The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-08
SHOCKING CALAMITY.

OUVONsWU 00kHU01uuSs
Dreadful Fire I'm Fortaeth gtroet-Ter-
rible Loss or Lffe-A Whole Family
Burned % Death-several Persons Badly
InJured-seven Bodies Taken from the
Rafns-Coroner's Inqucst-xntercsting
Testim0ny-No Glue 10 tho Origin OF
the Ftre-Vcrdict or the Jury, &c., SC.
snosty AFTER six O'Clock yesterday morning . fro
broks out In tho two story and attic dwelling house
No l02 West Forteth street. near the corner Of Broad
way. The flames, when first discovered were issuing
from the back basement and ascending the stairs
Henry 8. oakley occupied the second floor, and was
the lessee OF the house. Mrs. oakley about the
first person who smelled the smoke and gave the
alarm. However, but few minutes elapsed before
dense smoke filed the stairway and the upper
part Of the house. the flames followed up the stairs 30
quickly that Mrs. Oakley In coming down met the flames
and Was compelled TO force her way through Them and in
30 doing abe was burned severely the face neck and
hands; her daughter, young woman about seventeen
years OF age Was also burned about the face but 90
badly Mr.. Oakley had his and whskers burned and
his face slightly scorched The west garnet bedrooms
front, occupied by Urah Lewis and James Oakley
the Oldest son OF Mr.. Oakley. These two men
escaped by the window the roof to the adjoining
house. Lewis was badly burned and Oakley escaped
with but slight injury The back attic bedrooms were
wife, five children, and Jane the servant girl The SER
want girl was up and had been down stairs Just before
the fire was discovered. She escaped but Mr.. wocd
who, II ID sad came part Of the way down stairs, and
returned back to get his family out was not again seen
alive Fire Marshal Baker early at the Premises and
made many Inquiries but unable TO ascertain that
any one of this family had escaped. Consequently he
called the attention Of Chief Engineer Decker and
his Assistant Engineers, Brce and MITCHELL TO the
fact that no believed the whole family were burned to
death. Engineer Decker with his accustomed vigilance
at once instituted search which resulted In finding in
the back garnet bedroom the bodies Of the whole Of this
unfortunate family burned TO death. Their charred re-
mains extricated by the rcmen under the superv
sion Of Chief Decker Sergeant Van Hagen Of the TWEEN
tieth precinct, procured wagon filed with straw tho
remains Of tho deceased persons placed in the wag
on and by the police convey cd to the station house In
Thirty fifth street. The Coroner WAS notified
1t Is feared the fire not the result OF accident and
the Fire Marshal viglanty investigating the whole ar
fair. is further alleged that there was no ladder to
the scutte. Hence these unfortunate people had no
neans of escaping from the roof.
DEAD
Henry Wood native of England aged thirty years.
Julia Wood, native Of England. aged twenty years.
William Wood, aged about seven years.
Henry Wood, aged about I've years.
Julia Wood aged about three years.
Isabella and Jenna, twins, four months old
Mr.. Wood was an uphosterer, and had only moved
into the house ON the LIST Of this month One half Of
the basement he occupied for his shop and had furniture
there The adjoining half OF the basement occupied
by Henry swarts barber's shop. The first floor
occupied segar store by Mrs. Catharine Hovey and
the adjoining part OF that floor occupied by Peter
Curren for residence. Two men, named Clark and Gar
VIM occupied Of the front attic bedrooms. They at
tempted to escape down stairs, but the smoke and fire
drove them back at the time. Mr.. Clark he heard
Mrs Wood screaming to save her children. He says he
unable to render her any help, and had but just
time to himself by getting out at the garnet win
dow.
The two upper stories and roof are destroyed. The
damage TO the building will amount to about $500. Mr.
Oakey insured for $500 his household effects In the
Greenwich Insurance Company. Az learn, he Is the
only person insured In the building
The building No 1856 Broadway, corner Of FortietA
street, slightly damaged by the roof taking fire
through the scutte.
CoRosERs' INQUEST.
The inquest upon the bodies OF the victims held at
the Twentieth precinct station house, by Coroner Jack
The anxiety Of the people In the neghborhood to
be present during the tgatIon, intense and
required all the efforts of the police to keep tho
bodies Of the Wood family they lay In the OF tho
station house presented shocking appearance yet the
utmost curiosity manifested TO and examine the
remains by tho assembled spectators jury OF ntc-
gent citizens mostly residents Of the Twentieth ward
having been empanneed to investigate the circumstances
attending the death Of the victims the inquest was COM
menced by taking the annexed testimony
CatbaInes s. Hovey, being duly sworn says-I reside
at No 102 West Foreth street. this morning my brother
awoke and told me they were crying FIRE; saw the
room filed with smoke; dressed myself and run out;
two families living In the house besides Mr. Oakley
and myself; when ran out saw the flames bursting
through the roof the store underneath, which occu
pied, was used for segars and liquors.
Jane Gatngs, being duly sworn, deposee and says
was employ ed as domestic by the deceased family
only last Friday that they moved into this house
which burned this morning; they occupied the two
top back rooms they attic this morning about
six O'Clock got up and was dressing myself l opened
my door 20 another ROOM when the rst time
smet smoke, but could not tell where II from;
at the same time heard the CRY Of "nre from some
one In the house think II was female voice; imme
datey called Mr. Wood and he and run down stairs and
cried "nre; Mr. Wood returned, as suppose, TO save
his family attempted TO return with him. but on ac-
count Of the dcnse smoke prevented, and that Is
the last time | saw him, he came down In his night
clothes.
Henry s. Oakley, being duly sworn deposes and Says
reside at lD2 West Forteth street. leased the house
last May and rented TO Mr. ,od account
Of the apartments not being vacated told Mr. Wood
that he might live in the two back attic rooms; the house
is brick and stone house, with wooden roof and two
and half stories bigh this morning, about ten minutes
TO six O'Clock, got up and lighted my fire; reside
the secord floor; went down to the back area 70 get
whh e back 70 tesp ss SS
and q coal bin which occupy myself; when went for
the water my dog came out Of this place;
went up stairs with water, returned again
and went out to the grocery; I shortly returned,
and went up stairs and into the kitchen; in about ave
minutes after my wife, - she came out OF her room,
said she smet smoke IN the entry, and and told
OF ~ ran down 10 the head Of the basement stairs,
when found there was heat and dense smoke coming
the stairs called for pail and went out into the back
area: looked into this back basement, and like
an oven saw that could not put II out, so came up
stairs to the Inmates think l saw deceased
but am not -itye heard bis voice. part Of my family
M escape by the roof my wife was considerably
bruised also my daughter and myself slightly; saw
Mr. Weed and servant come down stairs; dc not think
saw any others OF the Wood family; In my opinion the
fire broke the basement but 70 Its origin have
no knowledge; the front basement was occupied By q
barber think II was from seven TO ten minutes only
from the time went for the water until the fire was dis
covered and when down there think u there was
nre there then should have known IL; there IL no
mmun cation between the parlors and the back bsse
nen the paTtit Ia lah and plaster though there
door in H. which has not been used since have been
there.