The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-23


at the corner of Third Avenue This building was
wrapped in fire in incredibly short space Of time
Before could suppose that the fiery element had
fairly mastered 1t, the walls began to fall: one
portion went outward into the street, and another
fell back into the huring OF rims The spectacle
this time was ssblme and be adequately dc.
scribed From Irving place to Third avenue one sheet
of fire swept along The flames from the burning liquor
in Frazer's restaurant ran ske n Third
Above the ere smoke waved high over the
surrounding houses Illuminating the ichurch stecples in
the viciry making the whole light day.
Meantime the Are had worked itself along TO
Fifteenth street, wrapping around the spre Of
the Dutch Reformed church, and twining up from
the roof to the point of the steeplc like
a fiery corkscrew, consuming the timber until the
frame stood like piece of wicker work. all agow and,
crun.bng into red ashes fell without sound into
the consuming ruins beneath
For miles around the glare OF the connagvation was
visible From the farthest part Of Staten Island the
catastrophe plainly visible, and viewed through
telescopes by many spectators In point of effect and
magnihccnce, apart altogether from its destructive
sequences have had such FIRE in the metropolis
for many year.
ORIGIN AND DISCOVERY OF FIRE.
II has been pretty clearly proven that the fire broke
among quantity of empty boxes in the basement,
the north side of the stage, directly under the first
tier and adjoining the rubbish room When and by
whom the Fame was klndled is still mystery. The
boxes were such as are used by operatic troupes
TO carry their wardrobes when travelling and were
about twenty twenty-five in number. Soon after
the closing Of house and the extnguishing Of the
lights Eugene pccticr the wardrobe keeper proceeded
as usual look under the with lantern Az he
returned his of inspection towards the stage
he mel Mr. Graham the ASSISTANT gas man, who asked
him "what he raising sich dust for? Mr.. Pee-
tier rcpI that he doing nothing Of kind and had
made the remark when Mr.. Graham exclaimed
that he smelt smoke The two men Instantly ran TO
see whence proceeded, and going below found the
whole place flames Mr. Pelcter at once ran out into
the street nd gave the ALARM while Graham got the
small hose work Every effort made 10 arrest the
progress Of the nre bat all oxcrons were unavainc
and tho employees finally compelled to retreat 10
avoid imperilling their own lives Mr. Pcllc,cr
ceedcd, however in r"scuing Mr KngslapG's private
desk which contained all his valuable papers aud like
ness OF Mr. Phaen the first President OF the Academy Of
6csic.
Enter a THE BUILDING.
1l, Jams~ Tinmon,v, ex-forcman Of Hook and Ladder
camrsnr No : gss ong tho FIRST to enter the build
ig j. -r7.ss TIA be lace nled with dense smoke
ld ha on opening s.cormg on the north SIDE nes-
the stage jet Of aae. shot upward showing that the
whole place below on FIRE. Asream vas then brought
bot no headway coali 70 made, and the fremen
soon had retreat ,r ,immoney then descended the
stairway leading to N barroom, where, with some
ass SAINTS he broke oper ~ door The whole ceiling
was discovered TO be Oh ar, aud shortly after, while
Mr rimmoney in company with ten or twelve other
volunteers the explosion took place In second almost
the whole house black with smoke, and IL was with
tho greatest dcuy that the escaped by passing up
tn stairway. As they were leaving they could hear
their comrades call for assistance Mr. Timmony, being
familiar with the building told them TO break through
the windows at the 'front.' and soon as he reached the
street he procured aud broke away the iron soop
By this prompt action many valuable lives were saved
EscArF OF THE JASIroR's FAMILY.
Meanwhile the flames making rapid Roadway,
and Mr. Rulman's family sleeping in portion o.
the building They were reused from sleep
us, in time to ssve them frora awful death. Half
dressed they arredlfrom their rooms which were
nned with IRE and smoke after they reached the
street.
FIRST EFroRTs.
when The Gre nrst broke out u was ryposrd that Il
| could be extngushed by the hydran, within
the building The small hose accordingly attached
10 the water pipes sud less than three lines we're
promptly extended 10 the point whereat the FIRE orgi-
mated u that none Of the streams could bear
| upon the flames On the arrival Of the aremen Hook
I
street, and running tender, stretched in hydrani
stream under direction OF Engineer Sullivan, who
was in the immediate neigh borhood the time Of the
occurrence but the force OF water from the street by
dram. being insufficient they could accomplish little or
| no rood Soon after Engine Company No came on
the ground and got line In on the rear while Engine
COMPANIES Nos IL and IL duty at the from, or
main cuirancs. Al this time the Are had gained
,riainr hcadway snd number Of afcmcn and
employees the building bused themselves Ia removing
surh ARTICLES az they could lay hands upon. Several
| Of the nremen forced their way into tho base
ment or lower door many Of them subsequently narrow
escaping death The pipe Of Engine Company No Il
was stretched nearly the middle Of The parlue and
| was manned by John y. Denim and Hugh Kiltson
privaies who were about rstreang ~h the pipe vher
the gas exploded R,ttson thrown OF his feet and
hurled against OF The columns but ress ming his bal
ance he caught hold OF the hose and, crawling upon hi
hands aud knse succeeded In reaching the front Of To-
building At the time % he explosion ths IRE burs
through the flooring separating the fugitives from III
main entrance, and Kitson compelled 70 cut hi
, way through the flames TO escape DENIM who ap
pears wa more scnousy injured By the explosion,
thrown upon his back, but jumping 10 has feet ann
, The excitement ran for the irnain doorway, when
sheet OF fame rose before him aud drove him bsc
into the boxes Seeing his perions position he cam
, 70 A desperate resolve. and literally sprang throug
. u,s Gre HIS face aud hands we're burned 10 such a.
\ extent that tho unfortunate man had 70 be al one
conveyed 10 the New York Hospital fof surgical treat
J, ! ment Previous TO ths, however, The poor felo"
after escaping from the building had Wandefe
aovp Fourth avenue and was finally picked up by som
strangers who guided him TO The engine house Here D.
,presrance was gladly hailed the nnding Of bic h'
,.,r the doorway had for long time given bis friend
4 10 suppose that ho had persisted In the flames khtso
,.,.. a., a. N. passed ont OF the building he saw