American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-07-30
From the Brooklyn Advertiser
THE NEW YORK MERCH ANT,
OR, AN INCIDENT OF THE FIP.E.


4 gentleman of this city, learnin G early GU
Saturday that his store in New York was in
danger from the fire, fastened to the scene cf
destruction. On arriving at his store he found
that the fire had already made considerable
progress ia his building. He hesitated but for
a raoment, and was about to spring up the
burning stairway when he was seized by tue
or three bystandeIs, and asked if he was
madman thus to meet certain death co rashly.
Hold me not back, gentlemen he said, "FIa
no. mad; but / must and will save my iron
chest though | perish in the ATTEMPT. Then
with a sudden effort he released himself from
these who, in kindness, would have held him
back, and in moment more he had passed the
burning staircase, and was next seen running
from room to room despite tie blaze and smoke
of the burning building. The key of his
safe, it appears, was not to bs found in the
usual place, and disappointed in not being able
TO obtain the contents, he made an effort to re-
move the safe ITSELF failing in this, he left the
tuilding, and wildly entreatod some of the by
ISLANDERS to aid him. All refused, fer destrac-
tlcn seemed certain. Again did he plunge
amidst the destructive element: he had scarce
" reached the spot where stood the safe, when
two men, who had witnessed his previous ef-
Iorts, stood beside him, and vowed they would
stick by him TO the last. The crowd thinking
the men had followed for the purpose of reseu-
inr the desperate man from his dangerous pur-
po1e, shouted: "Kneck him down''-t'drag hni
out"-"lie'tl be killed."
With the assistance Of the two men, the safe
. was dragged close to the haschway, and the fall
way about to be made fas. so as TO lower 1t
down, when at the moment the rear OF the
eto.e fell inward. A huge mass of smoke and
flame assembled on high, and the hosting afpa-
ratus fell, seme part of the wood work having
beer burned away. 4 cry OF horror b, oke from
thea,itnesses Of the scene AS the three men
were enveleped in smoke and fire and hid from
4heir view. Presently che tive strangers emerg-
sd fisrl the building, and were greeted with
cbeerg by the crowd. The merchant, it was
7hour'it. was rredeeGably lost; but not so -
He had fallen down in a stupor; bat quickly re-
covering. however, he was seen-When the
sr7oke couseoaen. upon the falling in of the
rear wall. had cleared somewhat away-by the
chest striving with all his might to tumble il
down the hatchway. The people collected
around were amazed, and thought him crazy
and inyulnerable The fire was above, below
and all around him, and how the merchant
stood there alive, and seemingly unhurt, was a
mystery no one could explain. On witnessing
his exertions at the chest, every one held his
preath-and save the cracking OF the tlmberS
and the distant shouts of the tiremen, not a
sound or 4 whisper could be heard. See the
chest moves and now comes tumb!ing down Inc
natchway, amid the applause OF the crowd
Il rolled out of the door and fell into the en-
trance of the basement. The merchant was
lest sight of for moment, but soon he stooa
on the sidewalk, blackened and burnt with
sraoke and fame, and again asked for aid to re-
maye his chest from its then position. The
answer was-i'come from beneath-the Whole
troas is falling-you will perish" lie exclalm \!
ed--ssthen shall it cover me, for the safe Will
rescue. or be buried with it," and then agar
rushed into the burng pile. The feelings o.
hose who beheld him cannot be described.
lie proceeded to place in his office, where
he knew was placed a small hatchet' LOOK II
climbed to the third story with astonishing
AGILITY and severed the rope from the burning
drum. to which it had bsen secured, but Wa
not vet burnt off, and down he sprang again.
At times he was hid from the eyes OF those as
sernbled outside, and again ne would DC seer
fitting about as though he was proof agains
destruction, and cheer would ascend. Sooi
he was seen standing on the sidewalk with th'
covered Iope over his shoulder, but IN an IN
slant one side of the store fell in and ne wa
AGAIN hidden by volume of fire and SMOKE
1ihat cleared away and he was seen nara a
work on the safe, endeavoring to thrust IN
hook at the end of the rope through us nan
lie 1]e succeeded, and then carrying u
,,her end Of the rope in his hand, came as Ia
no il would permit of towards the crowd an
was received with the most voclfefous acriS