New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-10-18
gqlp Orleans 9ailg GEestent.
thursday MORNING, OCTOBER IS, 1896.
The Great rIre at New Work.
DESTRUCTION OF ST. rArn1ck's CATHEDRAL.

The New York World, speaking Of the great fire
which resulted in the entire destruction of St.
Ratrick's Cathedral III that city, says:
THE CATHEDRAL BURNT.
AS the vast crowd and breathess hosts arrived
at the Mott street wall of the cathedral yard they
were brought to stand by far greater CON
course of men, women aud children who hIocked
up every avenue to the church to such degree
that, without tue aid of posse of police even the
engines were unable to reach the hydrants in the
vicinity. The rumor spread by the terrified trus
tee was true, the church was on fire but not in
flames.
The sparks from the Broadway fire fell thick
and last on the crisp shingle roof, yet only here
and there was visible little Pickering fame car
r1ed by half extDguished cinders, each of which
the unceaslng wind itself blew out as the flame
OF wax taper would be blown out by sudden
current Of air. The crowd was confident, and yet
notso not So The thousands Of Catholics of the neigh
borhood, to whom the old editice was as an old
nome, where their weary souls find rest when
overwhelmed with the cares and strifes Of worldly
doings, were present, and the idea of their good
old resting place taking fire like an ordinary
building seemed out of the question entirely.
Their confidence was misplaced, and their pious
CALCULATIONS that it might be spared, even if it
could burn as quickly as a tenement house, were
soon turned to cries Of despair and anguish A
sudden strong gust of wind carried a little cnder
in the air over the heads of the crowd and landed
1t on the railing Of the roof of the sacred edifce,
on the sOutherly side. Another and another and
still another flew over the other buildings and
landed on the roof n different localities. In
another moment light flame arose where every
cinder had dropped, and cry Of terror arose
from the crowd.
A TERRIBLE SCENE
here ensued. The vast crowd, overcome with ex-
citement, and bent saving the edice at all
cost, without calculating chances, rushed in
body towards the church gates. Over the walls
into the yard, over the graves the chains at
the entrance went hundreds, pell NELL to the very
walls Of the church itself. The crowd without
were fearfully excited, and yelled mady for the
engines which with their usual inactivity, had not
as yet got ready to work AS the cindersfel faster
on the roof and the Pickering flames grew stronger
on all sides, Mr.. Hart, the junior sexton of the
church, and several parishioners appeared on the
roof with buckets of water, with which they en-
deaT0r6d to eXtinguish the incpent flames.
The crowd Cheered loudly, and the spark traces
began to grow leas as Hart and his associates
threw the contents of bucket after bucket on the
roof which they drew from twenty gallon keg
they had hauled up to them. But the water ran
out, aud the flames began to crackle and hiss, and
in another moment the daring men were forced to
beat a retreat below. The little tongue like
chickering's on the ratings now joined into one
grand fame, with branches rising over the roof
like fre-spakes. A cry of rage went up from the
crowd. The engines got to work, and heavy
streams Of water were dashed against the big
roof but all to no purpose. The fire had gained
headway, and the moment when the building
could have been saved had passed. The scene as
the fire grew in intensity was one which will not
The flames ran around the rangs up the roof
sides, until they had covered the entire upper part
Of the ediice, when they shotu up in the air, light
ing up the surrounding streets everywhere. The
women, and even some Of the men in the crowd,
who, perhaps, had been christened and married
in the old pile and loved it as we all love those
things which, when once they are lost can never
be replaced, wept bitterly at the sight. Strong
men looked pale and laughed at their wives' ejacu-
lati0ns while their own breasts heaved with sup
pressed emotions, and as the flames burst forth in
all their fiery intensity, the pale faces Of the hun
dreds crOuched tremblingly in the nearby ten.
ement houses. showed the falling tear trickng
down to the quivering lip. Oh, if all the churches
were loved as this old temple of God
INSIDE THE CATHEDRAL
while these scenes were passing outside, all was
commotion. The gates were forced open by the
trustees and the crowd, half frenzied with the eX
citement OF the occasion, yet instinctly knowing
that they were doing right, they tore up the
copels, seized hold Of the pictures, candelebras,
candlesticks, and hurried out Of the building to
to the pastors residence. All of the sacred yes
sells and the holy sacrament were saved by priests
of the church, who acted with great bravery dur
ing the whole time the building was burning and
even entered the edihce in search of the vessels
after the roof had begun TO fall through, At
midnight the fire had consumed the entire wood.
work and interior Of the structure.
THE RUNs-TuE cRowDs-THE CROSS.
The ruins yesterday presented a feature Of
destruction rarely seen. Standing at any point
lively slender appearance of the columns being
but trfing obstruction, along with the adjoining
low houses, to admit the vision of the spectator
from Prince to Houston. A large portion of the
crowd assembled to witness the burning while i
was yet in progress remained till daylight, ant
during the entire day yesterday the multitude O
spectators would have numbered hundred
thousand.
A force of police were stationed around the
church yard It being feared that the walls nigh
fall at auymoment. Looking at the ruins, and
remembering the appearance OF the place but two
days before it seemed too difficult to realize tina
so great work of destruction could have beer
performed in so short space OF time. One 0
the features of the after scenes of the conaagra
ton is the at the westerly end of the church
The fire consumed it to the cross-piece, reducing
the lower part to the circumference Of a hamme
handle, while the broad golden top remains un
touched, and reflects the sun as brightly as ever
Work on
THE CATHEDRAL
was commenced in 1911, and was not complete
until lSl7, when it was opened with great POM
and ceremony. New York had no bishop at til
time it was opened, although Bishop Culcanno
had been appointed by the pope short time be
fore to preside over the diocese, but never live
to see the city. he having died before reachin
this country. Bishop Dubois, Archbishop Hughe
and Bishop McClosky, have each in turn oficiate
in the cathedral. It was discovered on fire thre
different times at three different periods since ii
erection, and was for that cause confidently locke
upon by some as proof against fire. In 1888
Bishop Hughes enlarged the edlhce, by addln
that part which was of late the westerly end, col
tanning the altar, vestry etc. 1t was capable
seating three thousand persons and was ever col
eidered by the Catholics as one of the most a
tractive landmarks of Catholicity, it being tt
second oldest Catholic church in the metropoli
EXCITEMENT AMONG THE ROMAN CATHOLICS
SUNDAY.
The scene of the great confagration was visitt
yesterday by vast crowds of sympathizng sigh
eeers, who filled the streets in the vicinity,
eagerly scanning the ruins aud discussing IL
probabilities of the rebuilding Of the cathedrt
The policemen on duty about the ruins were bu
Unemployed all day in keeping the vast crow
moving, and protecting them from the acciden
arising from falling stones and other missiles. II
ruins of this once noble ediice are the great poi
of attraction to the concourse of idlers and sigf
seers who locled to the spot from all parts of t
city. The roof of the structure is entirely burn
off and the interior is all destroyed, leaving not
ing but the bare walls standing.
A portion Of the wall on the Mott street fro
has fallen in, and there is great danger of 9th
portions of the edifce sharing like fate 4
gildcd cross surmounting the elevation on
Mulberry street side is still standing, though in
precarious condition, and brisk breeze m
bring it down at any moment. The loss by t
fire at the Cathedral is very heavy. Shel
pna of thn trnstapg Oft the il