New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-09
ANOTHER DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
METROpOLITAN HALL
AND THE
LAFARcE HOTEL IN RUINS.
Narrow Escape of the Bond-Street Hou
G r e AT PA G .
LOSS OF NEARLY HALF A MILLION OF DOLLARS

LOSS OF NEARLY HALF A MILLION or DOLLARS.
Yesterday morning our City was visited by another
terrible conagration which destroyed property to the
amount of nearly half million of dollars. About
midnight some citizens who passing the Mercer
st. SIDE Metropolitan Hall, discovered bright light
through the upper windows, and in moment there
after the entire hall appeared as if brilliantly illum-
mated 1t was evident to the observers that the build
ing was on fire, and they Immediately gave the alarm,
which was soon sounded forth by the various fire bells
throughout the City The police of the Fifteenth Ward
were in few minutes the ground, and burst in the
doors on Broadway and Mercerst. leading to the Hail.
when many persons rushed into the building The flames
were by this time rolling up the partition at the rear OF the
stage toward the ceiling giving the interior OF the hal as
viewed from the doorways most magnificent but terrible
appearance The strong draugh at this end OF the build
ing drew the flames between the ceiling and the roof and
in short time the Hall became filed with smoke-that
all who had entered the building compelled to make
hesiy retreat.
The remen of the district had by this time arrived the
ground but besitaed about entering the building Much
time also lost in arranging their apparatus and hose
In fifteen minutes from the time the fire first dscov-
cred the flames burst forth with fury from the roof and the
numerous windows the Mercerst side Of the hail. giving
to the interior of the building the appearance OF an immense
fiery furnace.
Several streams of water thrown into the Hall
from this street. but they did not in the least appear to
deaden the fury of the flames.
No .ooner had the Roadway OF the fire IN metropolitan
Hall been discovered than epprehensons were entertained
for the safety OF the magnificent maberont structure on
Broadway about being opened to the puolc as hotel and
known as the Lafarge House This hotel building occupied
late Nos Co., &C., GIL 673 CTS and CIT Broadway and ex
tended back to within fourteen feet of Metropolitan Hall
II .It. Mad xs tha Hall
longed to the hotel establishment and designed as
dining ROOM &c At this crisis it may well be said that
confusion reigned supreme The doors Of the hotel were
guarded by police who with their up raised clubs threat
ened any one who attempted to enter
The fremen were hustlng hher and hither no one ap
nearing TO dictate or direct their movements.
Mercer st from Amty to Bleeckerst, was filed with
dense mass human beings gazing nenty the destruc
ton Of the magnificent Hall
Several companies of fremen were at work IN that street.
but the streams of water they poured into the building did
no oppare Mt good
The fire having gained the opposite windows of the Hail.
the flames eaped across the passage between the buildings
and soon with the rear OF the Lafarge Hotel
The report that the Hotel on fire spread like lightning
among the fremen who forced their passage into the
building for the purpose possible of saving it from de-
srucon But their aid came too late as the flames were
rapidly spreading through the upper stories
ward saving what property they could from the hotel Ee-
CANT velvet carpets were up from the rooms and halls
and carried out chairs and other furniture were passed
into the street immense looking were taken from
the walls and conveyed to place of safety beautiful lace
and damask curtains the arrangement OF which cost the
upbolsterer many tedious hours now in moment
ierked from their places rolled together and tossed into the
street These various articles were taken to the Station
House of the Fifteenth Ward and other places for safety
The flames continued rapidly to gain Roadway and soon
hurst forth from the and front windows of the hotel
illuminating Broadway for great distance The iremen
now rtdoubed their exerons to save the hotel from entire
destruction but their efforts proved unavailing.
The eat heat in the Hall or Concert room having melted
the gas pipe loud explosion followed OF the report oil
which the crowd on Mercer ST. made retreat
About o'clock portion of the side and rear walls oil
Metropolitan Hell fell in with tremendous crash carrying
everything before them About fifteen or twenty feet Oh
the wall on one side fell outward and completely demol
sbed the Office Of tho Bondst House the first floor
Fortunately there in the office at the time Inc
greatest CONSERVATION prevailed among the guests in the
Pond st House. one and all of whom men, women aud
children made most pIccipate retreat The house thus
vocated though policemen standing at the doors was
rapsaoked from top bottom and Is SAID va uableS 90
70 the amount Of about $4,000 were stolen
There being no WIND blowing O. the time and the walls
Of the hotel and hall being high the flames were carried
inward BY The dugit through The Dnld!ng-thuS ~ ~
inc the CONFEDERATION from spreading on either Sue. Inc
aoorpes both in the hall and hotel having burned away
and fallen to the ground before the wns fell also aided IL
preventing the further spread q tho ire Inc rel'lI
portion of the walls of both buildnfs m about O'Clock
Adjoining the entrance way to Meuopo..an Ia, ne"
building was in course OF erection The Val o. Ihs ne"
building were partially domoished by the tsng walls Oh
/ the hotel
The roof of the building No 6sl Broadway corner 0l
Unity si occupied by Chester briggs as grocery anu
dwelling, broken by portion Of The falling walls
The dwellings and stores Nos 2, 4 and Amity' e'
csped damage, except by water
two story frame building No. PIC Mercer ST. occupe1
by Halsey, as carpenter shop was completely dc
rnolished by the falling walls. Los about 5000
Tie roof Of the liquor shop and dwelling Of e. Pithed
cornCr OF Amity and Mercer sts, was broken in.
through the e1eIons of the fremen, the flames were
rrevented from communicating TO these buildings.
The brilliant illumination OF the City caused by the burn
ing buildings, brought thousands of people upon the
ground and Broadway and adjacent streets were densoiy
crowded.
Towerd morning however the crowd dispersed AID d