New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-08
THE GREAT FIRE IN ALBANY.


The fire at East Albany, on Friday, was the mOst
extensive ths. has occurred in that place for many
years The two immense freigh-houses Of the Albany
and Boston Railroad Corporation, their passenger
depot and the business Office connected herewith,
together with some boats laden with grain, con-
sumed. The loss is estimated at 10000 Several
persons were badly burned come It feared seriously,
and number more or lees injured.
Tie fire was discovered lew minutes before p. m
and caught IN the cupoli OF the tOuiheru freight
houses from the friction Of the machinery connected
with the elevator. The wind was blowing very fresh
from the south, and in an almost 4 rSble rpaoe OF
time that immense strucure-over $50 feet in length
was one sheet of hame. In this stored large
quantity Of oil and alcohol and the hames shot 10 "
l0u feet
Tie Boston and Hudson River ferry-boais took over
several engines and large number OF fremen, but be-
fore the boats could make second trip the FIRE had
made such Roadway that 1t was found impoesible to
axe landing IL was but avery few minutes before
the hames communicated TO the other large freight
house and seemingly but instant more before 1t
grand scene of fire. the flames raging with the most
ineuse fury, Lighting up the whole eastern borzon,
and causing feeling OF awe TO creep over every be-
holder Ipdeed the immense volumes OF flame ascend
inc between 200 and 800 feet, with clouds Of deDe
smoke bespangled with myriad burning cnders- gave
TO the scene degree Of grandeur battling description
The conduct Of the iemen Is spoken OF In the nigh
est terms of praise but their enemy deied all their e
forte and as hundreds Of thousands Of dollars were
swept away, az by breath, II seemed TO hml cha-
lenge hem bidding them do their beat without the
least hope Of accomplishing their purpose.
in the canal between the two depols lay seven
OF eight canal boats, all, nearly all, loaded with
grain Osgood lmud machine Of Troy also lay there.
The flames from the depot spread so fetruly that they
crossed the canal and communicated with the passen
ger depot They swept across the canal Ike whir-
wind setting fire to al the vessels therein. At this
critical moment the little steamer Redhed, Capt Kel
sey backed into the cut, hitched TO u canal boat
Arun ipfa tla afr Ifa deak all
fire. but by proper aud energetic exertion, the flames
were subdued and the boat saved Capt. kelsey
made attempt 10 enter the second time, but he
could not 20 through without endangering his own
craft and its gallant The boats that were left
behind were all totally destroyed.
IL is said that upon these boats families
ssting of men, and children, but is believed
that the loss Of lie is slgh although there have been
many exsg gerated reports 10 the contrary. The cir
cum attending the death Of an infant are truly
deploratle.
Ibe flames were overhead and all around the boat.
The father Of the child got Oh point oppoe where
the boat Law The mother halloed to the father TO
catch the child, and almost simultaneously with the
remark threw the child to the father. IL did not reach
him. and 1t fell into the water The motber Jumped
ia after IT, but sad 10 relate the child was drowned.
The mother, however, was saved.
In less than two hours time the large freight depot,
about 800 eet in length, and upward Of 100 lest in
width the freight depot on the north side of the canal
at least 400 feet in length the passenger depot 2O0
feet in length the business oihce Of the Company the
bridge iea0ing the canal from the main depot
between forty and fifty cars, mostly for fIeght talt
dozen caua boats; hundreds Of feet Of platform; and
quite large quantity OF freight, were immense
pile of ruius the flames dancing 70 aud fro, ii in
sportiye glee their work OF destruction-the ag
gregale loss amounting to hall a million OF dollars.
Ia reference To the loss OF property, The EceHing
Journai OF Saturday has the following particulars:
Beside the buildings there destroyed sixty-6ve
cars laden with property and the freight bridge over
the creek. The remen by their heroic acts sayed the
passenger bridge the same creek, which was q
short distance IRON the freight bridge.
Between the freight depOts there ia @ water CON-
municatien for the unloading Of vessels. When the
fire broke out there several laden boats IN this
canal some Of them were dragged out, but ut least
four of them were burned 10 the water edge. We
have learned the Of four that destroyed,
viz: Jacob Young, OF the Western Transportation
Line Fairchds, Capt. Benz. Van Ness OF Rochester;
Muscona, OF Otwego; and the minnesotn, OF the New
Oswego Line. Besoo these there were several floats
and dI edging machine, winch were also destroyed.
While the lire was raging iiereey, an explosion oc-
Cured which is attributed 10 large quantity oil aico
hol BY this the walls OF both buildings thrown
down and several renons injured. The depots were
very large but the heaviest loss to the company
eentered in the stationary power and the machinery
used for boisting and eleyaiing property.
Fortunately, the amount OF property IN the depot
was much smaller than usual and the loss although
large in the aggregate Is scattered among 20 large
number Of perIons tlat II Will scarcely be ielt.
portion Of the loss is covered by insurance, but to
what extent we have been unable ~ learn. No one
Company, as far as We have been able TO learn 10
heavy loser by the calamity. On the other band The
Statesman states positively that there was TO insur-
ance on the property the policy short time since,
having been allowed TO run out.
The books and papers Of the Company were nearly
all saved. They were In the office between the small
freight house and passenger depot and were rescued
from the flames with the greatest difficulty. The books
and papers burned were old and the Company will not
suGer much ino0nysni.n,s taeIeroa.,