The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-23
CITY Intelligence.


TREMENDOUS FIRE-GREAT OBSTRUCTION OF rRoPER-
TY-HURNINo OF THE GREAT SUGAR REFINERY OF
wooIsEY AND COMPANY.
Yesterday, Of the most destructive fres that has
occurred In this city length Of time took place In
the sugar refinery of woosey Co.. South street. nesr
Clinton. The firm formerly Woolsey and Wool
sey but the old man, who In Europe, having
tired from the establishment, his and others
carry II on woolsey & Co. 1t Is said that the As
pinwalls are concerned in It This refinery esta-
blish.d In 1855 and Is the Oldest, well the most
sxts nsve this continent II most substantial
building being three feet thick Mt the foundation aud
two feet st the summit 1t nine stories high, indie.
pendent the garrett and with the tobacco
and store Of Mr.. Duryes, occupied by the company,
and two dwelling houses, constituted entire
block, biunded By Clinton and Montgomery, South
and Water streets.
The Gre was hrst discovered shortly before o'clock
Mir fiatt the foreman, returning from dinner,
setting the to work at ten minutes before o'clock
when he heard the alarm Of fire. and found that 1t had
broken In the Of the eighth story the build
ing fronting South street, which used as n drying
house. These stoves heated by steam; and 1t Is
supposed that from oyerhssting the wood work took
FIRE rtm IN. nues and being perfectly dry
tsuity witt much heat, the flames spread rapidly
and with great violsnee. Mr. Piatt hastened to
bottom and tops q the iron doors. The ssta5lish.
ment being provided with hose gang In every story
be kept playing rpon the flames with the one next to
the burning msss, until u was burned In his hands
and he fell down In state of insensibllity from the
smoke and heat and was dragged from his perilous
condition In fact, certain death, by t~o chvarous
Irishmen who risked their Lives 20 save him. Their
names are Michael Donovan and John Ke.fe and such
was Mr.. Flats gratitude 10 them. that he said he
would knock any man down that he ever heard
say a word against an irishman. His face aud
hands we're drcadfuily burned. ON recovering from
his state Of oblivion In the third story whittier he
had been brought down, he gave orders TO have
the tanks all cut that the water might run over
the floors this service effected By the two Irish
men we have named, and Drake y. Commordinger, aud
Bartholomew welton. These men we're subsequently
dfsrged out by others almost tuf cated Sir Noolsey
appeared TO be In the greatest ssony while the fate Of
Mir Plstt who conducted this great establishment for
the last ten years was unc.fsin and he vas heard 70
say that he cal ed nothing for the property ~ his life
tafe and the lives Of the other In employ
ment In about fifteen minutes nom the time the Are
observed, the whole 81 the t~o upper stories
wrapped In one sheet of flame. Meantime the oouns-
grafton wsssrresdiBg rapidly downwsrds, aud the des
iruction 81 the refinery seemed Inevitable strong
northeast wind assisted the action Of the flames
and every txeition was made to save as much a.
barrels Of resned sugar we're saved and In th. Ger.
vice Capt. Croft New ork Volunteers the hrst custom
house officer en- the spot distinguished himseif but
which be was standing with some other msn piayinga
hose upon the Ere gave way and they ali pieolp
tatsd 60 the next story. His severely hurt,
and he much bruised In the body.
We should have mentioned that the alarm bell ~ the
sttablifhment rang at the beginning Of the hrv. but
wac rot heard at great distance 10 was about half
past O'Clock that the City Hall bell toled tie notes
81 danger in the Fourth district; IN about hour
after IL rang general alarm. Among the hrtt Gre
companies upon the spot were numbers 2 and aud 10
and 81; ,hofty afterwards thsre vas host q them.
We Noticed numbers l. 3. g. o, 10 IL, L. 10. ~
15 90 30 90 80, 81 49, 81 3d. 80 80. 40 al AZ a. 6s
Among the most active numbers q, s. IA and ss
The tso last considered the greatest engines q the
city The Niagara number HID powerful execution in
water street Number IL played With two streams
upon dwelling hou,e In Water street and after saving
A. removed 10 South street 20 render assistance there
The flames continued TO fpresd In every direction, in
despite q the vigorous efforts used 20 arrest them
The nammehle nature q sugar turned into spirit BIZ
the action Of FIRE, fastened the work OF desrueton
and ~ the red rather purple Hses shot forth 20
the btaven', the tight was truly sublime The rain