The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-17

V19c ut the American Hotel-F1lght Of the
Boarders-Losses.
Yesterday evening, about i've o'esoch, an alarm of
are was raised in Broadway in the vicinity Of the Park
flames being observed issuing from the roof of the build
ing ct the corner Of Broadway and Barclay street known
- the American Hotel Greater interest was excited
than is usual ordinary occasions from the cir
eumstancs Of this being the quarters Of the Baltimore
fire company, in honor of Whose arrival there was
large out Of the Fire Department Monday last
the 18th inst How the fire originated, cannot say
Il is certain however that 1t broke in the upper
story, which forms the sixth floor of the building and
which Is used kitchen, in conjunction with drying
room, also the floor used for laundry purposes
That fact alone will be sufficient assign a for
the caamous event, which, had it happened at Later
hour might have been faught with fatal results.
The Baltimore vsers absent the time of the acct
dent having gone to pay visit to Francons Hippodrome
but their friends and hosts not orgetul of their in
teress. Columbia fire company No. A. in conjunction
with hose companies Nos. q and 25 made Immediately
rush into the INTERIOR and secured much OF the pro-
pery Of their Baltimore friends they were able All
that they could takeu believe, to the resi-
dence of Enoch Smith, the Assistant Foenen OF Columbia
Engine Company No a. but whether al their effects were
preserved by this means would be impossible yet to
determine From the quantity Of baggage that the Bal
more com pany brought with them. and which filed
two large carts we should think it unlikely that
Of their trunks we're msaid in the confusion Too
much praise cannot be upon the Columbia Fire
Company No. "A who exerted themselves In the most
daring manner imaginable, and acted like real heroes
AT the time when the alarm given the fire raging
with great olence having gained cons
little good could be done in this emergency account OF
the roof which, having become intensely hot from its
close 10 the flames an nsupera6le OBJ
stable the efforts the fermen for the water which
was played upon the top OF the house fell off again in
doubtful matter which Of the elements Would acquire
the mastery As last resource the fremen undertook
the difficult expedient of removing the entire roof which
cOnsted of zinc, hammered out into thin Sheets and
which by strenuous exerons rolled into i'm nense
clds and hurled down into the street. The crash and
noise consequent the fall of this substance in large
masses from great height may be very easily
conceived and it had most startling effect. While
turned from the Hippodrome, and found everything
at their quarters Ia sorry plight. They had been
taken BY storm by the enemy Of all aremen,
the energy displayed by the remen in
.orkipg their engines several Of which were present
three hours but through the exertons employed the
ravages Of the flames were confined to the floor which
0u
ton of the fifth and sixth stories, with their contents
although vast amount of damage has been done by the
water 1t could not be otherwise, for account of the
are having first originated at the top Of the building the
efforts Of the emen necessarily directed to this
part and in consequence the lower part of the building
deueed with wpter. The amount of damage caused
BY the accident could not be known at the time but the
pIopretors the estimate the value Of their pro-
perty in the establishment at $50 oOO upon which in-
the of $50 have effected The
building about to be demolished in the fall that it
is very probable that the hotel will be closed it will
qure large outlay effect the necessary repairs Besides
the Baltimore engine company, there many other
residents in the hotel who have been thus summarily
elected, and of whom will be great losers by the
lanity. As matter Of course they have all been
PEELED to look for freih babitations without moments
warning. Nowhere is fire fraught with disagreeable
Inconvenience in hotel where many persons
often residing at the time many of them perfect
gers to each other and perhaps without any friends
acquaintance in the place OF their abode We there
fore that unfortunate has happened
the other lodgers in the establishment
FLIGHT OF THE BOARDERs.
The boarders Immediately commenced to pack up
their luggage, and the Of flight most extra
ordinary The crowded thOroughare in front OF the no.
tel sgated each moment by labOrers with valises
upon their shoulders, rushing to the Astor House, Cn
ton Hotel, FIenchs old Tammany, &C., &c. XThen fol-
lowed loaded handcats days and carriages bearing off
the household gods of the late happy inmates.
LOSSES.
Judge Goold had valuable library in the hotel worth
about the books of which nearly all destroyed
One fine quaint old book Of which is believed there Is
only other copy which in tho posse sion of the
Duke OF Devonshire in England, probably carried
away by q gentleman who marched up stairs for the
press purpose of saving it.
Mss Annie Lopsdsle-the actress-had a bundle OF
dresses valued at 5000, in which rolled valuable
Ca ket II tn, from q window and is not yet
found We hope be restored as its loss to the lady
would be very serious.