New-York daily tribune., 1854-09-05
FIRE MARSHAL'S INVESTIGATION BE-
FORE THE POLICE JUSTICES.

FIRE IN CHATHaN-sT.-On Sunday the 27th Au-
gust q fire was discovered in the store of Leonel Ja
cobs, No. 929 Chathamst In this case the evidence
before the Marshal showed that Henry Jacobs was
clerk in the employ Of Mr. Jacobs and in the habit of
sleeping in the store; and Sunday morning he left
the store locked the door and went to breakfast On
his return from breakfast, about 10 O'Clock, he went
again into the store, took match, lighted one of the
gas-burpers and threw the match on the floor behind
the counter and without ascertaning whether the
lighted match eXtngushed, left the store locked
the door, and went to Mr. Jacobss other store at No.
lO2 Chatham-st., and was gone about 10 minutes,
when he was informed that the store No. 92l was
fire. The alarm was given, and on opening the store
the flames were dscovert In the shelving behind the
counter, exactly where the match had been thrown.
The fremen came and soon extlnguished the flames.
The clerk testified that in his opinion the fire
caused by his careessness in throwing the match be-
hind the counter without extingushng il. Since they
have been in business this was the hrst re occurring
ON their premises. Mr.. Jacobs had an insurance OF
So 900 on his stock, equally divided in the Hamilton
and Equitable Fire Insurance Companies. The fire
was evidently the result OF carelessness in the use Of
matches.
FIRE IN WALKER-sT.-A FIRE was discovered on
the night OF the 10th August in the livery stable of
Hugh Quinn, at No. % Walker-st. The evidence
showed before the Marshal that Edward Brophy, in
the employ of MIR. Quinn, went TO bed in a small
room partitioned off in the hay loft, at about IL
o'clock with two others and just he doing
off he was aroused by the smell of smoke, and
locking out of the room saw the flames among some
straw and hay directly under the trap-door leading
totbe roof The fire spread rapidly that the boys
sleeping in the loft compelled to escape without
their clothing. The fremen were early on the spot,
ano extingushed the fire, which did not extend be-
yond the hay loft. The facts in this case 90 TO show
that the Ere was the work of an ncendisry who must
have obtained access to the roof of the hay loft from
the adjoining building, and placed the fire into the
loft through the scuttle. Mr.. Quinn not insured
on the property destroyed by the fire.
FIRE IN GRovE-sT.-Prior to the fire IN Walker-st.,
,.vht frah okp Auf m nj
Mr. Gilbert Hyatt, No. 70 GrOve-st The evidence
in this case showed by the testimony Of Mr.. Hyatt
that he was the last person in the stable Immediately
before the fire discovered and that when he left
over three minutes before he discovered glare of
light in the hay loft and found it to be on fire. The
stable was not destroyed by the fire; only the oft and
roof partially burned. This was, beyond doubt the
work of ncendiary VINO SET nre 10 ihe nay
win low from the rear OF the stable. ladder was
found standing by this window, evidently put there
by the incendiary to effect his wicked purpose. Dur
ing the investigation there was not enough shown TO
warrant an arrest but the suspected party may yet
he required to answer the crime. Mr. Hyatt had no
Insurance on his horse. There were several other
horses in the stable; they were all saved The dam,
age done to the building and the loss OF feed VIII
amount 10 about $50. -,
FIRE IN BRoADwAY.-On the afternoon of the
goth August fire broke out in the premises OF L. d
W. Geery erocers, No. 7l9 Broadway, under the
New-York Hotel. In this case the evidence before
the Marshal showed that one OF the clerks, named
John Laird went TO the cellar to fill four gallon
demohn with alcohol, and took with him lighted
tallow candle without its being covered by lantern
He had drawn three gallons of the alcohol and placed
il into the demohn and the fourth gallon was fall in
the measure, and in STOPPING down to turn OF the
faucet in the cask, he says piece Of the lighted wick
fell from the candle and the alcohol in the measure
on fire. He then became alarmed, and TO put out the
flames he took an empty coffee-bag and threw it on
the measure, which upset il, and the alcohol ran
through hole in the floor to the under cellar on lot
az brooms carrying the flames with it, which set the
brooms ON fire. The flames were e1tingushed in the
first cellar by Mr.. W. Geery and at the time he was
under the impression that the extent Of the fire.
but subsequently discovered, on the arrival Of the
firemen that the greatest amount OF fire in the
under cellar. The clerk ACKNOWLEDGED that he was
in the habit of going into the cellar with lighted
candle in his hand without lantern, but he now
thinks that light in lantern would be much safer
Mr.. w. Geery's evidence corroborated that of his
clerk and further he has now issued positive orders
10 all his clerks who have business in the cellar to use
a light in a lantern. Previous 10 the fire Mr.. Geery
had forbidden the clerks going into the cellar at
time with light except in lantern, but TINS order
was not complied with all The lantern order
will now be rigidly enforced. This is the first hre oc-
curing on the premises of the above firm since tney
have been in business, q period Of near 20 years;
They had an insurance of $ 900 on their stock, and
Mr. Geery thinks their loss by fire and water VIII
amount to not less than s., 900.
LAYING THE CORNERSTONE OF A R0-
MAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN HOBO