The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-31
AWFUL 1NPLAeRATION IN JERSEY CITY.
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-FOUR 6LOCkS IN RUINS.
THREE Hundred Theusand Dsllsrs Worth Of
Property Destroyed


Property Destroyed
>~r~>~~~>~~>~>~~~~>~~~~~
scenes and xncidents,
\ Aec., dss., ~.
The most disastrous conAagration with which
Jersey City was ever visited, occurred yesterday
afternoon, near the rail DAD depot. At about two
O'Clock in the afternoon, flames were seen issuing
ont Of small frame dwelling house. In tho roar Of
Schenck's belt manufactory, large SIX story brick
building, and immediately the alarm Of 6re was
sounded throughout the city. The entire force OF
the Jersey City fire department hastened to the
spot where soon had been lighted large blaze,
which threaten ed the main buildings Of tho city
with destruction. The Jersey City department
numbers avo engines, three hose carts, and one
hook and ladder, all Of which wore soon at the
scene Of confagration.
When all were assembled. 1t was found there was
not length Of hose sufficient to reach to the river 1t
being low water, and all action With the engines
was necessarily suspended till the tide should rise
In the meanwhile, the fire ragged with greet fury.
and for while the greater portion Of the city
seemed in the very jaws of annihilation. The wind
was blowing strong from the southwest, and the
flames, mounting high above the dwellings, careered
over towards adjoining blocks, and joined them in
the general ruin. Some Of tho buildings were pri.
vate dwellings, built Of wood. very combustible,
and some Of the factories in the burning block we're
filed with combustiblc materials; owing to this,
tho fire spread with great rapidity and within
few minutes from the time the first alarm Of fire
was given block was envelcped in flames.
jfnJ hol
tracted attention Iom New York, and the report
rapidly spread, from north to scutl, that Jersey
City was burning down. The rurnors were various
and exaggerated. At one time, sevoral churches
and a great deal Of chipping were swept
away. AT another time, rumor included one Of the
Cunard steamers in tho burning pile. Still again,
all the railroad works were swept away, and other
exaggoratons still greater than these. These un-
founded rumors arose from the fact, that at the
commencement Of the fire, at distance tho ccnda
grafton appeared more extended and terrible than
it really was. Tho fremen being unable 10 oppose
tho famc as we have stated, the fro-hng reyelled
unchecked, and mounting high above tho roofs, to
spectators here appeared to be rolling over Jersey
City wavo Of fire.
As the report spread through the city, messongors
were constantly despatched from the various engine
houses in the city to tho wharf to report whether
the rurnor was true or not, and In fow minutes
less than hGI an hour after tho opening Of tho con-
hagrationsevera of our fire companies were under
full headweyfor the Jersey City ferry. The follow
| ing companies crossed over among the first En-
gino Company No. 6, 40 Hose, Engine No. 20, hose
No. 8, 81 Hosc, Is Hose, IA Engine, and other com
| panies whose names VIC did not learn. fastening
to the scene of ruin they prored their services Il
their New fsDe rethrcn, and were soon under the
command ~ M. French, tho chief engineer of the
Jersey City ltc Department. Tho New York Hose
was irnme1tacly put In line, and reaching to tho
| water, suction was obtained and now tho first op-
| position was made to the raging clements. Soon,
| tbrec or four Acavy streams Of water was falling
upon tho hQ1aing ruins, but the fire had already
\ S11ba - y N khsskat - - taDsksa spssdtsy.
THE c0UHsE or THE 7IxE.
Notwithstanding the odds wcro against them,
and they wero working under grcat Disadvantages,
still ttc firomen worked away like heroes, and
where they could not quench they gtrovo TO place
limit, by saturating With water buildings beyond.
| Soon the block bounded by Warren and Washing
ton streets and the Railroad avenue, was levelled
with the ground. The fire then made direct
course for the river, sweeping along Wayne street
and across Washington street. soon licking up this
block, in defiance Of all opposition on the part Of
the gallant and energetic drcmcn. Tho course for
the river was perfectly straight along Wayne street
and the fire limited to tho width Of block. The
flames after getting started, madc direct line for
the river, sweeping cleanly all away between two
streets, between Wayne street and the first north
Of it. Beyond Warrington street, continuing IT,
COURSE 1t stepped across Green street and here came
TO the waters edge, and then turned TO tho south
across Wayne street, igniting with some dwellings
here, and carrying away littlo more than half o!
this block, its destructive course was stopped for
now il had approached near tho water and suction
was obtained for as many streams could e6eotiye
| ly fall upon the flames.
| The entire area Of this fire, as above described
covers three blocks and half, and perhaps little
more than this, but not quite four blocks. II never
theless leaves four blocks heap Of burning ruins
for all that remains on tho block last burned are only
few outhouses Of the railrood company. Tho
flames swept cleanly everything in their course, not
sparipg single building or toncment.
THE EXTENT OF THE LOSS.
II was impossible In such gnoral ruin to OBJ
tain the names Of all tho losers and tho sufferers
neither were we able last night 70 obtain thu
amounts lost by the diforont factory men, some o.
which are very heavy, nor the amounts Of the nsur
ancc upon tho property consumed.
Some Of the heaviest losors arc tho following
Cummings 4 James, car manufacturcrs-A lsrg'
brick factory, with heavy amount Of stock, on
tirely consumed.
eteele's largo machine ahope-An extensive es
tablahment.
Hutton 4 Lacy, ship smiths-- Building burned t.
the ground.
Besides these large factories and some others the
rest Of the buildings wcrc private residences, como
Of wood and others Of brick or stone.
At the head Of this article we have set down the
total oss 10 be $500 OOO which Is casting as low an
estimate a the appearance Of the ruins will war
rant. although the real loss may bc much moro, or