The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-08
ST. PArR1CK's CATHEDRAL.

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Aksdlu~nal pm rtscuIars Of the DessFwceDon Of
Rhe sacred BuIldinG-Its History and Assoc
scIs6taons.
The great connagraon which originated in che store
u c. g. Gunther, No. 6O2 Broadway on Saturday eve
Hing and which eliminated In the almost total destruc
stionof st. Patricks Cathedral has excited an unusual
amount Of interest especially among those who have
becs in the habit for years past Of visiting that vese
rabie building Is temple Of divine worship who 70
snried 1t while undergoing anshIatiou by flames with
anxiety active and intense II It bad been their
Swn home
The fire originated Saturday evening at half past
eleven O'Clock providentalIy only hour after very
large and crowded congregation had been dismissed from
partakng divine service in the small chapel The fire
ragged fearfuy until hslf-past two O'Clock, when the
flames broken by the prOfuse streams that were
hurled in showers from Of steam fire engines.
From that hour the re rapidly aba,ed but smoudered
still among the crushed and blackenod ruins late as
six O'Clock yesterday morning.
The wallis of blue stone have firmly withstood the
flames with the exception OF some slight damages in.
CURED by the falling OF the and roofing number
of facts not yet made public obtained yesterday
from the clergymen of the church.
PROPERTY SAVED PROM THE YlaR
From them it IL ascertaned that all the movable
articles borne out Of the church and saved. All
before the flames could reach them The vestments for
poniincal ceremonies brought by Bishop Bacon, Of
and valued So 600 all saved The chaIices were
all removed in time. Some Of these we're very good
ones, and one Of them especially was decorated with
precious stones They were valued at $1,000
Tho old baptisma font was hauled ont, but
with considerable difficulty, having been tugged
at with the enthusiasm Of Trojans by two citizens
who unable To overcome its inertia, called the
ssance Of number OF Others, and rescued 1t from the
flames much qualification Of all Interested the
nj n "a
because of the many sacred associations which cluster
around IT, during fifty years Of use. All the books or
about i've hundred men, women and children dur
ing the progress of the IRE engaged in bringing out the
movable articles and manifestlne by their zeal and
activity the affection in which the church and its asoc
atoms held by the people connected with it's minis
trati0ns Both the Crosses though made of wood
by strange freak OF the flames saved from material
injury Ono fell down, the stones which IL rested
displaced, and the other still stands, unscoscbed
although both of them completely encrcled with
the cracking fire. This incident recalls similar
that occurred in Philadelphia during the Native Ameri
can riots in 1sss, when t. Aoguslncs church was
destroyed Its architecture OF wood had been burned
and its walls topped into runous heaps the
ground below, with the exception OF small enclosure
OF an eye with the words, And The Lord seeth, y
inscribed below IL, which miraculously
preserved amid the general ruin that surrounded
them 1he altar, which was extensively decorated
was completely destroyed, though its moveable
ornaments consisting Of valuable candcsticts Candida
bras vases &c., were removed in time.
BURIAL vAULrS
Underneath the structure which was enveloped in
flames the winter stock Of coal consisting OF forty tons
placed la fearful proximity to the burial vaults
wherein lie the veneiated remains Of three eminent pre-
laes. The IRE bad made RAPID progress towards this
part OF the building but no ignition OF the coal took
place and disturbance whatever 10 the vaults, the
fremen preventing either by copious streams OF water
HOUSES OPPOSITE.
When the fire first began the wind blue the flames to
wards the houses the opposite side vi Mulberry
street. which intensely heated but drenchad with
water from The steam re engines Even In $ however
won hou hae inc mall udn ot " nd
after the ire shifted little ana carried the
glowing sparks in another direction BY this fortunate
circumsance the sch0h house which had also bcon In
imminent danger saved from total destruction.
PERSONS
the time the flames were rst discovered the sexton
was foand az speedily a possible and the clergyman and
four parshoners immediately proceeded To the roof and
endeavorcd to quench the flames with buckets
OF water. On coming down they fell through
passage, distance OF about twenty feet,
sustaining some injuries. Their names could not
be asceriained They then groped their way through
the smoke, which nearly suiIocated then and finally
succeeded in eItrcating themselves after having loet
their way in the darkness One fireman. alta later hour,
his arm badly injured by the falling Of beam. The
sexton in his haste to the valuables fell down
staircase about fourteen feet and was nearly killed
DESTRUCTION or THE ORGAN
Tie organ which had been used In this church was
very valuable one; more, however account OF the
excellence Of its tone and construction than because of
its mere cost in money IL was nearly new and was
purchased for %, 500 In cash, together with the old
which had Sosn bought many ago for
fire at least $4,000 II was manufactured in thus city
esuMsTkD
II ia estimated that The damage created by the fire will
approximate $40 oOO, against which there insurance
OF SOL 600 10 believed that the old walls strong
enough be RENTED, In which the generosity Of
those interested will not b. appealed TO extent be-
You'd twenty twenty-five thonsand dollars. II Is
peced that the work OF rebuilding will commence almost
Immediately, and be compile ed In Ave or SIX months
The Vicar General, Rev. Father STAIRS pastor Of the
cathedral eIegraphed TO Rev. Dr. hcSweeEy last
ing IRON Baltimore that he would arrive In this city this
Vnis An tu.tta fpvN
future services Of the parish IL proDable that Of
the chapels will be used for time, Of the many
halls in the neghborhood.
FIRE.
Many ann conflicting rumors were in circulation 70
the OF The fire some believing 1t TO have resulted
from the act OF an ncendiary, and others that
was caascd by the explosion Of a yas pipe
in the building But clear and positive EVIL
resulted from The failing Of spark upon the roof OF the
cathedral from the store OF G. a. Gunther A sons An
freshman, whose name could not be asrerained asserted
positively that ne saw the very epark that kndled
name the roof and seeing which he gave the alarm.
and urged that the door Of the building should be bro
uni, ihe sexton could be found This oscnpied half nm
hour during which the flames rapidly spread and gained
such besdway that, Notwithstanding only short time
eapsod before the fire engines secured the struc
ture destroyed. Had the uoors been burst open
there IL bnt little doubt thai the famss would have
eaiiy yielded TO the eors Of those nrst upon the prem
tscs
iS,,n,Nr At rlg BURNING.
~ soon the danger ~ the cathedral known the
Rcv. Irs mullen, Mcguire and Mcsweeny, and Mr. DO
Ian instantly repaired to The interior OF The edidce and
commenced the removal of articles of church wor
Ship which were deposited In the veStry. They
succeeded IN removing two stolcs Two cops
two tabernacles, the chslioes, sx cha sublss.
and other articles and decorations Of the altar whic
engaged IN removing the carpet from the central aisle
the huge chandelier fell very spot which they bed
hut few momenis before occupied. Warned by this
they fed 20 the door, which they had barely reached
when the roof tell With tremendous crash while the
cathedral was burning the of q building No nj
Mott street took TIRE 90 the third door, when young
formerly connected With The volunteer FIRE depart
meDi, arcended the FIRE escape aitsh he'd The house,
and tearing the blinds from The window and removing
the adjacent woodwork, succeeded IN quanchirg the
flames. About tho time the IRE broke out a
seen emerging from the house, and arrested
plcion Ivy an officer OF the Fourteenth precinct,
Crosby strest He will be brought up for examination
to-day. William Mott and Mr. Mcdonnell, two police.
men, - the fourteenth and sixth precincts respect
ivcly We're severely Injured by falling beams, and
conveyed 10 New York Hospital for treatment
usroRy rsTHypRAf.
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