The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-02-26 00:00:00

THE GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK,

The New York Times of the 9th gives the following
particulars of the destructive fire which broke out in
Broadway on the previous evening. Shortly after six
o'clock, it says, flames were discovered on the first floor
of the five-story brick building, No. 10, Crosby-street,
occupied by Lesher, Whitman, and Co., importers of
and extensive dealers in trimmings and fancy goods.
The building extends through to Broadway, on which
thoroughfare it was numbered Nos. 444 and 448. In
the excitement and confusion consequent upon
the discovery of the fire a fatal delay occurred in
summoning the fire department. The firemen re-
sponded with alacrity. When the building was
entered it was found that, owing to the combustible
nature of the goods with which it was filled, the flames
had made such rapid headway as to defy the efforts of
the firemen to check them. The flames spread from
floor to floor in an incredibly short space of time, and
were soon bursting out of all the windows. Chief En-
gineer Bates and his assistant, Engineer Shay, had by
this time arrived, and comprehending at once that a
terrible conflagration was imminent, sent out in rapid
succession a second and third alarm. In a few
moments the reinforcements called for by the chief
began to arrive, and the steamers reaching the ground
with a full head of steam on were placed in the
most available positions, and in less than ten minutes
ten powerful streams of water were being poured into
the burning building. No visible effect was produced
by this vast volume of water, for the flames sped on
with fearful velocity, and soon burst forth through the
roof, shooting high into the air and illuminating The
whole neighbourhood. The flames then extended to
the adjoining building, Nos. 448 and 450, Broadway, an
elegant six-story double building, with a massive iron
front, and was occupied by a number of firms in the
cloth and clothing business. The fire had burned
through the flimsy walla dividing the two buildings,
and rushed from floor to floor with the speed of the
wind, and the most determined efforts of the firemen
seemed to be without avail. The flames showed to
signs of abatement, but, gathering strength as
they spread threatened with destruction the
entire block on Broadway. from Grand to Howard-
streets. No. 452, Broadway, running thrcugh to No.
16, Crosby-street, was next attacked. This was a five
storey brick and iron-front building, and in a very
short time was in flames from the basement to the roof. -
At this time the fire was at its height, and the scene
presented was one which almost beggars description.
The destroying flames had full possession of the three
buildings named, from front to rear and from basement
to roof. Out of each of the many windows belched
forth volumes of flames, accompanied by dense smoke.
Above the roofs of the bureing buildings the flame shot
up to a great height, and showers ef sparks were carried
by the wind above the surrounding buildings. The
heat became so intense that the firemen could not
stand in front of the burning buildings, and could not
approach near enough to make the streams of water
effective. It was greatly feared that the flames
would cross the street, and set on fire the lefty
buildings on the west side of Broadway. Already a
large six-storey tenement-house on the east side of
Crosby•street, immediately opposite the burning build-
ing, had taken fire, and it required the unremitting
attention of Engine Company No. 3 to prevent the
destruction of this building and ,the adjoining pro-
perty on rosby-street. It was evident that the
utmost exertions of the firemen would not avail to ,
save the buildings already on fire, and all attempts in '1
that direction -ceaeed, and they were abandoned to
their fate. That . this was a -wise decision the
result shows, for the •firemen were enabled to use
all their energies in saving the surrounding property,
and in this they were highly successful. Lines of
hose were carried over the roofs of the threatened
buildings, and the fronts of the structures were kept
thoroughly drenched. But these efforts would not
have been successful but for the falling of the walls of
the buildings- which occurred at about 7,30 o'clock; or
within leas than an hour after the fire broke out. The
roof of No, 444 and No. 446 Broadway fell in first with
a loud crash, and forced outtbe front and rear Walls.
Very soon after the walls of No. 448 and No. 450 fell.
The front walls, which were of iron, fell into Broad-
way, covering the pavement with the dBris Huge
masses of the iron which formed the front of the
building were thrown to a considerable distance and
encumbered the opposite eieewalk. With the fall of
these walls the firemen gained their first advantage.
The heat became less intense, and the firemen were
enabled to approach closer to the ruins and renew the
attack at close quarters. At 8.30 o'clock the fire was
under control, and all danger of its extending in any
'other direction was past. •
The New York Herald states two firemen were killed
and several others seriously injured by the falling of a
wall. The total loss is eztimste.:l at three millions of
dollars.