The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-11
ANOTHER AWFUL CONFEDERATION.
HARPER'S ESTABLISHMENT IN RUINS.
THE OLD WALTON HOUSE DESTROYED.
SIXTEEN BUILDINGS CONSUMED,
&C., &C., 10.

Franklin square yesterday afternoon the Of
one Of the most disastrous CONGREGATIONS which we have
been called upon to record for long time Several
buildings were within few hours, transformed from
eiys.to warehouses into fmoudering ruins, and hun
dreds OF artisans and workmen engaged In comfortable
occupations were within the same time, robbed Of en-
ployment, and thrown destitute upon the world The
Ere commenced little after one O'Clock in the after
moor in the extensive publication establishment OF HAr
pers Brothers. just as the employees of the place we're
resuming their labors after the dinner hour There
were yesterday numbersss rumors as to the cause oil
the confagration. The most common and perhaps mo
most reliable however, is that boy drePped lamp
int, the camphene In the engine room, when IL was
being used for washing the rollers OF the printng
presses This accounts for the sudden spread OF the
fames in instant almost wrapping the entire esta
blishment in one sheet of fame. The building being
filled with paper and matter Of light and combustibe
nature the ignition from roof to basement was almost
ike the flashing Of powder To the language Of one
Of the police the ground at the time When
the report of fl was first given, went to WORK carrying
out books, &c, bent saving as Eu,h as possible.
While was taking the first armfu across the street
could SMOKE nothing elte that looked he fire,
and thought bucket of water had ended the affair
In less than . minute l looked towards the building
again, and flames pouring out OF every window,
from the roof to the lower floor"
At about TIVE O'Clock tho sight awfuly grand BY
this time nothing was standing OF Harpers immense
warehouse but the outside walls, and within these the
angry flames sporting like infant demons. 1t looked
like one huge cup Of liquid James, foaing aud swelling,
and tossing to and fro in reality lake of fire.
At this hour the apprehension Of the speca Was
truly horrible There - doubt the desruo
ton OF many blocks in this vicinity The wind
very high, and huge Goals of FIRE carried of to
the distance Of Beskman street. and even there fell
thick and fast upon the roofs of buildings and the hea
of spectators.
From Harpers buildings the flames ignited with the
opposite side OF Pearl street. although very wide at this
place. and for time there every appearance that
this block would be licked up by the increasing fire.
was not many minutes after the Arst report OF the
fire. before immense concourse Of citizens
bled at the of the aste filing up for long dis.
lance every street and leading to Franklin square
With the speed of electricity the report echoed from
tongue to tongue throughout the city that Harpsrs
tablshment was burning down. Every ono who had
moment to spare Immediately directed his footsteps to-
wards tho spot anxious to know for certain whether this
extensive establishment the seat Of the fire. The
volumes Of smoke which rolled up in the air we're i'm
mense and dark. Soon after the fire heavy cloud Of
smoke hung the city, filing many Of the down town
streets to burdensome degree During the afternoon
the only topic Of conversation from the Battery
Harlem. 'Harpers burning down. said first in
formant at about half past o'clock "Harpers in
ruins fad the second, in less than half hour after
ward.
During the ats there various reports as to
the number of accidents and loss of e At one time
the rumor that at least half dozen females were
buried beneath tbs ruins. Many to be found who
had seen several Others vino had any quantity OF
eead and dying carried this way and that There
one to be found who bad seen such sights themselves
Upon strict inquiry happy to learn that all
these reports were grouadless.
There many miraculous and hairbreadth escapes
but lives known to be lost The only reported in
jury which could plaoe any faith was that young
Lady, through her fright had Jumped out of the fifth
ct Dry window and b. oxen both her legs.
At "a te hour in the evening this was denied. We be-
lsve the truth is young lacy old jump out of one of
the windows but escaped without any serious injury
Another young lacy had her dress take fire. and saved
herself only by stripping it of when she taken up by
Officer Masterson Of the Chiefs Office, and conveyed to
house the opposite side Of the street. This We are
happy to say s so far heard FROM ae extent of the
record of accidents and injuries uuSly attendant upon
such dit asters IS that Of yesterday.
As the ere had extended across Pearl street tho
efforts of the fremen divt ed. The first building
which gnted this side Of the street. the Walton
House, of Revolutionary memory. This was No 326
PEARL and every effort Of the gallsnt emen preserve
it account Of its historical associations were Of NO
avail.
In a few moment it was spread over with aames and
nothing remained of 1t except the front wall and the
lower story This building being Of the few metro
poan remains Ct other time, deserves obituary at
present.
THE WALTON HOUSE.
The Walton House large three story edfcs built
the English baronal style Of the last century 1t
erected by aristocratc gentleman, from whom it to
ts name, near century ago Until sry lately, when it's
ront altered for smisrant boarding house. the
portal in fine keeping with the style of
which in the day it built dstin Sui,hed the English
oaricians from the pebeians The armoral bearing Of
hs Walton family supported by two flted columns in
ront were, un few year Ggo preserved but ~ last
he insignia Of royalty fell before the advance Of repub.
ics m and the royal emblem OF the aristocrac Wal
gave place to the rgu eIngrant boarding house
Keeper.
When the Walton House was first erected there was
che building that side o the street. between Peck
Zip and the commencement of Cherry street. At this
lime there not half dozen buildings in Pearl street.
north Of Franklin square, and for many years afterwards
his popuous and densly settled vicinity comprised
Town towards Roosevelt, James and Oliver Streets an
N rassible bog, called ''swamp Meadow
That section Of the sty stl called the Swamp" from
3eei man to Frankfort stre.t then nothing but
vet toggy waste covered with trees and bushes great
esort for sporfmen in n Of all KINDS Of game.
When the Walton House built in 1854, 1t was |
natter of surprise to many of the honest citizens of that
me that Its proprietor should choose site far out of
own II being then almost ia the eastern extremity Of the
M edacewas the pride and admiration Of citizens
former days. and there r,sny alive who welt
emember when, for good conduct At school, they have
rjoyed what they consdered delightful Sabbath
Walk out of town. to look al Boss Watons ne mansion
In latter years the fne dwelling Of Boss Walton rs he
called 10 old Dutch paris has been used for hotel
purposes and strange a. it may seem, has had Its day
n that line, as it frat lad asa private residence. In
ioodrich's picture Of New York, published n 1921
read the following notice. under the head Of Principal