Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-01


Metrepolitan, Belmont, Tammamy, LouSoy's,
| Brqndrsth, LaJarge, The United States, and
other Hotels, and al Barnam's Museum.
FROM THE NEW YORK EXPRESS OF SATURDAY EvERG.
regularly organized attempt made last night, BY
parties at present unknown to set FIRE principal
hotels, though fortunately without success the efforts Of
the conspators being each foed by the early dis
covey Of the fires and before the flames had gathered any
dangerous strength The plan operations seems to have
been for the ncenda to pile together in some one OF the
upper of hotel bedclothes and other combustbe
materials, and having soaked them with turpenne or
spnkled them with phosphorus to set them on fire. then
having locked the door, to disappear taking the key with
him. That the community has been saved from the terri
BILE loss of property and life which might have been
peced to attend such plot by its fortunate and early
discovery matter for profound thsnkfulness and for
which great credit is due to the energetic action of our
police authorities and fire department. Below we give
detailed accounts of the fires they occurred in the
| rious hotels and public buildings
THE ST. JAMES.
The first fire was discovered at eight o'clock and forty
three minutes at the st. James Hotel Of Broadway
and Twenty Sixth street. but resulted in but slight damage
II originated of tho bed rooms and the strong smell
phosphorus that psryaded the apartment and the prox
unity Of matches the bed Clothes disclosed the fact that
the fire was the work of ncendiary. Something like
panic imminent at first but the real extent
of the damage asceraned order restored and the
quiet resumed 1t 10 stated by the propretors that
man registering his John School (Md.) took
ut this house about half five o'clock, and that
the smoke discovered issuing from his by the
occupant next door Upon the door being broken open the
found empty the occupant having gone leaving
black satohe with bottle Of phosphorus behind
UNITED STATES HOTEL.
At quarter before nine o'clock attempt made 10
set fire to the United States Hotel at the Of Fulton
engaged room in the afternoon His actions excited
suspic on in the mind of the landlord and at the time
mentioned above the entered and found 10 be
fire, The FIRE eItingushed before any damage
done
THE ST. NICHOLAS
At five minutes Of nine the st Nicholas Hotel was dis
covered FIRE in 12S $780, and 1885, situated in the
middle building OF the three the upper floor About
the time FIRE broke out in bedroom ia in the front
building Of the hotel In both places the strong smell Of
phosphorus and abundance OF matches in the bed,
clothes sgned the fire to have been the work Of in
cendary The rooms were burned completely out, but
the fire department of the hotel succeeded in combining the
fire to these apartments Had not been for the sdmra
bic arrangements for taking Of fires at this house
would have been entirely burned down The damage done
is principally by water and will probably amount to about
SO 900. A well known citizen who boards at the st.
Nicholas Hotel passing through the main hall last
evening, on his way to his ROOM just before the fire
discovered when his attention attracted by the very
suspicious movements of two who we're converting in
the hall Approaching them he heard say It's all
right" when both started for the door, and Immediately
left the hotel Within few seconds afterward the alarm
was given.
THE LAFARGE.
At twenty minutes past nine o'clock the Lafarge House
discovered to be fire in Of the bedrooms
the upper h0Or the bed being, the other places sau
rated with phosphorus, and matches lying about in all
directions The damage was slight but naturally enough
the guests were thrown into panic, believing that the
whole structure would be fred The flames were soon
extnguished the damage amounting to about three hun
dred dollars The room in which the fire was discovered
| uaa akQD hy r II of arnAnp Nau
jersey who out of the room at the time of the fire.
METROPOLITAN HOTEL.
At about ten O'Clock fire was discovered in front
the upper aoor of the Metropolitan Hotel but it
speedily extngushed BY the servants of the house
The damage here estmsed at thousand five hundred
dollars. One only injured. In this were
found empty bottle which had contained phosphorus
pair of heavy boots, and valise In the vaise were
found pair of pantaoons and pair of prunela CATERS
The bottle of description similar to that found at
the other hotels
BELMONT HOTEL.
The FIRE at the Belmont Hotel was discovered in bed
the third floor, which had been engaged by
registering himself a. Lieut. Lewis u. A." Smoke
being to tissue from that ROOM strong odor of phos
phorus being at the time perceptbe, the door
Immediately burst open, and in very few seconds the
flames were completely e1tinguished The bed in this
had the appearance of having been occupied The
man Lewis has not been since the discovery of
the fire. At this place six bottles Of phosphorus
found in carpetbas.
TAMMANY HALL.
Almost simultaneously with the discovery Of the fire at
the Belmont Hotel the bed and bedding with furniture, OF
room on the third floor 'front.' Of Tsmmany Hail. were
found to be in flames During the afternoon man. who
registered himself C. f. Morse OF Rochester arrived
at the hotel aud engaged the in which the FIRE
discovered He not during the evening" and has
not been since the Of the fire. The dam
is not very great and confined to the furniture and
bedding Of the The handwriting Of the referred
to resembles somewhat that Of the person who engaged
the room fred at the st. Nicholas Hotel
LovRJoY's HOTEL.
Two attempts made to burn this hotel The 8rst
occurred little before l0A o'clock at which time fire
was discovered 10 bedroom the fourth floor Of the
northeast wing Of the hotel The bedcothes and mattress
were piled 10 the centre of the floor and were enyeoped
in flames when found. This fire exnguished without
damage to other portions Of the building The second at
tempt made at about IL o'clock, and the alarm was
given simultaneously with that Of the fires at the Belmont
Hotel and at Tammany. This time the lncendiary had
performed his work 10 the southeast wing Of the building
the fourth floor. Attention excited by smell OF
smoke and search developed the fact that in the room
within which carpet bag bottle of phosphorus Here,
also the fire extDgushed without greater loss than
that Of the furniture and bedding OF the room.
THE NEW ENGLAND HOUSE.
At about III O'Clock last night young man giving the
name of Geo Moss engaged for the night at the
New England Hotel of Bowery and Bayard street.
and was shown q room on the second floor. In few
minutes be came down stairs and went out saying he
would soon return. Soon afterwards the which he
occupied was found 10 be fire. The flames were how
ever soon eItnguished before much damage done.
On making an examination the furniture Of the was
Nhak aI atn1