The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-30

The fire was first discovered in the basement OF
Nessrs A. J. Lewis & Co.'s warehouse, No II
Bank Alley, and No. ~ Strawberry street. The
alarm promptly given by the State House and
other bells; and tho fremen were promptly at the
scene Of destruction. Tho stores being ire-proof,
and constructed throughout in the most sub
stantal manner, II was some time before the
doors could be forced open, and the fire had
passed up into the upper stories before the fire.
were enabled to get the water upon it,
Messrs. Lewis Il Co. are importers and dealers in
wooen goods, linens, stuff goods, &c. Their stock
as usual ut this of the year, exceedingly
large and had been materially increased by heavy
arrivals from Europe. Their entire loss is about
$275, eco, nearly all Of which is covered by insu-
Their stock was insured in twenty-0ne Of
fees, part Of them in Europe. In the upper part of
this store about 600 packages OF foreign goods
under Custom House lock- The tiremen assistedby
the marshals police, and the night and day police
Of the Mayors department, labored manfully to
confne the flames to this building, but unsuc-
cessful. The combustblc nature of the goods was
such that the flames, for time, appeared to be be-
yond control The heat thrown out from the burn
ing goods was so intense as to repeatedly drive the
fremen and police from the scene of action with
blstered hands and faces. The buildings we're
all fre-proof, having their doors and shut
tiers covered with sheet iron, otherwise the store
houses the opposite sides of the streets must in
evitably have been destroyed. Messrs. Gihon & Co.
occupy the store adjoining that of Messrs. Lewis s.
Co.'S. on the north The doors Of their building
were forced at early hour, and when it found
n,
lice carried out the greater portion of their goods,
and placed them in the stores on the opposite side
of the street, and in other places Of safety Their
stock was valued at $3.50 600, and consisted mostly
of domestic cotton and woollen goods. Their loss is
mostly from water, and they are fully covered by
insurance in different Offices in this city and to the
eastward The second story of this building was
occupied by Nessrs Wyeth. Rogers & Co., impor-
tiers and wholesale dealers in laces and fancy goods
Their stock was large, valued at about 100000,
and being in the upper part of the building,
but triiling amount Of it was got out, and
that in such u damaged condition as to be
almost worthless. They were also nearly covered
by insurance. The building to the south Of LOWS
& Co.'S store was occupied by Messrs. Stuart and
Brother. This store runs from No. Is Bank street,
to No. Ia Strawberry street. They had stock of
goods on hand, valued at near 900, consisting
of fancy and staple goods of all descriptions; upon
this amount there is insurance Of 100000, partly
in Offices in this country, and partly in Europe,
which will about their loss, as q considerable
portion Of their goods saved in damaged con
diton. Their importations recently in anticipation
Of large spring business, have been unusually
heavy, ard their stock ofgoods not surpassed by
any in this country. Their books and papers
were preserved in safety. The upper stories of
their store, well as that of the adjoining stores
were loaded down with goods, and the heat Of the
fire was such, as repeatedly to drive the iromen
from the street. The store No 10 Strawberry street
was occupied by Mcssrs Il. NJ. Davis & Co., dealers
in fancy and staple goods of all descriptions. Their
building was only partially destroyed-the fourth
and fifth stories being considerably burned Their
stock of goods also large, but the most Of it was
saved, with but trihng damage. Wewere unable to
learn the extent Of the loss, the value of the stock
or the amount Of their insurance. These three large
stores were owned by Messrs. Stuart & Brother.
They valued at $50 000 and were fully insured.
They were four stories in height. fire proof, con-
sruccd throughout in the most approved style, and
each furnished with large fire proof safes The first
stories all Of granite, and the upper obrck
The remen are entitled to the concentrations
he nd m tbpv hat
tied with the fiery clements, which for time baf
fed all their efforts, and threatened the entire
square with destruction. The most of them were
duty from ten to twelve hours. The police of both
departments also entitled to the greatest praise
for their manly efforts in assisting the iremcn, and
preserving goods from the flames. A large amount
Of goods consisting of cloths, silks linen and cotton
goods thread shawls, &C., &C., were picked up in
the stree, by the Ma,shals police, and conveyed to
the Adellhi station house, where they await an
owner. There were seventeen persons arrested
during the morning, having in their possession
pieces Of goods handkcrcheis. threads, &c., which
it is supposed they intended to purloin. They
promptly taken into custody by the police of the two
departments, and locked up in the station house.
Yesterday morning, VIM. McCourt, J. A. Keel, I. S.
Morgan, Patrick Murphy, William Hcndress, Thos
Dyson, James Cook, Thomas Kelly, John Kelly
William Anderson, Andrew Shcarer, and Alcxan-
der Mekaul were taken before Alderman Ogle, and
ordered TO find bail in $500 EACH for further hear
ing, in default of which part Of them were commit
ted to prison. John Wolf Robert Bailey, James
Polk and two others, whose names we were unable
to learn, were taken before Mayor Gipin, and held
in $500 bail each for further hearing, to answer
the same charge. large quantity Of goods taken
from those arrested, and others, are now ut the
Adelphi station house. About seven o'clock yes
terday morning, an immense fre-prcof safe was dis
covered in the ruins, the door Of Messrs. Lewis
Il Co. store, in Strawberry street About thirty
police officers attached rope to it, and after
siderable trouble succeeded in getting it into the
street. 1t contained most of the valuable pal crs OF
the finn. ard was rod bot Tho Northern yibo-ty
LLglne Company piayca upon it some time before it
became cool enough to be taken away. 1t was sub
sequently opened, and most of the papers, books,
Sc, in it, found in state of preservation. num-
Der Of the frcmen severely burned in carrying
out the goods and two Of the members of the Phila
delphia Hose Company lost their gold watches.
The total loss by this confagration is about one
million of dollars, nearly the whole of which amount
is covered by insurance There was nothing left of
the three stores last evening but the totterng walls
The Hibcrnia Engine Company was still upon the
company, endeayoring to save those goods that
might still be remaining in the ruins.