The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-07-20
A. Where the Are originated.
b. Place of the explosion.

that were visible on every hand. A
negro servant, who was amusing himself by throw
ing about water In the street, and upon and against
the house of his emdloyer. was told not to lavish
the water in that manner, as it would be all wanted
for the fire. AT this time the flames were distant,
and unlikely to attain Broadway, and SO the negro
continued his gambols with the hydrant. AT last
the flames arrived, and that house fell prey The
to palllate his waste OF water in saying, "Why
didn't ye say the fire would come here, and then |
would not have thrown away the water
Within the above circle there was reckoned TO be
about three hundred buildings, most of which were
well stocked with every variety OF goods, from a
chllds toy TO the most massive piece of machinery.
great amount of goods were saved by the timely
removal. The Exchange was turned into one large
store-room. In the centre of Old Slip and Coentles
Slip the goods were piled from 10 to 20 feet high.
Wall street was completely blocked up A great
quantity of valuable goods were slowed away in the
Custom Eouseso that II IS hoped that, beyond the
destruction of the buildings the loss Of property will
not be so great as anticipated.
The area swept over may bethus descrlbed:-On
the east side of Broadway, II commences with the
great establishment, the Wavery Hotel On the
and from this point southwark to Marketfield street
below the Bowling Green, and for three or four
houses on Whitehall street, every house is destroyed
This line Is about quarter of mile in length, and
the number OF buildings is about fortyhve or fifty
including two among the most splendid hotels in the
city, the rest consisting Of stores and dwellings
The Adelphi House on the corner of Beaver street
was six stories in height, and one of the orna.
ments of that ancient part of the city. 1t is level
with the ground.
The fire then proceeded eastward along the mi dde
of the block between Marketield and Stone until il
bursted into Stone street, at the great storage
house, whose destruction we have described. II
then proceeded along Stone street to Broad, and
crossed Broad, consuming both sides of the way
the east line OF the burnt district passes along the
rear OF the stores on the west side of South William
street TO Exchange street. On Exchange street the
fire approached close the south west corner ofihe
new Exchange. The fire crossed Exchange street.
Kidding the dry goods warehouses in Its course, land
approached the rear Of the Wall street banks, and
came into Broad street, at the iron warehouse OF
Davis, Brooks IL ca.
1t here crossed Broad street again, just below the
vast store houses belonging to the government
which happily escaped, and then followed up Ex
change street, to ITS junction with broadway, at the
Waverley House, the point at which II began TO
trace its ravages. The space thus bounded is not
partially burnt, but 1t is one blackened mass Of
wreck. We have never seen destruction more la
inevitable or complete. 1t was nearly all covered,
with the exception of the dwelling houses on Broad
way, with the largest iron and dry goods establish
ments In the city. On the opposite side of Broad
way, at the head of the Bowling Green three or
four OF the largest and finest dwelling houses In the
city caught at about six o'cock, and were wholly de-
stroyed, but fortunately the fire was checked before
it spread to Greenwich street The inside of per-
maps three four fine buildings on this side of the
street were ruined, besides those quite consumed
The sight around the envlrons OF the fire, as well
as within the space burnt over, heart sickennp
The families of at least fifty houses on Broadway,
both sides OF Greenwich street, on State, White
hall, Stone, and Pearl streets, and Battery Place
had been turned into the street, with the r furniture
through dread OF their houses being burned over
their heads. Broadway, at that part where both
sides were burning, is at least one hundred and fifty
teet wide, yet intense the heat In the middle
OF the street, that for hundred yards not even the
daring remen could venture upon the burning pave
ment
Incidents, Accidents, &c.
The panic among the merchants on William,
Pearl and the lower part Of Exchange Streets on the
east side OF the conagratIon, was equally great and
we suppose that one hundred stores emptied Of
their goods, at prodlgIous expense and loss, which
were not reached by the fire. Vast amounts of va
liable goods were lost by being deluged with water
The stencil OF the city was so great caused by the
burning OF spirits, OIL and every combustblc matter,
that twas offensive 10 those approaching the city for
many miles before they reached the fire.
The city from the Bay presented vast subj me
sight. Spectators beheld it in silence. 1t seemed
as if all the city in flames. The sheet Of fire and
smoke assembled to the clouds.
In Brooklyn many of the inhabitants felt their
houses rock to the very foundation. One gentleman
who was watching the fire from Brooklyn heights.
saw the blazing fragments blown into the air, above
the spire of Trinity church, two hundred and sixty
feet and over He says that they were in circular
form, like bow, increasing their circle both as they
rose and fell Some say that the splre of Trinity
shook for nearly minute after the explosion we
don't know how true this may be, but after ALL that
we do know, 1t does not seem AT all incredible
The terry boats were carrying furniture to Brook
Ign throughout the day, and we snw several Of the
wretched and homeless families sitting on the bridge
on the Brooklyn side, not knowing where to 20.
Such was the power Of the explosion that il was
heard by those on board Of brig OIL Sandy Hook.
that arrived here yesterday morning. and was thought
to be the blastrg Of some rocks in the highlands IL
was distinctly heard by the residents of Gowanus
1t was thought by many ut di. lance TO have been
an earthquake, caused by the recent high tempera-
ture Of the atmosphere.
A gentleman of this city residing temporarily AT
Stapleton, Staten Island on hearing the explosion,
got up, supposng II to be the SIGNAL Of the Great
Western, when he found The ground covered with
cinders OF hats, oil cloth, PAPER printed as bank
notes and other articles Of LIGHT substance.
The haibor, for ten miles below the city. was CO.
yered with floating fragments. Several pieces of
burnt goods were picked M on Staten Island.
letter, nearly perfect, was picked up at this
spot, although somewhat charred. 1t was signed
by Caspar, Meyer IL Co, and must have come from
Broad street, distance Of seven miles
The Bay House, Clifton Hotel, and all the houses
on this island distance, some of them, Of eleven
miles, were made TO tremble by the explosion
Throughout the whole affair, the activity of JUS
tice Matsell was most remarkable; he appeared 10
be NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. wherever person would there
might he be found directing, urging, and entreating
About ten o'clock body Of soldiers from Bedloe's
Island was placed vnder his direction, whom he sta
toned In various spots around the scene to protect
property and keep the thoroughtares free
AT IL o'clock the dwelling house No, q, at the
corner of Broadway and Morris street. fell with a
tremendous crash striking with great force against
the opposite building, and breaking in the windows,
&c. Ne one hurt
About one o'clock the Chief Of Police and Aid
Inaiiick mad very narrow escape of their lives
The walls Of a building, while they were IN stone
street. nearly hemmed them in, fell, and is known to
nave Killed one man and boy--it is supposed Col.
Johnson, OF the new police, who was in front. and
who has not since been seen
PROVISIONS were sent for to the Astor House at
ipo" ,wo CLOCK, as Wen as TO various other quar-
ers' The appearance Of the poorer sufferers Win
we're ~ squatled on the Battery was renllv 6ssr,