Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-10-14
New Series---Vol, iii, No. AZ.
TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE CRYS-
TAI PALACE AT NEW YORK.

" a
Tall PALACE AT NEW YORK.
We extract the following particulars of the
destruction of this fine building from the
Courier of the 9th instant:
The Crystal Palace, situated on Reservoir
Square, Sixth avenue and Forty second street,
in which the Fair Of the American Institute
was being held, was destroyed by FIRE shortly
after five o'clock last evening. The fire origi-
mated in room in the north nave, used for
the storage of some articles left In the Palace
since the Industrial Exhibition of 1851, and
the alarm was scarcely sounded throughout
the building before the flames began to spread
in all directions. The galleries being hung
with goods the Ere was almost instantly COM
municated to the different sections of the
Palace, and the spectators and exhibitors,
about 1000 in number, bad scarcely time to
save themselves. The scene which followed
was most fearful; the greatest CONSERVATION
prevailed, all rushing for the doors, except
some of the exhibitors, who made an effort to
save their goods. The rush and press at the
doors was for a time quite sutfocating, but
fortunately the Palace was well planned for
means of egress, and the people soon found
themselves outside.
The floors of the building being of Georgia
pine, burned like so much tinder, and soon
deprived the grand structure of much of its
support Many of the exhibitors clung to
their valuable goods to the last moment pos
sible, but very few managed to save anything.
Some came out with their clothes On fire, and
narrowly escaped sufocation. 1t was the
general impression for scme time that large
number of persons had been shut off by the
flames, those coming out last reporting sever
al left behind. The most painful apprehen-
sions were entertained, and at least thirty
persons were thought to be lost in the flames,
but fortunately such was not the case. Those
supposed to be in the building at the time,
had escaped out of opposite doors to those
who had reported them lost.
In fifteen minutes after the discovery of
the fire, the dome fell in and in five or ten
minutes more, the magnificent structure, for
seven years one of the principal ornaments Of
the city, was in heap of ruins. Fragments
of the walls and portions of the iron frame
remained. The contents continued to burn
and shoulder up to q late hour.
The firemen were early at the premises, but
could do nothing to stop the progress of the
flames. The dome was ready to fall in when
they got to work, and then efforts were found
necessary to prevent the fire frem communi-
eating to buildings on the streets adjoiniRg
At a late hour the painful impression of
persons having been lost by the catastrophe
was chiefly removed. No one was known to
to be missing, and it was believed that no
lives were lost.
The fire was supposed to have been the
work of an incendiary-some thought for the
purpose of plunder. The entire loss is thought
to be upwards of million dollars. The
Palace lately became the property of the city,
under the charter given the original owners,
and was not known to be insured The cor.
poration does not insure its buildings. The
Palace had been insured by it's previous own
ers for $4,000. 1t originally cost 500 900
to S800,000.
Some of the individual losses were large.
Robert Raft, jeweller in Broadway, lost case
of diamonds valued at $4,000. The Castle
ton Slate Company lost $1,000 worth of prop
erty; the N. Y. Steam Heating Company,
$1,000; Mr.. Chickering piano manufacturer,
$4,000. The Washington statue was worth
SIS, 900; the Amazon, 10000.
Engine companies No. %, l6, and 81, had
their best apparatus on exhibition, and lost
them. The apparatus of Hose Companies
Nos. l, 5, and 40, were also destroyed also
Engine No. l, of Brooklyn.