The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-29
ANOTHER GREAT CONFEDERATION.
RNTIsE BLOCK or BUILDINGS DESTROYER.
Large Number Of Peer Famllles Rendered
HeWolem,
De-. x&M..

we nave still another terrible confsgratioK 10 rc
cord. About lla o'clock hast night AarnsB were
discovered issuing from the Columbian foundry and
machine shop situated on lots numbered 49, As and
AZ Duane street, between Elm ana Centre The
buildings Occupied the entire centre Of the block
we may say the entire block, with she exception a
rows Of small frame and brisk tenements on centro
and Pearl streets, and few buildings on Elm
Before the ffremen conld reach She vicinity the
flames had spreGd with such rapdity as to render
all efforts to save the foundry useless, and st q
quarter before twelve the roof fell in, and all was
converted into burning ruina
Shortly after the fire communicated TO Nos 80.
39A, A. 43 and 45 rnall wooden shanties ON Centre
street, occupied by s. L. Gerrit, wat ,hmaker and
eweller; Funny, clothing store, and large num-
Der of poor families At halfp past twelve there was
nothing left OF these buildings.
The brick building adjoining the above premises,
No. Al, was occupied by P. Henry, liquor dealer,
and several poor families The walls OF this house
fell about one O clock.
The old fashioned brick house on the corner of
Centre and Pearl, the lower floor of which was o.
cupied by A. Bohe, grocer, and the upper mart by
families, was partially destroyed.
The Sixth Ward Hotel, large three story brick
building, on the corner of Centre and Duane atreets
on fire several times but owing to the exertons
of the fremen no material damage was experienced.
The building adjoining the hotsi, No. 43 Duane
street, was occupied by Turner Law, glass cut
teIs F. D. Bryant, clockmaker; G. L. Chevalier's,
dental instrument manufactory, and others. This
house, with most of its contents, was destroyed.
The soap factory in the rear of the buildings at
the corner Of Elm and Pearl streets was des-
troyed. This factory was one of the oldest in the
city.
The following buildings Pearl street caught fire
and were considerably maged:--No. SIS. occupied
by Or. Preterre No. SIT, the Mistlstoe Bough; No.
SO, W. Carter's; No. 52l, Mr.. Sealsy, beer pump
maker; No. 523, German apothecery; No. 525, 8.
Alus, boot and shoe maker. In addition to the per-
Sous above named these buildings we're tenanted By
poor families.
The ruins were still burning at three o'clock, but
no fear was apprehended that the 6rc would extend
beyond the block.
Though the loss Of property by this calamity b.
very great, the sum is but mere trlde when we
take into consideration the terrible suffering Of tho
poor people who were rendered homeless. Many a
them lost the large portion Of their household goods
in addition to being driven from beneath their
roofs at the dead hour Of night, with the thermom.
eter ranging at sixteen degrees above zero.
The atmosphere was intensely cold; and the
wind blew with such force as to carry the burn
ing cinders and sparks distance of several blocks.
None but stole could have looked without tha
most heartfelt emotions upon the agoRzing scene:
the despair and suffering depicted In the coune-
napces Of those robbed Of their homee, aud the
lamestations of the thiny clad children, a. the
piercing Nor:h wind eufoded them In his shiveriug
embrace, formed picture Of melancholy that must
be witnessed TO be rcalzed-it cannot be described.
Had II not been for the suffering above alluded TO
the rszine Of many OF the buildings would doubtless
have been looked rather fortunate than 9TH
erwise, for they were mostly worthless and dry and
dapidated that 1t is only matter Of surprise they
had 50 long stood the test Of FIRE and weather. New
and substantial edices win probably soon be erected
on the site of the ruins.