The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-07-20


tie roof The different lire companies around, finding
tey could not save the building, directed their at |
tcntlon and energies 10 the surrounding buildings,
ad those on the other side Of the street. and brayely
DID they work and act The fire-proof warehouse
al Mr.. Geo. Sheldon, close adjoining, had long pre-
vlous fell prey 10 the flames. Several times, from
This hour 10 nine o'clock, did the flames break from |
the houses In Broad, South William, and Stone |
streets, but were promptly again got under way by
The activity OF the different companies with their
hose, many OF the men placing themselves in |
truly perilous places amid the burning houses, tor
this object About halt past nine O'Clock, the roof
the Broad street Hotel al the corner OF Broad and
Pearl was found 10 be on fire, to the great surprise
o every one as II was some three or four blocks TO
the leeward from where the flames raging at the
time quite in opposite direction, and 10 appearance
where OF the burning fragments could have
reached. One opnlonappeared 10 pervadehe mass pre-
sent that II was the act of some dabocal scoundrel
for the purpose oiplunder, or something else An en-
CINE was promptly on the spot, and hose was car
red tlroughih upper ndows, which in short time
were suodned, and the lgnited fragments cut away.
Had this hire got Roadway, there is little doubt but
That the amount OF damage done would have been
much greater, The whole of the block Of stores
around 10 the river side, filled with the most COM
busuble materials, would have been destroyed.
In the meanwhile the flames from Mr. Lewis,s
warehouse increased IN volume. About ten O'Clock
The root feel IN, and one OF the grandest and most
awful sights imaginable took place, III the shape OF
clouds OF smoke and flame. The front IN Stone
street now threatened 10 fall, and the street was
cleared OF every person, except two hremen on a
ladder, playing on the houses the opposite side.
The wall gave slight bend forward, and directly
afterwards fell, burying the whole street in
dust and smoke. A scream of horror burst from
those around and on the roots of the buildings in
the neighborhood. Ii was expected at least The two
men on the ladder were killed, but when the smoke
cleared away they were shaking the dust oil them
selves, and resumng their playing the other side,
while the street was He'd with RUNS of the building
crushing the lower parts OF many Of them. The
flame now burst forth from Mr.. Lewis store in in
L In he
! not proceeding further on the north side.
While this was raging, one or two colored men
were detected stealing, and taken into custody, as
were one or two others OF tairer COLOR but not IN
| actlons they were quickly removed. The police
along Broad, Pearl, Stone land Wliamsstreets, was
most energetic, at the same time civil and firm.
The value OF the new body was spoken of by all IN
III. highest terms, and have doubtless been the
| means OF preventing the plundering OF some thou
| sand dollars worth OF property.
About eleven O'Clock, It was evident that the de-
vourng element was under control-so tar as being
confined to the limits. Upon taking survey OF the
circle or extent OF the ruins, we found that in
BROAD STREET, the fire proceeded northward to
the store of Messrs. Wood and Sheldon, at the
| ner of Stone street. The Southwark was stationed
IN Bridge streen active operation, having the hose
run through the dwelling house of Mr.. Bloomfield,
playing the buildings in Stone street
/ WHITEHALL--The flames reached to the corner
OF Markeeld street, destroying all the buildings be-
hind. Here was in active operation Engine No Is,
and just above IN the Bowling Green, some four or
ergy on the different points The flames appeared
to have crossed Broadway at Mr. d. Hales house.
about two doors above the Atlantic, progressing to-
wards Greenwich street, the back of the buildings
and out-houses much damaged. sBut here, fortunate
ly, the flames were checked and at this hour some
degree OF composure was manifest. Some ten
dozen doors from the end, towards the Battery, in
Morris, out of Greenwich. was stationed engine No
l3; the fire had extended half dozen houses down
this street, the right and this appeared be the
extreme length OF the destruction on this side.
Broad STREET, next TO Wall. the fire had reached
| to within some three or tour doors of the corner OF
Wall, on the right, Just as far as Messrs. Davis,
| Brooks Y Co., and as far as Nos. 20 and u the
| opposite side.
fire reached the store of Messrs. Bird, Dillingham;
Y Co., No SO, on the left hand side and as far as
Messrs, Richards II Blake on the right.
BEAVER STREET 1t reached Messrs. A. W. Pea
body's, No. 4 on the left, and MIR. Thomas Lowndes
| on the right.
SouTH WILLIAM STREET-It extended to Mr.
Alexandres on the left, small wooden shanty, used
as cooper's shop, next 10 Shelton Il Phelps, was
entirely destroyed, while the buildings on either
| side were but little injured
BArTERY.-A wonderful scene was presented on
| he Battery. From end TO the other it was
turned INTO vast emporium of effects, snatched
| from the flames Vast piles of cotton bales chests
OF tea, household furniture, principally of valuable
Sind, occupied every available inch of ground A
few military were placed here and there SO as 10
| form Gordon round the area, so that none of the
property could pass out by any Of the numerous
gates, whilst thesowners within sat watching, with
ANXIOUS and care-worn yisages the remains OF their
snbstance-the sad relics of comfortable homes. All
the walks which intersect the Battery were alive
with carmen, plying their vocation, in arriving and
| departing with chattels and merchandise.
BOWLING GREEN This formerly cool and refresh
ng spot was soon transformed into a scorching and
| ard waste The heat all around il was so great
hat nothing but hardihood could approach it. Dense
volumes of smoke so obscured it that distinct view
cond not be had OF the fountain, from the iron
al gfr fad
| rushed past glance might be caught of the ndom-
table firemen, battling with the raging element at
| he Atlantic Hotel, Broadway, in Whitehall street.
Ec. In no quarter, perhaps, was the destructive eff
iects OF the conagration more apparent than at the
/ sowing treen, where, butyesterday, all was green.
fresh, exhillrating and beautiful, but where now al
| Is changed into dreary and repulsve desert.
! GEEENwIcH SraEET.-In Greenwich street the
| same pressure among the masses prevailed. diff
| terent mode OF remedying II was here adopted
/ some one having gwen out that grand bow-up
was to take place IN of the houses the Bat
terry, terrific rush made by the retreating thou
sands on the street. Horses and carts, vehicles OF
| Ill kinds caught the alarm, and several persons
| were more or less injured. One man had his arm
broken, another received severe confusion against
| the iron railing Of Westinghouse. How many
more occurred II is difficult at present to determine
| report was spread that some powder was about
to explode IN Greenwich street, which spread7 alarm,
and there was immense rush OF people toward the
| Battery The ladies' of the pave, many of them.
made themselves particularly conspicuous during the
day, dressed In all their fiIery. They appeared to
ENJOY the good deal, as if il was some gall
| day on Broadway.
BRcADwAY.-From very early hour the streets
| IN the enyirons of tie burning district became
crowded with spectators, who stood stricken with
horror and bewi.derment at the awful devastation
81 property going on. party Of U. S. troops ar
rived from Governors Island, and contributed, by
their efforts, to repel the dense crowd which was
lncommodng the firemen. The plan adopted, was
the formation OF lines OF soldiers across the street
a rope being passed along from hand to hand to fiji
up the lnterstices between the men. In this way
Broadway, from point far below the first of the
patch and little trouble The rapidly which the fire
| communicated across this broad street. was the sub
| ect OF frequent remark, d shows how strongly
the heat OF the weather during the last fortnight
| must nave acted on the tjrnbera of the III f.ren,