The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-28
TEE FIRE IN FRONT STREET.
->~~>~>~~~~o.>~>>~-~~~~
fetal Destruction of the Monster Ship Great
Republic, Clipper Ship White Squall,
and Packet Ship Joseph Walker.
Over a million Dollars in PROPERTY
Destroyed.
INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE.
SCENES ON TIE EAST RIVER.
OTHER FIRES ON THE SAME NIGHT,
DC, ho., &c.
THE FIRE IN FRONT STREET.


biscuit bakery discovered TO be fire by of the
insurance watch named wiey. His Atts ntion first
attracted to the ing By the bright light which issued
from the ment which could bs through
the orevoss Of TIE eoors first he thoug ht caus
I'd by the lighting Of the es uSoer the ovens but on
closer he ound that the whole lower part
premises WAS on FIRE, that the flames rapidly
communicating With tbs upper floors BE gave the
alarm immediately ard in the course of half hour or
Less three four Are companies the ground
The fire, however, had gained so much headway that
ehsir utmost exertons Intellectual In saving the
building from destruction. Ths high wind which pre-
vailed the time gave increased strength to the aames
which sxtende to the oxr store of Measrs Jones, Row
land Co. both of which were completely destroyed.
Hardly an hour had ella pses, from the moment the
alarm arst given, before four Ave buildings we're
on fire. and at time the whole block seemed doomed
20 destl ucion. The f'emen stil continued to arrive
from aD quarers OF the city, In obedience to the summons
Of the alarm BELLS which kept up terrible cangor for
two or three hours As many afeen twenty
were directed the burning buildings, but the com
hined elements of wind and fire Knocked the almost
ouperhuman efforts of the fIemen They placed their
ladders against the walls when the heat WAS 30 intense
"a 10 scorch the houses on opposite side Of the street.
and dashed p with hose in hand amid fame and smoke
with the most daun.es ntrspidity Some got upon the
water on the burning buildings, but all their efforts
psarsd nuavang and they forced to retire before
ahe progress Of flames they swept from
house to house.
From No 2A where the FIRE originated 1t extended to
Nos 24 240 GAG, 246 and to some OF the buildings In
the rear fronting Mater street As the destruction Of
property here was immense, vii give the details Of
the logs and damage sustained by the owners 30 far as
reporter could ascertain.
In No 24 have stated, the Are originated, and
the WI building and It's contents destroyed The
walls ttancins to se height of the second story but
the interior is one mass ruins The loss hs stock
Is estimated at abe ut 0o and on achinery
The insurance this amounts to $4,000 The stock
and goods belonged Mcfara. Ttsadwe Sons but the
building owned BY Jones, Rowland & Co., and was
valued at So 600 or 81 coo. twas ,lso insured.
No. 242, occupied sad owned by Jones, Rowland Co.
-four merchants was also completely destroyed. Abou
thousand barrels Of -four were saved from the store,
but the loss will amount to about $4,000, which is
nearly covered by insurance. The building, which
worth $4,000, is fully insured About $500 worth o
-FOUR belonging to Mr. Van sickIss storage here
and has been destroyed with the other property.
No 248, occupied by Charles G. h D. Sanford, COM
mission merchants and Wholesale dealers in liquors. was
damaged by water. The stock was almost pletey ,
saved The loss on the building will not exceed few
hundred dollars
No. 2i6H, occupied by David W. Nanwaring, importer
OF Russia mlts burned down to the second story,
and nearly all the stock valued at about S. 000 de-
sroyed We believe the total loss is covered BY insurance
The large building Noe 2eI and 263 Water street. tbs
rear which adjops that Of the buildings above name
was considerably damsged by Are and water It's
pied BY OTIS Ie Roy Co., dealers in tin plated lead pipe
who insured, believe TO the full cunt Of their
loss.
The heat was intense that the buildings on
che opposite side of the street took fire. and one -four
store, No 2f7 occupied by Reynolds Co.. partially
destroyed. There about tive thousand barrels OF
-four storage, valued ut nom $l2 600 to $4,000.
Nearly half of this stock destroyed by Ars and
water, and considerable portion Was thrown into the
treet by the remen in their efforts to building
Ths premises were owned by VIM. De Forest who Is
said to DO insured The building is not worth than
5000.
No. 243, occupied by j. F. Kenny, dealer In lime and
osment, was damaged but slightly, two hundred
dollars being sufficient to repair the building.
No 249, occupied by Edward Owens, -four dealer, was
considerably damaged by FIRE and water.
No $40. occupied by Rsris Co., pork and provision
Dealers took Ere, but was saved by the fremen with
glight damsgs
The total loss by destruction of property on Front
street Is estimasd At about eighty thousaod dollars
THE FIRE AMONG THE ESHIPPING-DESTRUC-
TON OF THE GREAT REPUBLIC.
While the Gre was raging in Front street, the sparks
were 30 thick in the vicinity to the
ance Of shower of FIRE The streets and docks along
the East river were literally alive with burning GOALS
The pier at the foot OF D5ver street at time 90
vsred TO the depth of inches with fire. and the rig
ging ami masts OF the numerous vessels lying In the
utrsam completely enveloped in flying sparks. The
and others strenuously exerted themselves to
prevent the from gntipg, but in most instances
the his h wind rendered their efforts useless.
About half past one o'clock the rigging OF the stupen
3ous ne ship Great Republic took FIRE. Owing to the
height of her mssts It impossible for the en-
ynss to play upon the ases and the equencs was
that the falling spars set her deck In = blaze.
Some Of the sas the vessel bent and when they
became ignitsd human power could her. 1t
was nsiaxcholy to see tae noble ship almost instinct
with lie, the work CT months destroyed In few brief
hours She perfect wonder in naval architecture
being the largest merchant vessel constructed In this
any ether country. But few days ago reoolleo
with what pride and admiration she regarded by sd
nirng thousands, and the Governor, members OF the
LegsAture and ether prominent citizens a they we're
engaged in examining barber encroachments last
week, paused awhile to look at her gigantic yet graceful
proportions Nothing remains Of the noble vessel
ths fierce bla Of the FIRE king and her white wings
consumed in his breath.
Tho iisht presented by the burning vessel WAS really
sublime. The rigging WAS enveloped In flames from
the opmas to the DECK and these they were swAysd
blythe wind threw out huge tongues of fire either side
Ths streets In the vicinity crowded with spectators
although the storm ragged with great Violence and the
nght was cold that tie water froze 1t fell even
the side OF the burning vessel SO violent the wind
that II threatened destruction to Of the buildings
along the DOCKS and the wonder Ia, not that mu,h
property destroyed but that the lsss WAS not greater
Ghant s The air allied with sparks and fragments
from the burning houses At one moment dense cloud
OF black smoke would sweep Gown on the specta-
tors, shutting cut from their view the burning
,hips and this rolled away again, the terrific
sight would break vividly upon them No less
taaa three vessels were oa ars ss ons time Jet, a