Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-07-19
THE GREAT FIRE In BROOKLYN.
TERRIFIC EXPLOSIONS.
Destruction of Shipping-Intense Ex-
citement of the COMMUNICATES
dents and Incidents.

|
citement of the COmmunity-Acci-
| dents and Incidents.
About noon Friday fire broke out on
Johnson's dock, foot of Jarolemon street,
Brooklyn, which for intensity and rapidity
of combustion, and the great loss of prop
erty incident thereto, equals anything this
city or Brooklyn has experienced for many
years, and one that will be remembered and
spoken of as an era in the history OF the
| city and the life of the firemen. 81 tfL.
The origin sof the fire is not exactly
known, various accounts being given; but
that it was large fire, involving the de-
struction of an immense amount of prop
erty, is not matter of doubt. The fire
broke out i'm the buildings known as
.Schenck's stores,n occupied by Messrs.
Jackson & Woodruff as bonded and free
warehouse, and so rapidly did it spread that
men employed in the place had to jump in
to the dock to save their lives.
The bonded warehouse contained vast
quantities of nitrate of soda, wool, hides,
gin and various other articles OF merchan-
disc, and the free stores had also large
quantity of nitrate of soda, seventeen hun
dred tons of guano, stored on account of
the Peruvian Government, sugar and mo-
lasses owned by Messrs. Roche Bros. q Cof-
fey, and other goods.
The nitrate of soda principally belonged
to Messrs. Fabbri & Chauncey, New York.
The total value of the nitrate of soda was
over 100000, and the guano was valued at
$240O00.
Asthe fire progressed and reached the in
flammable materials explosion followed eX-
plosion i'm rapid succession, throwing up
the debris to great height, scattering frag-
ments of stone, brick and wood, and endan-
! gering the lives of all in the vicinity. The
| effect of the conclusion was such that the
ceilings of houses for blocks around were
torn down, and hardly pane of glass was
left whole. The block bounded by Furman,
State, Joralemon and Atlantic streets suf-
fered the most, many stores and shops being
almost entirely destroyed. In State street,
nea- Court, quarter of mile from the
dock, the windows of house were blown
in and totally destroyed. The tenements
along Furman street to Wall street, on one
side, and Atlantic on the other, were all
more or less damaged by the falling brick,
which after each successive explosion came
down as thick as hail. IoL
The residents were panic stricken. Fur
niture was thrown into the streets. Wo-
men were running about in the greatest eX-
citement, and children clinging to their
skirts or carried in their arms, added to the
wild excitement.
The scene as viewed from the Heights,
when the fire was under full headway, and
explosion after explosion was startling the
neighborhood, was truly grand and exciting
in the extreme. The dense smoke formed
column reaching some hnndrels Of feet in
the air. the base of it being immense bodies
of brilliant flame, that, even in contrast to
the MONDAY sun, were glaring to the eyes
of spectators.
1t was not long before the river was
crowded with tugs, fastening to the rescue
of the fleet of endangered vessels surround
ing the locality of the fire, and all but one
or two of the ships lying near were remov-
ed from the dangerous vicinity, and anchored
in the river The scene on the wharf at
which the Russian frigate lay moored was
stirring one; for all Oh board realized the
fact that their naval home was in danger,
the falling sparks, from the explosions. cov-
ering the vessel and rendering prompt
measures in procuring supply OF water
very necessary. The frigate, however, was
soon taken into the stream and out OF dam
ger, but the excitement that was caused
was quite a contrast to the mOnotony of
quiet which has hitherto marked the sojourn
of the Russians i'm Brooklyn. The violence
of the successive shocks was felt even in
New York, the vibration shaking the win
dows of all the buildings along South, Wa
ter and Front streets; and when the i'm
mense column of smoke was seen arising
there was a rush toward the wharyes,
which were soon crowded with thousands
of spectators, from the Fulton ferry to the
Battery. The inhabitants OF the row OF
dwellings situated in Furman street. in the
rear of the burning buildings, rushed out
of their houses when the explosions took
of, aIyat wi nj
with their children In arms, ran screaming
through Furman street, maddened with
fear; and truly the terrific roar of the
flames, the dense clouds of smoke hiding
the sun, and the shocks from the repeated
explosions were sufficient to cause panic.
Even those who were out of danger, stand
ing on the Heights on the bridge over Mon
tague street, ran panic stricken after the
two heaviest explosions occurred. The
South ferry boats were first on the spot,
and rendered prompt and valuable assist
ance to the shipping; but it was only at
great risk that any steamer could approach
the burning locality, from fear of the ex-
plosion of the remaining barrels OF saltpe-
tire stored on the wharyes. H.. .i4 ..ae
At the commencement of the fire the
docks were thickly studded with vessels,
and as the flames spread so rapidly the
greatest exertions were necessary to place
them beyOnd the reach OF danger. All sue
ceeded in getting towed out into the stream
hut one i'll fated vessel--a Hamburg brig,
named Caesar and Helene, but lately arrived
from Chile. having on board cargo of cop-,
Der ore.i The flames communicated to the
rigging of the vessel, and soon spread to all
parts. and as the crew became frightened,
thew deserted her in a body, without trying
to save anything on board. AS the fire
reached her hold, with the flames bursting
from all sides and playing about the rig
ging, the sight was grand, though mixed
with spice of sorrow at the noble vessel
lett to the mercy of the dev0uring element.
| All the vessels to lecward of the burning
brig had been towed out, but those to wind
ward were not considered in danger, and
had not been moved; but as the hawser OF
the brig parted she swung around and float
ed towards a fleet Of vessels in Ford's dock,
striking bow on to large vessel which SO
iarred on her masts as to cause them to top
pie and after moment OF hesitation TO go
over her side. The danger to the whole fleet
was now most imminent, and threatened
most disastrous consequences. when AS
sistant Engineer Barr on receiving orders
from the Chief procured tug, and making
| fast to the burning boat towed her out to
| the flats near Governors island. .51u
| The firemen were at the extreme post Of
danger and played upon the buildings, not
| withstanding the serious consequences to
| which they might have been subjected
| The conclusions knocked number down
and precipitated several into the river; and
although a few were hurt not one was seri-
ously injured. i-ifg ea9i1ts yiial =,