The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-21
NEARLY A WHOLE BLOCK IN RUINS
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Total Destruction Of the City Assembly Rooms
and Woods Ministries Hall.
One Fireman Killed and q Policeman
Severely Injured.
Over $4,000 wsrth Of Property Desl
SCENES AND INCIDENTS,
&C., &c, d..

ing in flames The ball room filed at the time
bya gay and festive throng 1t being the occasion of
the Fifth Annual Ball Of the Talors Protective Union
few days ago received ticket to this ball. enclosed
in note, inviting to be present friends never
imagining that their entertainment would terminate
abruptly, and be attended with such disastrous
qusnces.
appears that the IRE discovered about half
hour before 1t broke out in Of the Huss in the ladies'
dressing room, but 1t had made very little
was easily suppressed. Only few Of those in the
heard anything about it until the second alarm was
given when had proceeded too far to be checked inn
mediately with the limited at hand. As "a p
it became known that the building are the great
est excitement took place among tho company-svery
thing and everybody thrown into confusion. The
screamed and few Of them tainted whils the
knocked each other down stairs in their wild haste
to get Of the burning building Some Of the coolest
took the matter little easier, and having that
there was no immediate danger, went into the
hat and got their clothes, tut the majority
made their appearance In the street in the dress
they wore At the ball. About half or three quarters
of hour after they left the flames burst Of the
front windows and the ballroom, which they had
pied but short time BEFORE glowed like furnace.
The rs spread with fearful rapdty and in less than
two hours after It arst discovered II had extended
over half the block. The 6remen ~ usual were In
prompt attendance with their machines but 1t was i'm
possible to get at work desirable in
quence Of the water being frozen in the hydrsnts They
succeeded, however, in obtaining . supply of water,
but not before they obliged to burn Of the n.y.
drants. By this time the Gre had made such progress
to render all attempts to the Assembly Rooms
completely useless They directed their attention, how
ever to the adjoining buildings and after incredible
ertions succeeded in combining Il to the sblock in
which it originated, and in saving several houses
that in imminent danger. We al.
most Invariably accustomed to speak Of the
fremen in terms Of praise, but We could not do
full justice to their conduct this ccason There
. cold biting frost, and the water it fell
in spray from the the walls Of the burning build
ings their clothes, encased them in . covering
of ice. Nothing checked them In their struggle with
the fierce element, and, and even in the face OF
seeming destruction they rushed in among the lettering
ruins. In this instance, however, their temerity
attended with the loss Of one Of their number named
James Lowry, who was buried under Of the walls
he in the act of holding the hose The deceased
belonged to Ringgod Hose Co., No. Z, and about
twenty-five years Of age. His body dug out from
the ruins At four O'Clock yesterday afternoon having
remained Under them twsntytw hours. When found,
1t in horribly mutilaed state In which condition
1t was taken to his residence No. 1Sl West Twentieth
street.
A policeman named Ncvay, was seriously injured by
some of the bricks from falling wall striking him ON
the head 1t is expected however, that he win recovery
There . rumor that two hremen were buried un-
der the ruins but It Is believed that the only person
tined was Lowry, a. mono OF the other fremen have
q them we're IN danger q being frozen to DEATH and
bad not been for the they took to prevent
It BY kindng huge boares ia the street i might have
results glance at the. ruins to-day win show tn.
hardshps to which they were exposed The ice the
pavement in front of them in places Eve six
inches thick while the walls Of the neighboring houses
covered with perfect fretwork Of frost and huge
There were eight buildings destroyed altogether and
about one hundred and Fifty thousand dollars worth Of
detailed account Of the losses SUSTAINED BY tie owners
and occupants Of the buildings
Commencing with the assembly Rooms, which
were owned BY Mr.. Miller We ind that the" thew
were valued at 81, 900, on which there is an in
$4,000 in the Broadway. and Of $4,000 in the
Merchants Independent Of this, however, he has lost
on his fixtures furniture, &C., upon which there
No IA was occupied by Mr. Costar vender Of various
drugs, and Costars rat exterminator, and owner Of
small collection Of animals, called the Happy Family
These consisted Of old tom cat two three mice
many rats one dog pigeon and one or two others sup
other Mr. Costars loss Is estimated At $780, upon which
there IL no insurance.
= Adjoining - was the hall Of George Ch,isty 4
wardrobe This was completely destroyed. Loss about
for The Ministries . n u. j., s CON
branch Of the company hold forth every night.
Robert McKinstry occupied No: 49, as carriage
pository running through to Crosby street. He esh
mates his loss at $50 co., which il insured for S3
only In the Granite Insurance Co. His business will be-
carried on for the present in No. 1s7 Grand street.
No. AZ the site of the old Olympic Theatre, was occu
pied on the FIRST floor BY the Cheshire Crystal elias: Co.
third doors vacant the fourth door was occupied
BY Robert n Pratt, Mr. Loop, Mr.; Frsdsrcks and Mr..
Mr. Pratt lost about $1,000 in valuable paintings and
was insured tor $780, The others also lost Whatever
paintings and other articles they had In their rooms
The Cheshire Glass Co. are losers to the amount Of
S2b 000 but are partially insured in the following
panies.-Rutgers, So 900; Aston, $1,000.
same building, lost about $4,000, on which there is
No 440 was entirely occupied by Mr. Isaac Nix r as
carriage repository, but he seeded in saving large
number Of vehicles without Material damage His loss,
No. 454, the chair mandatory Of John Commerford
was damaged to the extent of about but the LOSE
The boot and shoe store Of Mr. Hunt, No. 4e7X, was
completely destroys His loss is about 81 ooo OF which
ABOUT one one half is insured
No. 446 was occupied on the first floor by Mr. Duns-
comb, saddle and harness manufacturer his loss Is es
tmated at $500 which is covered by an insurance Of
II 500 in the Lorillard Insurance Company.
Henry Elder occupant OF dwelling house No 14iS
Crosby street. had his furniture damaged by water to
The amount Of $780, he is insured to the full in
The Astor Company.
Several Of the buildings Crosby street. in the imme
Sss VI vicinity Of the fire. weEs partially damaged but
The City Assembly Rooms were used on Sundays by
the congregation OF Rev. A. A. Wood, who has been
burned out for the second time.
The inmates of some Of the houses in Crosby street
were Obliged % their urniture but they sus-
tanned little IL any damage, their neghbors received
them into their dive llings
member Of No. Hook and Ladder Company had
his hair burned from his head, and his coat conside
raby scorched he was struck by part of a falling
wall and had his fire cap literally smashed upon his
head. He escaped, hogever, with few bruises and
burns. Ano her member of the company had his
head cut, and lost his fire among the ruins.
The fol owing table gives the details of the loss with
the names of the % the property and the SO
verai amounts for which they insured -
Proprieors or
Buildings. Occupants Loss. Insurance
City Assembly Rooms owner, Mr. Miller. $34 900 s2I 600
No 444 Broadway. costar ....,....... 500 =
lA -. .Christy's Minstrels $4,000 30oo
.4b0 ....Mckinstry $4,000 5000
Az 49,. Pratt ........... 1000 son
442 Chcs Glass Co XIII 25 do II osS.