The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-22
All Efforts at Extinction
Unavailable.
Dto.. ETC.. Eto.. Etc.. Eto.
From Me Ne,o York Papers of 7o.dav.

From The Ne,o York Papers of To-day.
Shortly before IL o'clock last night fire was
discovered in the basement OF the Academy of
Music, fronting on Irving Place. The perform
ance had been closed out short time and
number of persons attached to the theatre were
still in the building. An effort was made by
those present TO subdue the flames, but without
avail, as 1t was evident the five was visible in
several places at the same time, which at once
led 10 the belief that the fire was the work of
design. ... ..
The alarm was promptly given, the fremen
quickly reported, and several powerful streams
were taken into the front OF the buildings; but
it was soon found impossible to remain as the
smoke poured out in such density as to nearly
sutiocate those within its range. In less than
fifteen minutes after the first alarm, the flames
were seen gushing out of the upper windows and
cornices. Engineer Kingsland, finding it was
onlyswasting water to throw it on the theatre at
once directed his force to the preservation of
the adjoining buildings. Streams were applied
to the front OF Grace Chapel. on Fourteenth
street. and to the dwellings adjoining; also TO
the,dwellings opposite on Irving place.
The BODY of heat and burning wood took its
course eastward, setting fire to the Medical Col.
lege. next to the theatre, aud the piano-forte
manufactory of lime q Son. The burning sparks
also fell on the roof ofWorcester's pianoforte fac
tory, northeast corner OF Third avenue and Four
teenth street. setting that building on fire. At
halt-past o'clock only the walls of the Academy
were standing, the whole of the interior having
BET n consumed
When the flames burst through the roof the
sky IN the vicinity was Illuminated, and one
very remarkable feature, large number of
small birds were flying around, the glare of
light having drawn them from the trees in
Union Square. The bright light shining on
them, as they hovered and danced around gave
them the appearance of canary BIRDS Every
now and then one poor little fellow would ap-
proach too near and disappear in the flames.
About halt-past one O'Clock the wind fresh
ened considerably from the west, communicate
ing the fire, by means of burning timber, to the
Dutch Reformed Church, ON Fifteenth street,
which was entirely demolished.
officer Van Ranst, OF the Eighth precinct
while endeavoring to remove some of the
church valuabes, was crushed by the falling
ceiling and seriously, though, it is supposed,
not fatally injured. He was conveyed to the
private residence No. 1873 Fifteenth street, and
properly cared for.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
The Academy of Music lel a victim to the
devourng element about II O'Clock last night
together with the Medical College and the ex.
tens1Ve piano mandatory of lime & Son, corner
of Fourteenth street and Third avenue, and
several dwellings on Third avenue. About a
quarter before twelve fire was discovered in the
basement in the front portion of the building
when the police Immediately gave the alarm to
Hook and Ladder Company No. g. lying in West
Thirteenth street, and the alarm signal No. 43
immediately sounded. On the arrival of the
above company the whole lower portion of the
front part was enVeloped in Aames An attempt
was made to prevent its extending up the stair
way, but owing to large quantity OF combusti-
BILE material being stored IN one of the lower
rooms 1t could not be arrested, and the flames
soon drove the fremen.
In the meantime several streams were brought
TO bear on the rear portion of the building, but
IT was but few moments when il was found
impossible to save the building. Quite a large
NUMBER OF hremen were in the building, to-
9ether with several civilians Who were engaged
IN carrying out the wardrobes and other arti-
cles that could be conveyed by hand. All of a
sudden dense mass OF flames shot I'D in the
front portion, cutting off all escape of those
within the building by the front way, and drove
those IN 'front.' out into the street. Several sue
ceeded IN making to the rear of the building,
but here some OF them we're cut off by the smoke
and suffocated. Among the number known as
missing at present is the Foreman OF Engine |
members named Welsh. There is not shadow |
OF doubt but that five or six lives have been lost
In the short space of thirty minutes the whole |
building was massive sheet of flames, illuml- |
mating the city and vicinity for miles. A strong |
northwest wind blowing at the time, the fire |
soon communicated TO the Medical College, ad- |
joining, on East Fourteenth street which was |
also soon in flames. Chief Engineer Kingsland |
finding that his force was inadequate TO arrest |
its progress, caused a second alarm to be rung
which soon brought an extla force of engines,
BY one o'clock the fire had communicated TO |
the large piano manutactory of lime Il Sons, on |
the corner of Third avenue and Fourteenth |
street. This building was fast being DESTROYED |
as our reporter left the scene The first floor on
the corner was occupied as ladies' and gentle |
mems dlning-saloon.
The fire also extended to Nos 1872 and I24 |
Third avenue, a one-story building occupied by |
Charles Kretz as a lager-beer saloon, and Ed. |
ward Hunt as pork store. No. l26 was also |
in flames; the building was occupied by j. fl. |
Green, on the first floor, as an upholsterer, and |
the upper portion by several families. The |
buildings No. l2S and 100 were also on fire, |
and the flames finally crossed Third avenue to |
the piano factory on the northeast corner of |
Fourteenth street, and to the buildings ad-
joining. |
On the south side of East Fourteenth street |
the fremen turned their entire attention to |
saving the buildings among them Grace |
Chapel and the New York Circus, which at 2 |
O'Clock seemed out of danger.
Great tear was entertained for the Manhattan |
Gas CVmpaDy's house, on the corner Vt Irving ]