The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-11
MOST DISASTROUS FIRE In BROOKLYN.
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THREE HUNDRED HOUSES
AND
THREE CHUR CHES DESTROYED.
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TERRIBLE CALAMITY.
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IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.
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LOSS OF LIFE.
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INCIDENTS.
&c. SC. &c.
THREE HUNDRED HOUSES
THREE CHURCHES DESTROYED.
THRRIBLE CALAMITY.
IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.
loss OF LIFE.
INCIDENTS.
&c. sc. &c.


goods, wares merchandise, and household furni
ture, amounting IN value from one million to one
million and half of dollars.
On Saturday night, about halfpast eleven
O'Clock, the fire bells were rung, and the alarm
given that fire had broken out. On proceeding
to the point indicated by the signal, the firemen
discovered the upholstery and baddlng establish
ment owned by Mr.. George Drew, situated at No.
1872 Fulton street, IN flames. AS it was wooden
building and as rain has not fallen for some time
past, 1t was but short time before it was evident
that all attempts to save it were useless. Efforts
were then directed to save the adjoining houses,
but the supply of water being deficient, they were
in vain, and the flames, as we stated in yesterdays
Herald, progressed with fearful rapidly, lndicat-
ing an extensive confagratlon.
In short time all the houses between Nos. l22
and l72 were enveoped in fire, as well as many in
the rear, Henry street. The flames then took
course along Henry, destroying the whole block
between Cranberry and Orange streets. They
then progressed to Pineapple, at the corner of
which and Fulton street, was situated the First
Univeisalist Church, large and very fine brick
edifice, which, together with splendid organ, fur
nture, &C., was completely destroyed. They then
crossed Fulton street to Concord, destroying the
and Nassau, and portion of the next block
bounded by Liberty, Concord, Washington, and
Nassau streets.
Whilst the flames were raging on Concord street,
it was deemed advisable by the Mayor and public
authorities to blow up one or two houses with the
view of preventing the extension of the conflagra-
ton down that avenue; and Captain Sands, of the
United States Navy Yard, was solicited to super
wise the work, which he did, and a quantity of
powder was deposited in them and ignltcd The
demolition of these buildings was not as perfect as
was desired; but sufficiently so to check the pro-
gress of the flames, which extended no farther in
that direction. While these movements were 90
ing on, however, several other houses on the block
bounded by Fulton, Nassau, Washington, and High
streets, were burning, and in short time, owing
to the prevalence of strong wind, the whole block
was reduced to ruins, as well as the greater por-
zion of the adjoining block.
In addition to the destruction of the Universalist
Church. which we have already mentioned, two
more edifices o! the same kind were reduced to )
ruins, viz: the First Methodist Episcopal Church,
situated on Sands street, near Fulton, and the frs
Baptist Church, on the corner of Nassau and Ii
berry streets. The Post Office was also destroyed
and, as is reported, portion of the mails. The
new Savings Bank, on the corner of Fulton and
Concord streets, on the east side, was IN imminent
danger, and every exertion that human aid could
render was made to save it, and happily with sue
cess. 1t is chaste and classic building, con-
structed Of red sand stone, aid is quite orna-
ment to the part of the city in which it stands.
The amount of property destroyed by this disas-
trous conAagration is estimated at various sums.
The nearest we could reach, by comparison of
all the estimates is nine hundred thousa nd dollars
The number of buildings destroyed varies from two
hundred and fifty to three hundred, and the families
that have been thus suddenly deprived Of shelter vii
number two hundred. Allowing three to each family,
the number Of persons rendered houseless In one
night by the destructive element makes six hundred
The area over which the fire extended is stated
In yesterdays Herald about ten acres. BY some 1t is
set down at twelve, and others 90 so high Is If
teen; but we think that ten would cover 1t ALL
Many of the buildings destroyed were of the finest
description being Ave and six stories in height and
erected within the last two years with all the modern
impfovements When the flames got beyond the
power Of the fire department in Brooklyn, requs-
ton was made, on the fremen Of New York, and
with their accustomed promptitude 2 number OF our
~ss serious impeachment to their s1srtons with
great trouble they managed to throw several
the burning sdnoes which they procured from the
east river by forming continuous line Of engines
and hose; but it took many four engines to each
stream, and the flames having made 80 much head
foSsd sh.ir soEts uD.ys a to ssnsuh the Ares
they exerted themselves to prevent its spreading By
removing combustble materials from the roach OF
the flames, and pulling down wooden houses We
have the authority q Mayor Sryker for saying that
tion would have been much more extensive than IL
When they had done this, they assisted In the re:
moyal of household furniture, great Quantity OF
which, embracing all the worldly property OF the
owners, was saved by them. The Brooklyn fremen,
too, are deserving Of the greatest credit. They Ia
bored with hearty good will to extineuish the flames
and, Then the cisterns in the neighbourhood
exhausted they turned their attention to the saving
As usual the thieving fraternity were the spot in
great numbers. Enough Of them to all the Brooklyn
jail were captured in the act Of stealing and many
others, for whom there room, taken to
New York, where they were safely locked up In the
Tc%bs, to answer n for their offence ~
bian Rifles, three volunteer military companiss o
Brooklyn, were on duty all night guardians Of the
the safe removal and protection their property The
were destroyed but, We are happy to say, that the
muskets and accoutremsnts were saved.
The spectacle represented ~ awfully msgn,hcent
ut one o'clock on Sunday morning. Persons who stood
at the junction Of Fulton and Maine streets, and
n ,. the say sn: m. of Oh,
sights they ever saw The wind blew hard and the
flames shot up into the sky great height and were
from blast furnace. In the most distant parts Of
the city, people could distinctly ordinary sized
wood, we're carried over ali parts Of the city BY the
Wind and deposited ngie rooted houses causing
great momentary fear and anxiety that other parts OF
the city would be destroyed likewise Happily, no
such catastrophe occurred owing to the exerons OF
the occupants who assembled the roofs Of their dwell
inss and extinguished the sparks rapidly they
alishted.
The loss If life is not so great as 1t was repre-
scented yesterday morning. Several persons adult
and four or five children, who were missing, were
discovered, much to the qualification of their rela.
tives and friends; but one fireman belonging to
this city was killed in consequence of the engine
to which he was attached running over him, and
another fell or slipped from Of the ferry boats,
and was drowned.