The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-10-09
81. Patrick.s Cathedral DESTROYED.

81. Patrick's Cathedral DESTROYED.
The fire at G. @. Gunther q Sons was un.
fortunately not confined TO their building, as
the sparks from it alighted on the roof Of
the st. Patrick's Cathedral, on Mott and
Mulberry streets, near Prince. Owing to
the difficulty the fremcn experienced in
reaching the locality the flames quickly
spread, and in a very short period the roof
was one mass Of fame, illuminating the sur
rounding streets, and casting dazzling
glare on the buildings in the immediate VI
cnity. The flames ran along the roof, en-.
crcling it with halo Of light, and thence
descended to the lower part of the building
The sight was then terribly magnificent In
the extreme The interior of the church
was in mass of roaring fame; the beautiful
stained glass windows shone with unnatural
brllliancy as If some great festival was being
held within; altar, organ pipes, paintings and
all the pomp and splendor Of the cathedral
of the American metropolis were lighted up
with an illumination such as never before
was dreamed of there, and ever and anon
the crash of falling timbers and the fierce
roar OF the contiagration mingled with the
Kissing water poured on it from the steam
N"Shi'S anu tut 'litS VI tit uTtUltI US IneN
struggled TO obtain an entrance. The cross
on the wall fronting Mulberry street seemed
like the cross that beckoned Constantine on
to victory, or that of ST. Peters during HOLY
Week. The flames played around it, be-
meath it and above it, wreathing it with a
fiery halo and revealing distinctly every line
and carving on it.
The wooden towers on Mott street soon
fell in; the flames caught new life from their
wreck, and leaped higher than ever. Showers
of sparks filed the air, and drifted along the
streets like falling stars making the vast
crowd shrink back as the blazing fragments
fell at their feet Writhing like serpents
between the pipes of the organ, playing along
its keys in mockery of the fate to which thew
were subjected, the flames reduced to mass
of cinders one Of the nobest institutions in
New York. Again they danced above the
grand high altar, and it crumbled beneath
them. So unusual was the origin and so
sudden the destruction that but few people
but those in the immediate vicinity knew of
the fire.
few individuals connected with the
church. observing the fire, climbed up mar
row stairway in the belfry, which allowed the
ascent Of hut one at a time upon the roof.
and at the risk Of their lives attempted to
eXtinguSh the incipient confagration with
buckets Of water. Their efforts were of no
avail Half an hour afterwards portion of
the Fire Department arrived upon the scene,
but the roof was tLen a mass Of flames, and
it was apparent that the destruction of the
old Cathedral of the Province of New York
was inevitable.
Great efforts were made by the clergy.
teachers and officers of the church, aided by
the Pensioners, to save the sacred vessels
and vestments. These were of considerable
value, being worth not less than S2O, 900.
One set of vestments saved were brought
from Paris by the Archbishop, and were
worth about three thousand dollars. To the
Catholics of this city this old church is en-
deared by many sacred memories, not the
least OF which is the circumstance Of its con-
tanning the remains of the late lamented
Archbishop Hughes. Besides this, il con-
tanned the remains Of the Right Rev. Drs.
Concanen, Connolly and Dubois Great efforts
were made by the department to preserve
the tombs of these departed prelates, and it
was hoped their efforts would be successful.
Many fine frcscoes, works of American and
foreign artists, were necessarily destroyed,
and very fine painting OF the Crucifction,
by an American artist. The pulpit is said to
have been one of the finest IN America. and
tle saCrlsly, IL Is Salu, would mold more
clergymen than that Of any church in the
United States. The church itself, it is esti-
mated, would seat about three thousand peo-
pie.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
St. Patrcks cathedral was built in the
year 1911 by Bishop Dubois, being the Sec
ond church built in this city. Archbishop
Hughes made considerable additions to it in
1888. 1t was one of the old landmarks of
New York, and endeared by many recol-
lections. Besides containing the remains of
three bishops and one archbishop, it has been
witnessed the conservation of many others.
There were very many splendid frescoes and
paintings by American and foreign artists,
the archepscopal throne valued at $500,
and otter valuable works completely de-
stroyed. Fortunately the archieves of the
church not being kept in it were thus
saved.
Archbishop McClosky and Father STAIRS
were both absent from the city, having left
for Baltimore TO attend the Plenary Council
They were at once telegraphed to about the
sad event At two o'clock this morning the
fire had considerably lessened in fury and
now nothing remains OF the venerable, stately
and revered cathedral but blackened walls
and slnoldering ruins. The insurance on the
church amounts to $4,000, mostly in the
Bowery Insurance Company.-N. \. Her
uId In