appeafed, by its dis- Unetness, only a few blocks off. 1n fact as an iliumi- nation the fire was a success, though @ very ‘expen- sive one to the sufferers. SCARCITY OF WATER. One of the principal causes for the rapid destructive course of the flames was the positive lack of sufficient water to feed the steamers brought upon the ground, These powerful machines actually drained the hydrants, the natural pressure in the mains being insufficient to supply them. This fact was apparent by the want of force in the streams thrown upon the buildfngs and the frequent flattening of the leading hose lines as tne labor- ing steamers failed to Gil them. The Fire Commissioners, who were on the ground freauently, stated that their firemen were helpless, because of the insufficiency of water. , Indeod, this woful lack of the necessary element to extinguish its antagonist was the subject of comment among insurance officials and others conversant with the needs of the city in this respect. ‘Tun CROWDS, The fire occurred just at an hour when, of all others in the day, it was calculated to gather acrowd. Had it occurred during the bours of daylight preceding six P. M. the many pedestrians on Broadway would have been too busy to stop to notice it and would have passed on conddent of being able to read all aboutitin the evening papers. Just twenty-five minutes before the fire vroke out the hundreds of factories below Grand street began to pour forth their crowds of weary work- era, who, glad of the moonlit ovening, sauntered up Broadway im search of @ short spell of free breathing. Immediately after the Tre lia? was formed a general block was ocgasioned above, be- Jow, to the right and to the feft of the fire, and ina fow minutes the police formed a thin line, dividing surging thousands from the raging flames, The great East side lont its thousands to swell the multitude, and hundreds who never ventured west of the Bowery were drawn thither like moths to the flaring flame. Whole colonies of anxious sightseers, unable to get near enough to the fire to gatisly their curiosity, mi- grated up or down the Bowery and crossed west to Broadway, hoping there to get @ better view. They arrived to find as large © crowd there as in the region they had lett, and, contented with @ certainty rather than @ possibility, they re- mained and wero of the crowd. Tho Jersey ferries and the numerous west side factories also sont their quotas to swell the motley congrogation. All the downtown folks on their way home were brought toa standstill on the corner of Ci street and Broadway, where the police had formed the southern fire line. In halt an hour the crowd was so great that the police for the time were doubtful of their ability to keep back the multitua, At this point, however, aceretions were scarce, ana the determined efforts of the biud-coated irenarchs prevented any breach of the peace. Just beyoud the southern fire line & peculiar and inter esting sight met the eyq of the intelligent observer. The crowd being on the rise of the Canal street hill all the faces were distinguishable in the Jurid glare of the fire toward which they were turned. In the foremost rank, and among those most anxious to intrude beyond tho prescribed limit, was a hne of hard looking individuals, well known to the police as doubtful, if not dangerous, characters, Many of these moved from point to point, trying one policeman and then avother, but always failing and always* trying anew. As night grew on and the fire grew brighter places of partuers fled, and all Went, Like wild beasts in the forest round the bright and blazing camp fire. “4 INSIDE THE LINES. To see 18 to believe, and none would believe had they Not seen the number Of badges distributed by the Fire Department; for inside the line no less than 200 peo- ple, ununiformed, were congregated. Some of these Tepresented insurance interests; others were of the firms in dangerous vicinity tothe fire, and the number of reporters, bogus and genuine, was amazing to be- hold. The privileged mass within the line wandered to and fro at will, much to the discomfort and annoyance of the conscientious biue coats, who called aloud for credentials and were as often answered in pantomime by the presentation of a silver badge concealed be. neath the lappel. Many among this number were idle sightseers, with nothing else to do than enjoy and create sensation. More than once a cruel hoax was started that some poor fireman had been crushed and mangled or had fallen into the seething hell with which he was fight- ing. The vague romances of tho idle rabble were not Jong of realization, for, as the wall of No, 446 Broadway tell to the fags with thundering crash and rattle, the report was spread as an echo of the sound that Francis Burke, a fireman, had been killed. Tho smoke clearing ‘away the crowd set tn as a tide toward the spot where the front had fallen, It was stemmed by a line of Police marching as @ vanguard in the proces- sion of what seemed to be a corpse; it was Burke, the injured fireman, whom one of the tron splinters had injured in the leg. An ambulance, waiting on the outskirts of the crowd, soon forced its y inside the line and bore the wounded man away. Immediately alter the ambulance came an almost irresistible tide of human beings, but the noble and efficient conduct of the police prevented a demoralization which might have cost a hundred lives. The value of the conduct of the police at this juncture was not fully realized until shortly thereatter, when the front of No. 448 fell in with more dreadful noise and terrible force than the one which bad just preceded it. The rattle and din of the crashing iron, the wild leaping of the flames and tho surging of clouds of smoke seemed to madien the mob and mate it uncontrollable, No. 448 being now totally demolished the flames Jeaped up, brilliant and vivid, having received new food from the timber interior of the number beyond, At ‘this point the shimmer of the blaze on the golden letter boards and the thousands of upturned faces was indeed @ sublime sight, reminding one of the solemn scene at Philippi and the faces of the Roman legions, brightened by the blaze of the funeral pyre of Brutus. Hardly had the solemn murmur evoked by the last grand crash subsided when again the flames were dimmed by the falling of one of tho anterior walls, Into the place where the razed bigwondgero ge adventurous fremen forced thelr way, and wero ticed to be in a precarious position, as a fragment of an impending wall threatened to burp them, Captain Allaire noticing their dangerous position ventured near to warn them, when down came the fragment, burying beneath it five mon and injuring the Captain, ‘This news was quickly communicated to the crowd on the outskirts, and first a murmur then a groan indi- cated its reception, By this time many who bad left the fire returned again, and the crowd began to grow, numbering now near 40,000, In Grand street a solid phalanx extended from Crosby as far eastas Centre; and from the corner of Howard, at which the southern line was drawn, down as far as Worth street; from Broome, up Broadway, as far as Spring street, surging thousands blocked the way. In Howard street, as far west as Church, anxious hundreds clamored for an op- portunity to witness the conflagration, which now was grand in its terror, threatening at this time,to embrace®| the whole block. The words of Horatius at the bridge found here a fitting illustration, for in the narrow street a few po- licemen with their peaceful batons held back the angry crowd. Superintendent Walling, Inspector Dilks, Captain Allaire, Captain McDonnell and Captain Low- ery, with their men, did most effective work, and may well be complimented on the quiet they maintained. At half-past ten the floors ot No. 450 and 462 fell in, and for the nonce the flames died out aud thacrowd began to thin. Gradually toward the outer periphery circles of people began to disappear, and slowly a gon-- eral adjournment took place, tho immeuse crowd, in Jess than thirty minutes, diminishing to a mere band- ful of gazers, who remained for want of better occupa. tion. STOPPAGE OF TRAVEL, The fire broke out ata time when the car traffic by the Bleecker street and cross town lines via Grand and Canal streets was at full tide, Of course travel was ar- rested by the occurrence of the fire, and for over three hours people were unable to go up or down or across town by either route. The utmost confusion prevailed ’m consequence: People who had taken passago by either way were compelled to leave the cars at the limit of the fire line and, uuless they wished to seo the thrilling spectacle, make a detour through the Bowery or Broadway. This was a sorious inconvenience, though unavoidable, and caused universal dissatisfac- tion, especially to those who were on their way to Fulton Ferry. Long lines of cars stood motionless in Crosby street, above and below the fire, and now and then the leading one would jump the track and go back ‘with impatient travellers, In Cayal street the cross- town cars were blockaded, and, hike the Bleecker streot line, they stood in the midst of a dense mass of human beings, who were more intent on viewing the scene before them than conscious of the fact that they stood in the way of the cars, Even in Centre street, at the junction of Grand, the Fourth avenue cars wero with difficulty driven through the crowd there assembled. All of the Broad- way traffic was, of course, diverted, the tide of omni buses and trucks being turned into the Bowery through Canal or into Wooster through Broome. The absence of these vehicles in the immediate vicinity of the fire gave good vantage ground for the immense crowds of people who were there assembled. THR LOssks. Nos. 444 and 446 Broadway, double iron front five story building, oceupied by Lesher, Whitman & Co., dealers in tailors’ trimmings; loss, $1,500,000; not fully covered by insurance. Snedecker, Watrous & Boynton, clothicrs; stock is worth $750,000; fully insured. William Smith & Co , dealers in fancy goods; loss un- known, m4 In the back part of the building was the large whole- sale clothing house of M. N. Rogers & Co. s No, 442, where the Continental Hotol is situated, the back part of the building was burned; loss unknown, ‘The fire did not extend below this, but the buildings as far as Howard street were more or less damaged by water, Nos, 448 and 450, occupied oy Hornthal, Whitebead & @o., clothiers; stock worth $260,000; insurance, $200,000, all in New York companies. H. C. Cushing & Co., agents; loss, $30,000, No, 452 Broadway and 16 Crosby street, George E. Shortridge & Co., clothiers; stock worth $150,000, Powers, Gaston & Co., dealers in shoes; loss un- known, Phelps & Evordell, dealers in combs; loss unknown. No, 454, C. W. Yltte & Co., clothiers; loss unknowa. B. Sondheim & Co., importers of fancy goods; loss $40,000. The fire, raging on the {nside of the biock, burst through into Graud street, at No, 125. The Patullo House took up the ground floor, the upper portion of the building being occupied by Toothaker’s manufac tory of cloth hats and caps and J. Brezezinski. No, 127 Grand street, Morris Silberstein & Co,, dealers in tas- sels, loss unknown, and Elkin Hymes & Co, loss un- known. ‘The buildings from No. 444 to No, 452 Broadway, clusive, were owued by Edward Mathows; est value $70,000 apicee, Fire Marshal Sheldon gave it as his opinion that the total loss on all the burned bulidings will amount to $4,500,000, Nos, 129 and 131 Grand street, first foor and base- ment occupied by Koehler, Reyer & Co., importers of fine woollen goods. This firm received last weex $100,000 worth of stock, which is believed to be dam aged to the extent of $50,000 by water; insured. The four upper stories, occupied by Kaufman Brother: & Bondy, dealers in smokers’ goods; loss by water, $18,000; insured, Companies unknown, THR KILLED AND ‘WouXDED. ‘ While the flames of the great conflagration were still brightening the sky a terrible tragedy was about to be enacted. The time was balf-past nine o'clock. The brave firemon were battling with the flery ele- ment, exerting almost superhuman efforts to check its mad career, Thoir powerful streams “were playing from a dozen different points, and th livening cries of the foremen and chiefs were spurring them . till the line was broken thieves came and jon to further efforta Five members of En- gine Company No. 30, who had previously narrowly escaped destruction, stood in tho middle of Broadway, opposite No. 444, manipulating a well-directed stream upon the burning ruins of that building. Among the débris was a large safe, and it was while endeavoring to preserve its contents by extinguishing the licking flames surroundivg it that two brave fremen met their death and three were seriously injured, Standing near the men at the time were Fire Commissioner King and Chief Giquel ‘They were consulting as to the probable extent of the Hames before their final extinguishment, when a man approached, and, tapping Commissioner King on the shoulder, asked him if be would not direct the firemen to play upon the safo instead of upon the débris, Comtissioner King, accordingly turned to his companion and suggested that such order be given. Chief Giquel immediately gave tho order and bur- ried away. Hardly had the word gono forth than the fearless fremen moved forward and entered the vacant space between Noa. 442 and 452 Broadway, rendered ' vacant by the entire destruction of the buildings lately upon it They entered at a point about twenty-five feot vorth of No. 42 Broadway (the Continentat Hotel), and proceeded inward a distance .of ten fect from the sidewalk. This move was not necessary, a8 the stream was sufficiently powerful to reach the safe with the hose in the middle of Broadway, but anticipating no danger, they went forward. Adjoining the north side wall of the Continental Hotel was a thick brick wall, the onlv remaining remnant of No. 444. When the walls of the latter building felt in it was generally Supposed by the fremen that the southern sido wall had also fallen, and even the blazing light of the flames did* not reveal the mustake to the average observer, The wall seen standing on the south was that of the Continental Hotel, which was yet comparatively safe from destruction. ‘The firemen had not been in their dangerous position more than two minutes when a horrid cracking was heard, and almost instantly the treacherous wall fell with a terrible crash, burying in its ruins the poor, un- suspecting firemen. A cry of horror arose from a hundred throats as tho dull thud of the heavy mass resounded amid the general din of destruction. But few knew how many victims lay crushed beneath tho mass of brick. Several had beheld’ the firemen entering ‘the fatal place, but in the excite- mont of the moment none had remembered what the number Was, Almost tho first to rush forward to the rehef of the burned firemen was Captain Allaire, of the Fourteenth precinct, who, at the time of the’ fall, was directing his men in the immediate neighborhood. He was quickly followed by a platoon of officers anda crowd of firemen and offictals, prominent among the latter being Chief Giquel and Commissioner King, The thousands of spectators, pressed back*by the string of police on Broadway, struggled to get inside to render assistance, and, like a flash, the news spread from lip to lip, exaggerated in many instances to several times its enormity and eagerly believed by all hearers. Ten minutes’ tugging at the burning pile soon brougbt forth a dying man, David Clute, driver of en- give No. 80, one of tho bravest men in the departments When found he lay insensible, and was hemmed in by the masses of brick and mortar, Ho was quickly carried across to the west side ‘of Broadway between four brother feemen, apd the police at once despatched @ message for ambulances and surgeons. The neigh- boring saloon of Jobn J. Dowd, No, 439 Broad- way, offered a safe and accessible shelter, and thither «he = was-—shortly ~— afterward brought. Ina few moments another victim, Thomas J. Corteses, foreman of the same company, was dug out amid the excited cries of his rescuers. In his caso the signs wero more encouraging. Corteses, although unconscious when found, soon revived sufficiently to open his eyesand inove his head. He, also, was car- ried to Dowd’s place and laid on the floor by the side of his fellow sufferer. The next unfortunate taken from the ruins wax dead. His head was still bleeding from a frightful cut on the side, and he Jay hemmed in among the bricks in a way suggestive of instant death. He ‘was reverently conveyed acrogs to the extemporized hos- pital, John H. Bush, assistant foreman, was next brought forth, Fortunately he was living, but on the verge of uncousclouspess, Another victim, Richard Burke, one of the insurance patrol, was subsequently found, but instead of being removed to the place where his com- panions jay, he preferred being carried to his homo at No, $3 Willott’ strect, and his wishes were complied with. Hisskjaries were of a not very serious character, consisting mainly of cuts and bruises on the arms and body. At the time of the accident he was on the sidewalk near the fatal wall, and was about to go into the middle of the street, when he was knocked down by the tumbling bricks, Adam Messer, foreman of engine No. 17, was also injured about the body, but not seriously. He was removed to bis residence When the wail fell ho was at the northera end of the vacant space, and while trying to escape from the falling mass was felled to the ground. The last of the in- jured was Henry Mackay, of the same company, who was severely burned on both hands whilo descending from his ladder. A PAINPUL SCENE, The scene at Dowd’s saloon was heartrehding. The victims of the sad accident lay on the floor—one cold in death, and three, with rigid forms and bloody faces, almoat unconscious of the terrible event. At the outside door hundreds of cftizeus who had managed to get insido the lines, anxious to see the vic~ tims, Oremen relieved from daty by the fire bemg under control, and eager to learn which of their companions had fallen a sacrifice to duty, clamored for admission, but the place was already filled with physicians, polico- men and fire officials. Ambulance Surgeons Cochran, Fennington and Allen wero on the scene, ‘and outside the line were six ambulances, Wardgn O'Rourke, of Bellevue Hospital, was also present, arriving with the first of the ambulances, Commissioner of Charities and Correction Brennan soon arrived and united in rendering ali possible aid tothe wounded men. It was soon evident to the surgeons that the most dangerously injured man was Clute, who lay per- fectly motionless, giving no sign of tife, suave a faint breathing. Brandy and other stimulants were given, but nothing seemed to revive him, As the hands of the clock pointed exactly at nine he drew a deep breath and died with- ‘out having uttered a word. ” The two men David Muldrew and “David Clute wero then removed to the Eighth precinct station house, whenco they were taken to their late homes. The wounded men were conveyed in ambulances to Belle- vue Hospital The injuries of Bush are considered as likely to prove fatal. PROM THE RESERVOIR the picture Was @ magnificent ote from the reser- voir, This elevation makes for the eyea vast plain of the house roofs of tho city, Lifes of them stretebed with here ani there dark ribbons of streets and above all played the great and vastly gigantic light of the firey furnace, which, crackling and. simmering at Grand street and Broadway, irradiated the whole surface of the 1sland as far as Spuyten Duyvil. From the reser- voir many hundreds of people might be observed, their figures indistinctly revealed on the housetops, flitting to and fro, women with their arms clasped around cach other's bodies and seemingly ina great state of excitement. New Yorkers like to look at a fire, even if there be danger of its near approach to their homes SPRCTATORS AT BROOKLYN MuIGUTS, The terrible mass of fame shooting up to~¢he con- cave was visible at Brooklyn Heights, and the windows of the mansions in that vicinity were filled with faces, the majority of whom were ladies, Many people living on the Heights feared that the stores were burning in which they were employed or which were owned by their employers, A number of Brooklyn citizens were among the suflerers, and @ great deal of their wealth went up in the ames last night. One gentieman liv- ing on Colifinbla street; who is interested in business on the block opposite, where the fire raged Sercely, had @ telegram sent to bim stating that the house in which be was a partner had come to destruction, and he rushed out of the hall door and down thé stoop without his overcoat, screaming that be was ruined) When he got tothe ferry the boat was not in, and he ran out of the ferry house wildly, and whea be saw the terryboat come in he jumped a distance that would have been impossible for him at another and more sano moment, ‘TAM SCENE ON THE FERKYHOATS, The terryvoats coming trom Brooklyn and Jersey City and Hoboken were crowded with male passengers, some few of whom were on their way to the different theatres in New York. It was the hour to go to the theatres; bot those who came over to look at the fire far outnumbered those who were to witness dramatic performances. The German population ot Hoboken, which is an essentially Ger. man city, came over in large sumbera, and before the bow of the boats that bore them, the river was iridescent with the reflection of the dames. “My God, the whole of New York is on fire, 1 think,” remarked a fat German citizen, with a steady face, bat With lips from which the blood had fle’, The Hudson, down as taras the islands in the bay and upward to the bend in tho river, was like w lake of fire; molten and sullen and sinoking, as it looked from the docks. The moon shone bright above in the blue heavens, and as the boats neared the slips, were fastened and the passengers jumped off and ran up the lo ing streets, usually dark but now having a flic! blaze deepening between brick walls, they of men hurrying toward Broadway, with fleet foot, steps. “This is the biggest fire I ever saw in Now York,” was anexclamation bandied from mouth to mouth. Up Broadway they rushed to meet lines of po- lice, rushing engines and all the glare and murderous noises of the night. THE SCENE YROM JERSEY crry, It was seven o'clock when the people of Jersey City, especially that section between Grove street and the Heights, wore thrown into a state of excitement by the Tumor that the shipping at the docks between the Penn- sylvania Railroad depot and the Pavonia ferry was in flames. Hundreds betook themselves to the house- tops, and the lurid glare that illuminated the heavens seemed to betoken tho destruction of the im- mense warehouses that line the river. Yet no one heard the alarm on the bells. Fully balf on hour elapsed before it was ascertained by a large majority of the people that the flames were as far of! as Broadway, New York, A Hekaip reporter happened to pass along Palisade avenue, the great ridge overlooking the lower section of the city and commanding a charming view of the river, where ho found groups congregated along the thoroughfare awe stricken at the immensity of the conflagration, As the flames swept heavenward aud cast a brilliant light that exposed clearly to view the shipping on either side of the river, and tho ferryboats passing tw and fro, they seemed literally to pursue their march steadily westward and devour buildings with alarming rapidity. No conflagra- tion so awe inspiring was revoaled to the astonished gaze of Jorseymen since the terrible oil fire at the Erie depot nine years ago. About eight o’clock crowds crossed to New York by the Hoboken, Desbrosses, Pavonia and Cortlandt street ferries. The scene, a8 viewed from tho boats, was one of awlul grandeur, It was at this time that tho fire *seemed to reach its culmination and the gravest ra- mors as to the extent of the fire were afloat, It was not until the flery Jement had been subdued that people breathed freely and quietly wended their way to their homes. ON THE PALISADES, A Henavp reporter saw the fiery volcano from a spot onthe Palisades near Fort Lee. On this great cleva- tion the bluze seemed to hold one district of the city asacancer holds the body and heart of an incurable patient. The flames leaped up and licked each other and sometimes a spiral tongue of redness, mingled with yellowness, shot into the empyrean as if rockets or Roman candies were being exploded. 1t was thought on the Palisades by the scattered onlookers that oi! or whiskey was burning from these sudden darts of flame, and the conversation was changed {rota analysis of tho magnificent spectacle of the burning lake in the midst of the forest of houses to the danger‘that might come to human life from gupposed explosions. ‘I wonder,’s ‘said a man who was coolly smoking a cigar, the night wind blowing its further end into a ruddy blaze, “1 wonder if Thomassen, the dynamite devil, has got loose in New York to-night from his grave? Ifso he has brought a little h—I with him A WISTORY OF No. 444, No. 444, where the fire began, was many years ago a well known feature of Broadway. The building, which formerly stood upon the site embracing 8. 444, 440 and 448, was occupied on its upper floors as ball and supper rooms, being known as the City Assembly Rooms, That building was built in 1854 by G. W. Miller upon the ruins of several small ‘buildings that had been destroyed by fire on the 2d of December, 1852. The Assembly Rooms consisted of a handsome. ball room, with spacious supper, dréssing and retiring rooms. Tbe ball room wag. certainly the finest in the city, In aadition to its dimensions, which were very large, the floor was the best for dancing im the country. It was capable of affording dancing facilities to 3,000 persons, and even then there was no overcrowding, It was well venti- latdd and handsomely decorated, Each yoar made these rooms the scene of a larger number of reunions than any other rgom in the city. It was necessary, 80 great was the demand for them, to engage them one year ahead, and in 1866 they were rented for every night up to the Ist of April, Some of the most fash- fonablo balls were held here, and the uniform consid- eration with which all gatherings were treated by its proprietors insured the rooms this extensive patronage, In addition to their uses for ball purposes, concerts, bazaars, fancy fairs and other amusements were held there through the summer months, Their admirable position on Broadway made them great favorites with all parties, On the oth of February, 1966, the mght before it was last burned down, the annual ball of tho Seventy-ninth regiment, Highlanders, was to have taken place there, but for reason it was postponed to the following month, and consequently never took place, Shortly before tho fire the property passed from Mr. G, W. Miller into the hands of Mr. E. Miller, who by the fire lastnight sustained his second loss, ‘The first floor of the building, with an entrance on No. 444, was occupied as atheatre, It was first opened by Henry Wood, the brother of Fernando Wood, as a minstrel hall, in opposition to the old Christy’s Min- strels, then located at No, 472 Broadway. Mr. Wood proved very successful, especially as he secured “George” Christy, who, leaving K. P. Christy, took the “pone end” of Wood’s troupe, baving for his vis-a-vis Jim Budwith, The company being a strong one soon carried the town, and the original Christy giving up the business they had the minstrel field to them. selves. Two or three years later Mr, Wood moved his troupe toa new hall next dyor to the Ball & Black building. About this time the concert ball business broke out, and while Canterbury Hall, the Art Galfery and the Chinese building were in their fall tide of guceess Mr, Robert Butler, the present proprietor of the Globe Theatre, took possession of ‘444 and opened tho first variety theatre in thecity. Then the number of ‘‘special’’ performers were few, yet Mr. Butler gathered about him a remarkable troupe of aftists, taking from the equestrian pro- fession the well known ‘Tony Pastor, who doMing his dress of Shakespearian clown, made himself famous by his comic and locaf ditties, From this troupe sprung many of the leading artists now in the business, On Thursday, February 15, 1856, just,after rebearsal, flames were discovered among the scenory. Owing to the peculiar construction of the building and its indammable contents the entire edifice was reduced to ruins, The ground was soon after cleared and the building destroyed last evening erected. THE FIRKMEN'S BALL. ‘ The annual ball of the Johu L. Cregier Association (Central Patrol) took place last evening at Irving Hall, Atten o'clock the grand opening march took place, and at this hour there were tully 200 couples on the floor, the march being headed by Captain Cregier and lady. The serious accident at the Broadway fire cast a gloom oper the - assemblage, and many of the “oid boys” grieved for the loss of their brave comrades, Notwithstanding the accident Captain Cregier endeavored to make every. body happy. Among the guests present wero ex-Chief Engineer Elisha Kingsland, District Engineor Gilbert J. Orr. Martin Crowell, President of the irving Insurance Company ; Samuel Townsend, City lusurance Company; James Aimes, Thomas Sullivan, ex-Engi- neor; W. Landis; Maxon ¥. Coggswell, of Albany, and many others, The Jobn J. Cregier Association ts composed of mem- bers of the various insurance patrols, most of whom emanate from the old Volunteer Fire Department The fire last night caused the absence of the Fire Com- missioners, and also many chiefs and foremen who at- tended to their duties, and, theretore, could not be present OTHER CITY FIRES, Early yesterday morning a fire broke out in the Dasement of the four story brown stone dwelling No, 322 West Fifty-eighth street, owned and occupied by Moritz Solomon. Damage to furaiture, $400; to build- ing, $600; cause, an overheated fue, About eleven o'clock yesterday morminga fire oc- curred in the office of J. H, Smith & Sons, wholesale Hquor dealers, of Nos, 25 and 27 Peck slip. The cause was a defective gas tube, the escaping gas iguiting from the barner and setting.tire to the board coiling of tae room, The damagé jock was $75, and to buitaing, owned by Phebe Smith, $100; both susured, ab ball-past ive a Ure Was discovered on the top 3 floor of the four story dwelling No. 235 Fast Thirticth street, occupied by A. Rouckle aud owned by F. Steflem. It wus extinguished in ubout twenty-tive minutes. Damage to iurmture, $300; to building, $500; insured; cause unknown, Shortly before seven o'clock yesterday moruing 4 fire*broke out in a row of two story trame houses on Nostrand avenue, between Gates avenue aud Monroe street, Brooklyn. of the buildings were damnaged. $0, 357, owned by Thomas Watson, was injured to the wnt of $1,000; insured um the Home Insurance Company for $3,000. The house was occupied by A. B. Lindaay, who lost on furniture about $1,000; insured in the Firemen’s Trast for $1 The house No. 361, ndorf, was oeeupied by ito the amount of $800; insured in the Phoenix for $3,000. Mrs, Bou- ton’s loss on furniture is $1,000; insured for $2,000 im the Nassau, N. Cooper owned Nos. 063 to 367, sive, on which the loss 1s $300. The fire was caused by a detective fue im No, 350. RAILROAD CAR BURNED. A passenger car belonging to the Midland Railroad Company was left standing on a side track at West End, Jersey City, on Monday night, when it took, fire from an qverheated stove and was entirely consumed, ‘The loss 1s 0, FIRE AT THROG'S NECK. About tour o'clock yesterday morning fames were discovered bursting from the third story of Mr. De Escoriaza’s large and elegant summer residence at ‘Throg’s Neck, Westchester county, which had gained such headway before a singlo stream of water could bé brought to bear on it that every eifort to save it proved futile, The furniture from the first floor alone wa saved. Loss about $15,000, probably partially insured, The house was unoccupied, Mr. De oriaza Laving @ few weeks since removed With is family to New York city for the winter, The great frequency of incendiary fires in the locality has aroused the inhabitants to suck pitch that no quarter will be shown to the olleuders should they be apprehended. OUR CABLE LETTERS. [From the Courrier des Etats Unis.} The weekly chronicle that the Parisian correspond ent of the Hxnaty sends to that journal by cable is not the least piquanie of its contents. In those sketches, that have the rapidity of ordinary telegraphic di Spatches, but are more vital and picturesque, there is a savor as of fresh fruit, We feared, at first, that thu correspondence would prove superficial, and that the author would give more thought to the mere transmis sion of: news hitherto unpuolished than to the accue racy of whatbe sent, It is easier, in fact, moro ea- pecially for a foreigner, to jot down as they run a cer. tain number of little facts, more or less curious, true on untrue, than to seize from day te day the cljaracteris tio features of the life of a people, and to sketch with fucile pen the changeful physiognomy these facts pre+ sent, But our apprehensions, excited by some initial inequalities, have not been contirmed; and these lively chronicles of the HeRaLp become of more consequence and are seen to possess a greater value with each addi- tion to their number, CONKLING AND THE PRESIDENCY, (From the Cingjunati Commercial—ind. } ‘The New York Hxnaup is talking about the seventy delegates from the State of New York to the National Republican Convention as if they must vote in a body and as if the vote would certainly be cast according to the wishes of Senator Conklin, If that 1s the feeling of the republican party in New York they should send * Conkling to the Convention alone, with authority to cast seventy votes, If the States must moye in com- pact boaies why multiply delegates? Why select by districts? It is certainly the policy ot having the -several districts representea according to their local preferences that prompts the selection by districts, and provision is made tor the representation even of a divided sentiment in a district by sending two dele- gates for euch representative in the Electoral College. These remarks, vf course, apply to Obio as well as to Nev York, STATEN ISLAND TOWN ELECTIONS, held on Staten Island The town elections were today. Tho following named were elected Super visors :— Castleton—Richard Christopher (dem,), 21 majority. Middletown— —— Deidrict (rep.), 19 _ majority, probably. (Trean (dem.) clains the election by a small huajority. Westield— —— Seguine (rep.) Northiield— —— Lataurelle (dem.), probably. Soushtlold —Willjam Corry. | No opposition. In the First district, Castleton, Richmond county, Horton (rep.) is elected by a plurality yt 73. Except in Westfield the democrats appear to have elected their nominees for Collectors, Justices of the Peuse, Exciso Commusioners and minor ofcers gon erally. PROPERTY OWNERS’ MEETING. An adjourned meeting of the owners of property on Third avenue, Bowery and Chatham street was held af the Grand Union Hotel last evening for the purpose of. consultation and perfecting their opposition to the con struction ofan elevated steam railroad on said avenu¢ and streets, There wero about ufty gentlemen preseny among whom were Matthew Byrnes, Jobo D, Crimmingy H. P. Suuth, D. D. T. Marshall, Jacob W. Cooper, Richard Mortimer, Charles H. Harbeck, Robe Pettigrew, Thomas E,- Cooper, Robert Irvin, Join F. Holmes and David M. Earl, jarge , property owners. Mr. Charles J.’ Dewi was appointed chairman of the ineetung and Mr. B. B, Chappell secretary. Speeches were made by Messrs, Byrnes, Marshall and Suith, all of whom were loud im their denunciation of the elevated railroad, as they cou sidered that it would damage their property to the amou: of at least one-half its present value. A petution to b presented to the Commissioners was handed round fot the signatures of the property owners, as aiso a form ofattidavit, Themeeting then adjourned ull Tuesday, the 22 inst THE ba ancy eta RECEPTION, The Young Men’s Charity Association gave their cem tennial (second annual) reception lust night in Lexings ton Avemuc Opera House. A large and tasbionable as semblage was present, among whom were noted Gen nz Siegel, Admiral Trefchard, United States rnor Smith, of Vermont, and Mist 1 Perley, Alderman Hess, J. Hoyt, Licutenaut Simmons, United States Army; Lieateuaut Bigsby, United States Army; aud among the ladies Miss Florence Leland, Miss Seeger, U'Couor, Miss Mitchell, Mrs. J. Q@ Hoyt and others, The toilets wore in adinirable taste, Dancing commenced at teno’clock, Bernstein turnished the music. . MAD WITH KUM AND SORROW, About ten o’clock last night féur little children, age@ thirteen, seven, five and two years respectively, caine to the Sixth precine! jon house, Williamsburg, end said that their father bad driven.them from the house and threatened to cut their throats if they returned. Sergeant Titus sent an officer to the place, No, 23 Humboldt street, who found the man Charles Huidine with a long knife in his hand, waiting for the return of his children, He was locked up. The neighbors whe accompanied hit to the station house stated that Hale dine had been drinking beavily simee the death of hig wite, a day of two ago, aud bas acted as if insane since his return from the tuneral yesterday. Mr, Bi who was at the station house, provided for the children till the father should recover his reason or other rela tives could take care of them. A PANEL HOUSE ‘RAIDED, Late last evening Detective Slevin, of the Fifteenth precinct, saw Lizzie Williams, alias “Lizzie Button,’ faccost a stranger on Broadway and take hit to No. 68 South Washington square The offleer folk lowed until he -saw two well-known panol men, Johu Clary and James Roberts, run across the street and enter the house ahead of the victim, The ularm was instantly sent to the police station, and Cap » Dusen, with Sergeant Murray and the devective, jor the secue, They. barat tuto the den aod slary and Roberts, divested of their hats, coats d shoes, concealed in a closet of the room where tha stranger und the woman were, watching them through “pipe holes.’ The following persons wer ed and will be taken to court this mornim, ha Clary, James Roberts, alas “Billy Butto: Wiltams and Charlotte Wilhams, alias ‘Lot Warner.” The police secured the panel locks, keys and bolt. The bouse was started by the prisoners about two days age WATCHING THE DETECTIV ES, Shortly before six o'clock yesterday evening Com- missioner Erhart summoned to Headquarters the various Police captains throughout the city, He gave them instructions at considerable length relative to @ hew system to be inaugurated forthwith, which is cal- culated to increase the efficiency of the detective service, Under this system cach ward detective is te keep a daily re Bess, No deter day, to Keep detect) that thet every movement will Le ofligally kuowa to the author ities at Meadquartors, . «