The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-05
DISASTROUS FIRE IN BR00KLYH.
Five Piremen, Buried Beneath Falling Build.
Ing, Meet Horrible Death.
FOUR MEN DANGEROUSLY HURT.
TWO MORE SUPPOSED TO Be LOST.
Noble Conduct Of Firemen and
Citizens,
YIc., &C., go.
FOUR MEN DANGEROUSLY HURT.
TWO MORE SUPPOSED TO Be LOST.

i "A
past O'Clock yesterday morning, in the buildings
Nos % and 95 Furman street, owned by Mr.. John J.
Morr dry goods merchant Of this city, but occupied,
by Mr. Thomas J. Chubb a black lead manufacto
| ry, and the other No. o. by Mr. O. N. Flanders,
| paranne ubricatng oil mandatory. Tho flames had
undoubtedly made considerable progress when they
discovered and the alarm given. They commenced In
No. o. and from the highly inaammabe Of the
material with which the structure filed the heat
| produced Of the most intense character. Every
thing within the building rresstbly gave way before it,
The roof also gave way eventually carrying with 1t the
lives OF Gve and perhaps nine, Of the brave Brooklyn
| 1remen.
The flames spread TO No. 95, also filled with the
most nGammable Of material and 1t in turn became
seething Of fire. The tongues Of flame dared from
! the windows accompanied by sulocating gases and
binding smoke, Illuminating the with CHASTITY
! light, and minging with the pure atmosphere most
| sickening smell
THE FIREMEN.
Chief Engineer Cunningham, with the remcn. duly
and early upon the spot and every effort made to sub
due the confagration, at last to keep within limits
But plenty OF and the persistent labors OF tho
department could first make make no Roadway against
such fearful element in such forward state of pro-
gross All that could be dono done; but tho ent
Of the two buildings consumed i'll u very
| short space Of time.
| Evidently with the desire to Go something further
toward conquering the devourr clement CHIEF Engineer
Cunningham ordered detachment of men with hose to
the top of the OF buildings They obeyed the order
ard several OF the lost their lives by their obedience
by misunderstanding the order OF the Chief Engineer
| Our reporter conyersed with MI Cunningham and he
states that he ordered tho reen TO stand upon the build
ngs adjoining the ones fre not upon the structures
which burning, and gave the hose into their hands
himself Others say that the hremen were differently
| ordered.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDINGS.
To render the matter which follows peri ctly clear to
those well acquainted with the locality, it will be
necessary describe the burned premises somewhat
minutoiy Nos 90 and 95 F4rman street. with nearly oil
the houses that side of tho thoroughiare for
blocks bul by excavatng the depth of the structure
directly into tho hillside, and then erecting heavy stone
walls Their inner ends being arched outward in order to
give them greater strength to resist prcsrc The four
walls carried up to the height OF three sores and
then covered With arches Of bckwork the arches
being in turn supported by iron sirders and beams ana
covered upon their upper surface WIN s9, SOME Tour
the premises owels and vegetables upon the very
roofs Of the storehouscs beneath them Extending back
and towering entirely above the roofs OF the Furnan
street build ngs-even their Easements being above
themare the p.incely residences OF Columbia street. in
OF which resides the Rov. Henry Ward Bcecher and
In another Mr. John Merritt the owner of the burned
structures.
In placing the hrcmcn upon the roofs Of the houses
which were on fire, We simply locate them In the back
gardens Of the dwellings the Heights 1t is possible
that the surface OF the cultivated earth deceived tho
men, and that they did not know they the
be crater which long TO yawn and receive their
bodies Bat Mr. Cunningham, the Chief Engineer was
spoken to by Mr. Merritt and at least other fireman,
and warned that the roof dangerous and might give
way and bury the remcn beneath it, lie gave 10 heed
10 the warning but returned hurried and rather dis
courteous answer, the effect that he supposed he
knew his business well as they could inform him Of
IT.
A HORRIBLE CATASTROPHE.
was about one hour after the discovery OF the hre
that portion of the members Of Engine Company No
II, Hose No g. Hose No s. and Hose NO q sent 10
the Heights, upon the roofs Of the buildings They
calamity oycd needless Of danger reckless Of fc and
I..s. had, ehA Ar.f rn, uluc
least did their best to put water upon IL which was
work Of some difficulty from the nature Of their posi-
tion relatively with the locality Of the flames For
moment it appeared that the flames giving out,
having spent Their fury consumed their material Then
rods around The roof OF ono Of the burning buildings
had fallen in, md carried down nobody at the time could
tell how many Of the brave fremcn working upon II.
There silence OF perhaps minute, and second
crash told that the otlsr roof bad fallen The flames
momentarly smothered Then heard the
screams OF women and the ngonized cries Of men,
mingled with the groans Of those only partially buried
beneath the fallen brick, and earth and lire or
there was confusion worse confoundcd for space OF
time.
THE RESCUE.
But in short time the people appreciated the extent
OF tho dire calamity Regardless OF danger totcring
walls OF falling stones and the not less deadly steam
emitted from the then smouldering ruins the members
the department, followed by citizens and men,
rushed In and commenced the work Of extrcatng the
unfortunate men from their perilous position by far
the greater number would reach the free air alive
Men wounded by the failing walls scorched by
the IRE Others were buried far down beneath the
|
to save their lives. Every EFFORT was made 70
Water was thrown upon the embers Shovcs pro-
the poor sufferers and the dead wero brought into
the street
From the time of the falling in Of the roof the nre
gradually ceased its nercsness ana finally extin-
guished.
THE DEAD rraENES.
Up TO late hour yesterday afternoon the following
| persons had been recovered from the ruins dead
!. Casper Canmeycr, aged tweiy,eight years, mem.
residence Of his father, Mr. John e. Cammeyer one OF
tho saperntendents Of the Poor No 90 stanton street
Of Hon thomas aa1diner County treasurer ''''Ae'
3 Alex. 8. Benson residing al No 23i Jay street Mr.
Benson was employed In the onico OF The Register He
formerly belonged TO Hose Company No. IL, recently
disbanded, but since the change had with Engine
Company No. H. Of which he proposed TO become a
VIM. williams, because a handkerchief with that
upon u was found in his pocket He was subsequently
recognized by his brother Hs body |. now at the Forty
| second precinct station house.
4. Joseph X brown, Of Engine Company No II, clerk
9. Eugene baker, Of Hose Company No 8.
The bodies Of the first Damcd three being near The
surface exhumed In few hours but the two last
being buried beneath at least six feet Of rubbish,
reached until nearly o'clock last evening Baker
ing with his legs across Browns head and
\ heavy beam and some iron machinery over them both
The Grcuen having become exhausted, Chief Engineer
Cunningna employed number OF lsborers who worked
hard from noon nj night before they succeeded The
bodies were found completely crushed and mutilatcd a.
were those also which taken out In the morning
q. w Williams, OF Engine Company No IL, vas re-
moved to the hospital, but died soon thereafter
| THE WOUNDED.
The nremen injured as far as at present asasrtaned
| l. Michael McGibney, Of Hose Company No 5,
| wounded In the Taken 70 the City Hospital
| q James II. Ruggcs, Of Engine Company No. IL,
taken 70 his home In Cumberland avenue, Dckalb
Able TO walk believed to be badly injured internally
| O. Edward Bsssott, Hose Company No s.:
4 william A. lee, OF Engine Company No II, badly
g. James McGIbncy, Hose Company No q at the City
| Hospital, In dying condition
Al least ono pcrson 4. known 10 be- etn buried in the
| ruins. lie will probably DO found to-day.
TINS ORIGIN ov THE FIRE.
hiss not been satisfactorily decided 20 what Incl
dent he origin OF the FIRE due but for In the
history OF mishap OF the kind, there suspicious
entertained OF incendiarsm. II involves heavy loss
on the part Of the occupants and Mr. Merritt, the