The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-09

Another Calamity - Destruetive Fire In
Catharinc Street.
FIVE PERSONS BURNED TO pEATH-o0ReNER's IN
QUEST, AND THE VERDICT OF THE JURY.
We are again called upon to record another Of those
fearful caames, which to be Of periodical
renee this city Yesterday morning about four o'clock
fire broke out in the building No. lO2 Catharine street
near Cherry street involving melancholy loss Of life
and considerable destruction property The build
ing itself Of frame work two stories high with an
attic The first floor occupied by p. ii. Mcclure
boo. and store while the second floor and attic
were occupied a dwelling, by p. Colgan policeman of
the Fourth ward and his family consisting Of his vito
and five children.
At the time the fire broke out they all in bed
cent Mr. Cogap who duty in another part Of tho
ward Owing the very combustib!e nature Of the ma
eras the building the re spread with great rapdity
and before the alarm given and before the inmates
became conscious Of their peous position they were
already surrounded by the flames on all sides. The
peer creatures then near the windows from
which the flames already issuing crying for help
and running about in frantic state. None Of them
would venture to pass through the fames In or!er
to reach the windows whence they might have been
saved by jumping into the street. But they retreat
ed into the back rooms until all egress was cut oil,
in consequence Of tho rapid progress Of the fire.
The fire department were promptly on the spot and
wrought manfuly but did not succeed In reaching the
unfortunate inmates until several burned to DEATH
Cogan lost his wife and three children Tho flames COM
mancated to No. 1O4 Catharnc street. occupied by John
Walker hat store and also to the rear OF No. liz
Cherry street. occupied by Wheeler Hart as whole
sale drug store. The two buildings, Nos 102 and 10a
we're entirely destroyed Loss Of MCGUIRE shout $500;
l.. 49,. U-crS NJ
The less Of j. Walker about $780, with no insurance
The drug store No. 112 Cherry street was considerably
damaged probably to the amount Of 1900 which isfuy
covered by insurance, h the United States Broadway
and the Union Mutual Insurance Companies.
The following are the Of the persons burned to
DEATH
Catharine Cogan wife Of Philip Cogan aged forty five
years
Sarah Jane Cogan daughter about twenty yone years
Of age.
Mary Elizabeth Colgan daughter, ten years of age.
James X. Colgan, son, seven years OF age.
Margaret Logan aged twenty years, who employed
o capmaker in the store No. 1O4.
Those who escaped were c. Cogan eleven years of age
and r. Colgan, Jr twenty years Of Philip Col
gan Bridget SLAYER servant girl and Michael Chambers
The Of Philip Colgan was considerably burned and
scorched and also Michael Chambers, who is perfectly
blind and whose escape is almost miraculous. Bridget
the servant girl rushed through the flames to the front
|
| this means saved
The bodies of Mrs Cogan and her two daughters and
of Margaret Logan were completely burned to a crisp
They all conveyed to the Fourth ward station house
Captain Ditchett Of the Fourth and Assistants Wiston
and Baird Captain Leonard OF the Second Brennan, of
the Sixth Bradford of the Tenth and Assistant Merritt
of the Seventh early the ground and rendered
valuable service in helping to subduc the flames
| Coroner Ives called to hold an inquest on the
bodies and at 10 O'Clock jury of twelve to
make the inquisiton Ex-Alderman Purser, Alderman
Fitzgerald, Assistant Alderman OBrcn, and other re-
spectacle citizens constituted the jury
the jury and visited the ruins Of the con-
fagraton and viewed the bodies. Mr. George H. Purser
chosen the foreman Of the jury and the following
| evidence was taken
TESTIMONY
Bridget slayen being sworn says-I reside at No. %
,Catharine street, this morning, about o'clock,
UP. but had not got down stairs; slept in the open
garrett the house is two story attic buildng heard
the of fire; ran down stairs upon the back stoop;
the front window, upon the awning; some person took
Off Mrs Cogan was awake when left the garnet; she
exclaimed, Heavenly Lord we shall all be burnt up;
saw no more of Mrs Colgan until saw her here dead;
did not see her follow me; left her in the attic bed
got down we all slept in the attic the rear Of the house
fire; the front Of the house also fire. at
and two there; of the got out
alive afterwards recognise Mrs Cogan the youngest
daughter and the boy the face of the eldest daughter
kitchen; took and threw it int the street and then
got out myself the kitchen was the second floor
Phillip Cogan being sworn, saysI resided at No 102
Catharne street. was awokc this morning about AZ
o'clock by the cry Of fire. slept in the attic bedroom
f,cing Catharine street with my brother Cullen when
youngest sister by the hand she drew her hand back
and by that time the flames coming into the second
tory; think my mother up stairs again. my oldest
sitter down to the second story then through
the fire down into the alley my brother then halloed to
save my mother then attempted two or three times to
throu he INIT hpvy fOOa
me- butcher attempted to go through the flames, but
they too strong for him. then went down the alley,
got upon the awning upon our house and from there to
the house next door, the people then called to me to
come down. when got down to the back stairs the blaze
up from the rear the pfy vas not on fire at that
time the fire more towards the druggists the fire
to from the Of the house next door be-
low house. towards Cherry street. had opportu
nifty ofjudgng where the body Of the fire was have
the bodies in the building and identify them
as those Of my mother brother, and two sisters.
harine street moved there about the first of March:
myself and family sleep upon the premises was, this
morning awoke by the alarm Of fire. about o'clock;
when first saw the flames they coming down to-
where live was sleeping in the second story;
the flames coming from the shoe store; when got
up. the of my house was not on fire: got up;
looked out Of my window the druggists fence sepa
rating yards, not fire; the fire seemed to come
from shed in the rear Of Mr. McGuires house, there is
tailors store between and Mceiuires; the of
the tailors store, far could sec not on fire.
Ann Purdy and Margaret Logan slept in the attic Of my
house; they hired with me; called to Ann Purdy; she
came down; Ann said that Margaret awoke her: l have
had no conversation with Mr.. Rich Mr. McGuire upon
the origin Of the fire; Ann Purdy is at No. So Maine
street, Brooklyn; am not insured.
Henry Ii. Howard being sworn says-I reside at Ill
Centre street. assistant engineer Of the fire depart
ment when arrived at the of the fire in Catha
rne street the fire confined mostly to the of the
house OF Mr. McGuire the shed and fences in the
of the Catharine street houses all fire. and the
sahes the next house above the alley also fire.
brought out female from the house over the shoe
store the flesh all burnt of her face and head; her
also badly burned; there were no ladders
there when got there could not have saved the per-
had there been ladders there when arrived found
the deceased in the attic fronting Catharine
street; got upon a ladder.
Israel A. Rich, being sworn, saya:-I reside at No o.
n this