Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-10-07
NEw-YoRK. Oct. 4.

NEW-t ORKs OCt. 4.
Destructive Fire and Loss u Liues.-A fire
broke out yesterday morning about half past 8
O'clock, in the bakery of Mr.. William B. Hum
bert. No. 924 Bowery, between Prince anC
Spring streets, and before the flames got under,
destroyed seven houses, most of them two story
brick front dwellings, fronting on the Bowery,
and burnt through the centre of the entire block
to Elizabeth street. including in the ravages two
large brick houses. a slaughter house, and some
small buildings on the east side ofthe latter street
with all the buildings in the rear. The further pro.
gress of the flames south was arrested BY a solid
brick wall. formed by the end of a three story
brick house fronting on the Bowery, and the end
wall Of the Chandlers' Melting Company estab.
lishment. Fortunately there was very little wind
at the time, otherwise. as the ueighboring build
ings were very dry. and the difficulty Of obtain
ing water was very great, the confagratlOn would
probably have been very extensive.
What renders this occurrence peculiarly disas-
trous, is that four of the men employed in Mr..
Humbert's bakery were burnt to death. 1t is
supposed they were asleep at the time the fire
commenced. and the flames spread with such ra-
pidity, that they were enveloped i'll them before
they had time to escape. The names of the de-
ceased were. Samuel Clark native of New York.
aged 49,; George Lame and Bernard Jocelyn,
both of Prussia. egcd 81, and John Gallagher, a
native of Ireland, aged 90. The remains OF
three Of the bodies have been found.
We have n0t been able to ascertain, satisfacto-
rily. the cause OF this sad disaster. Mr.. Humbcrt
was first awakened by the cracking of the flames,
and fastened TO remove his family. After telling
his wife to take her child and fly to the street, he
proceeded to the chamber where his men, and
boys slept. and gave the alarm. One of the BOYS
had previously seen the flames and hurried to the
and another, sith Mr.. and Mrs. Humberr and
their infant. wi,rdiaiculty escaped down stairs
with their lives; a third apprentice leaped out Of
the window. A morning paper says that ''twO
yong ladies, the one sister to Mrs. Humbert, the
other her cousin. perceivihg the flames had inter
cepted their flight by the stairway, crept out of
the garnet window and over the roof Of an adjoin-
ing house, into which they goth analher window,
and this house was subsequently burned" There
were seven persons in the bed room over the ba-
kerry. three men and four bows.
The want of water was the cause Of the destrIc-
ton Of 50 much property. At an early period.
one engine which was stationed close to the fire
would have extinguished the flames. lad a supply
Of water been continued. Every cistern i'm the
neighborhood, which could be got at vas drained.
and the chambers melting establishment. which
400 barrels of tailow, was saved BY
the extraordinary exer'i,ns az a small private en-
zine. called tina 'BLack J3ke, Jr." manned by |
young men.
Many engines were useIes for the want of wa
ter. Had the '.Public Reservoir b. ca in op-
GRAFTON, much property might have been saved.
Com. .2aSer1ise,. J