Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-05-10
THE NEW YORK DISASTER.


following additional particulars of the late dsas-
ter a. the store of w. Il. jennings e. Co., No.
24l Broadway, New York:
The public heart throbbed heavily yesterday,
while the story Of the wholesale slaughter Of
the night before was sweeping over the city,
Perhaps not since the Hague street explosion,
few years ago, has any disaster occurred within
the limits of New York which has fallen so sad
ly upon the public ear, or excited such deep sym.
pathy as this. Without moments warning,
one blow deprived many of our gallant firemen
Of life, and stretched others, with broken limbs
and burning flesh, writing upon bed of pain.
More sad are the reflections upon this affair, when
associated with the fact that it was voluntary
sacrifice. These men were not struck down
while engaged in their respective avocotions,
which, calling them to this post, thus led them
on to death, but they voluntarily offered up their
lives to save property and to stay the flames,
evincing that self-sacrifcing spirit which alone
makes deeds heroic.
The cause Of the fire is still unknown, but it
is attended with very suspicious circumstances
inasmuch as it broke out in the highest story Of
the building, where, we understand, no fire was
used and none necessary. The building being
old and dry, and filled with combustible materi-
al, the fire spread with great rapidity. 1t was
first seen about u o'clock in the evening, and at
81 o'clock one blaze went up from the ground
floor to the roof turning the building iato one
huge mass of flame. The firemen rushed into
the building, while destruction gathered around
them apparently bathing in the very fire. In a
few minutes after the commencement of the
conAagration, all hopes of saving the burning
building being relnq uished, the aim was to pre-
vent the spread of the fire to the adjoining
houses To do this, it was necessary to carry
hose pipes to the top Of these buildings, where
they could be used TO most advantage. For this
labor two fremen, with coil of rope, leaped up
on the roof of No. 233, next to that on fire, and
sending one end of their rope to the ground, it
was fastened to the hose pipe, which they drew
up to the roof. These men were engaged in
this work for at least fifteen minutes, during all
which time the flames were mounting high above
their heads, and careering their way by the force
Of the wind, frequently the very fire stretching
out its Kissing tongue, wrapped itself around
them. This was all performed in the open sight
of the immense crowd below, who waited with
feverish anxiety the result of the work. Hun
dreds turned away their gaze, unable to witness
the extreme peril of these daring men. The
wall of building No. 235, rising high above them,
confined them to their position. At length the
pipe was in their hands, and being sent up to
others on the roof of No. 235, these men left
their place in safety, and the crowd below breath
ed freer when they were gone. This is only
one of the many scenes of peril which were wit
messed.
The fire companies were early on the ground,
and soon several streams were pouring upon the
building, but with little effect, so turiously did
the flames perform their work. Engine Co.,
No. 81, which suffered so severely by the subse.
quent accident, sent stream over the roof of
the building, a feat which called forth the hearty
cheers of the popuace. All the companies work.
ed we'll, and no doubt by their extraordinary ex-
ertions was the confagration very much limited.
The police, headed by their Chief, were on the
ground, and did good service. Mr.. Matsel as
soon as he arrived at the scene Of confiagration
understood that apprehensons of danger from
entering the building were entertained by many,
and to satisfy himself an aid was sent in the up
per stories as far as he could 90, to reconnoter.
He reported there was heavy safe in the upper
stories, and the inside of the building would
probably fall when unexpected. The chief i'm
mediatey ordered every man under him to leave
the building, and the last body of men had just
stepped outside the door sill, when the crash was
heard, which was fraught so heavily with death.
At the time this order was given, the chief had
about rs men in the building, most of whom
were no doubt saved from death by the timely
interference Of their commander. Mr.. Matsel
himself was among the most active on the
ground, and hadhs coat nearly scorched from his
back.
1t was after the fire had encompassed the en-
tire building, and portion Of the fremen had
moved through small alley way to the rear, to
work more advantageously, that the wall fell,
crushing so many to death, and manning others
for life. The iron safe in the fourth story (of
which the firemen knew nothing,) now fell, car
rying the wall with it, as if trap set forth for
death, and now sprung at the most opportune
moment for destruction. The wall in its descent
not only buried those who were on the ground
beneath it, but on each floor were several who
came down with the crash, and were common
sharers in the disaster. The building had a rear
extension on each flour, two stories high, and
the crash carried down all in front of this rear
addition, as if knife had cut the building mid
way, the fore half falling to the ground and the
rear remaining. Thus, it will be seen there was
dividing line between the half of the building
falling and that left standing All across this
line towards the street went down, and those on
ly who were fortunate enough to be on the rear
side of this line were saved. Alderman Howard
was standing on the rear, toeing the dividing
mark $50 to speak,), when the falling ruins al
most grazed his body, leaving him standing upon
the edge of one of the rear floors.
Immediately those at hand jumped upon the