The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-19

tHlfu
out directed TO take our pipe To THIS house we
". up ladder the outside; had not beea there
above rem minutes when directed by the chief
ensineer 10 leave building all fire. heard
n great in the street Immediately ordered the
get out the engine; we descended 10 the third hoor
got cut the ard engine; go5 out OF the building
by the way that eotered9 the stairway ~as 50
much On fire was forced TO 20 to the LADDER this
than minutes the time l entered
the building; this the last effort made there
next attempt the south side OF Hanover square
and Stone street. the fire not then crossing ham
street. suppifd from ny arnnt the of
Stone street; the goods out Of Hanover square
thrown upon the hose; found the failed;
went 10 the hydrant; the water flowing from the
hydran but discovered that the goods winch had
thrown out of Hanover square hal burned the hose:
when returned The fire had crossed William street;
Stone sire ct piled full OF goods reported the chief
engineer that the water cut of and Lhat should
have pa sage made through Stone Coenties
slip all the water had failed elsewhere; when got to
Counties clip engine frozen il then between
one and two clock the men were in good condition for
work but the water ali frozen the night before there
bad been two large fires which had exhausted the
voirs existed 70 stop the fire. from two o'clock
standing idly looking on; believes other
means existed but blowing up stop the fire. hook and
ladder would make little progress in pulling down
buildings again directed 60 to Stone street;
bad got little head OF water from the tank in Thr-
tenth street. would not think II possible
goods tire burn rapidly little of
the progress OF the FIRE Westward not tibet side OF
the fire. the fire proceeded westward after crossing
to William street; 1t was burning very rapidly saw the
fire mostly in it's direction 60 Coenties slip; think judy
ing Of tn. obstruction in the streets and the rapdy with
which the fire along that goods could be
from building next to burning buildings the last effort
made during the night made the of Stone
and Hanover streets we we're not the only pipes there
there others there to the roof prevent
The ire coming in that way did consider
could have done any In The house next to the fire.
Cross examined by Mr. Van Wagener-Was on the south
part OF the fire. thinks IL reached the East river
hour after It broke out, it went straight line north
to the rver made its wey back the south side OF
Jsppars store and IL then Tappans store burnt
the south side Tappan store presented obstacle
the re until the stores north CIT brrued the fire
then vent round this store and destroyed it, the fire then
burned towards ali street; swept rapidly the south
TO the East river rapidly it had the north the
property was rapidly consumed rs the bulldogs
burnt the ire found fresh fuel the heat diminished
the fire went out.
To Mr. whitehead-Most OF the goods removed out of
stores afterwards burnt up; silks satns aud sill
descriptions of goods; hose burnt under these
John Cox--E1aniDed by Mr.. Dsyies-Resides in New
York resided there since born ABOUT forty four
Year,; connected with the Fire Department fifteen
years; with the engines when my father Chief
Engineer; be was Chief Engineer years witness
was Engine 20 and duty the night of
the tire reached the fire twenty minutes after
the alarm down all street to the East river
ran down Wall street; it appeared TO be q very isIcs
fire; there then two buildings fire. it had
not then crossed William street. went down to form
line to carry water to he ire from the river foot of
street the engine the deck Of vessel got
10 work about twenty minutes; by when
don't know, We got orders to stop playing; waited
twenty minutes before got orders to play
again. and OF that time hose frozen;
went in search Of the chief engineer and told hin the
condon OF things; he gave orders to take engine
from the deck Of the and get my hose ready If
could and work along the Of the fire. up
hose and others for salt to put into the engine keep
from freezing, got hose; then into Water
street about 100 yards south of Wall street. got into
line there, but found the engine valves frozen: |
ordered il to be taken and the to assist in
moving books and Safes the 6re then breaking out
on the west fce OF Water atreet made purchase the
day before in Water street, my goods had remained there
told my that had goods there certain amount
and that wanted their assistance to them; had
twrntysiX men in comp any: they nenced remov
ing and when thought had my goods out the was
falling the hachway the store was re moyng from
10. in ablut
twenty minutes that saw the fire coming down the
bacway as the fire was its rapity became
greater got to Old clip and from there the west
side Of the fire; got into Stone street from Stone
to Bread street and into Garden street assist.
ed in getting out books aud safes this was what
we principally did got into Garden street about
II O'Clock the Exchange then on fire the
ment principally frozen up; the whole Department
we're generally engaged were they had altogether
abandoned their engines; al first looked ct the
Exchange on fire. then need in Garden street.
the Of William street removing books sud safes
there sometimes trucks and in a while they
would get case on sometimes we broke open and
carried the in portions; it three quarters
an hour nom this time before the fire crossed William
street. We we're principally at work tbs south side
removing goods We assisted in that direction fifteen
twenty minutes; drew Oft the men, and got far
No ~ Exchange pscei the fire burning rapidly
and the out that started for the purpose
OF liking refreshments; stopped at No As looking at
them carry ing goods into the church, the church
nearly opposite while there, against BY
those biingiI goods out Of No As persons
out No IS aud asked me if would assist; said YES
that there that purpose; the store
With men; person said If would assist he would
compensate us; said we wanted no CONDENSATION we
70 assist went TO work and threw goods front
and rear one OF the came and said, What Is the
OF doing THAT only blocking up every place.
went to the goods from the street, when went
out for the purpose, saw 1rishnan, who asked
u / would employ him; told MIN I had no authority
but he into the store the proprietor would engage
him. he said there handle by but that il
was chained TO post told him to hold a moment
and that would go into the store and get aud
get cart got the axe and went with him and got
the cart we cleared the with the cart and the Irish
man bought geods In 1t 10 Broad street this occupied
me hour; there of taking them out of
the yard: the yard covered with goods; there
about dozfn, along with my company helping to
move from 49, one OF the men came and told the fire
coming into the building and that there use
in being there; told bin they might back out and all
the ont with me IS thea fire; sew il
myself; it the east next the adjoining builcug
met Morgan Il. Smith the Alderman; he told taat
they had sent for powder to blow up some stores he
asked me to 90 along with him; he said ne had been
locking FOR some person TO blow those stores and that
went with him be would be very glad he told he
then going for powder; asked him who going
blow ny the stores he tsd he intended to assist himself
ard thai he would be glad il would help sad would
lie raid 'come aiopg went into Brotd street AMI net
Mr Wen ham; he joined and vent up Broli street,
and found powder in the ,ghborhood of Wall street,
catt he asked why he brought it in that suner
the sad they got the cartridges ia the arsenal and
they opened the cartridges into the barrel it half
fu We got the barrel, and carried 1t down to Broad
street goi.e down cried out the powder
splling beirpd us stopped, and Mr.W enham a
man with blanket over his shoulder, aai Mr. Nenham
cried out stop the man ssi6 he no. going 10 steal
the blanket; took the blanket aud put IL over ths
powder; IL raining fire at that time; then took
IN the barrel betw and took IL into No IS
Lxcbspg- place. by the orders Of Morgan l.. Smith;
put ii into the cellar in the centre took the powder
an laid train to the cellar door ami
musn question asked who going to fire IT, aad
person cried out, that be the person. would; |
think Mr. Wenham had candle in tho cellar; ] said
thet all ready and they might 60 10 work aud fire IL
as foon at they pleased out ot the door don't
know vho fired 1t; We then left the building; suppoe,
10 about Eve minutes after. Mr.. Wsnham said why 4
Doesn't that OF - started back to why IL didn't
20 or got opposite the cellar, and MT Wenham said
there IL goss up the barrel and then imne.
ds,ey expoded not I'M urcd at that plosos
brought in the powder 20 49, II was then FIRE; It
IN fer minutes after leC store 4s, that wsat
up for the powder goods could be removed OF the
steres would be burnt up " only took twenty minutes
burn up the explosion Of As shattered the store go
the fire communicated S0 TO the effect OF
the shsttcrng then went into 81 did not take notice
OF goods being rvmoved went up stairs IN 81 add
49, Al-l.l L.