The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-13
G r AT FIR e.

One of tho Largest Dry Goods Stores ON
broadway Burned TO the Ground--Other
Property DamaGed-Less Estimated nj
Sl,5OO.OOO-The Insurance Companies In
terested. Sc.
The large dry goods store Of 8 B. Chittenden Co.,
at Nos $40 and as Broadway, the southeast corner
Of Leonard street. completely destroyed by Ore yes-
terday morning. together with all its valuable contents,
which consisted Of extensive assortment OF foreign
and domestic goods The fire is supposed 70 have ogs-
mated In the where the boilers for heating the
building were kept. II was first discovered at hte
after FIVE o'clock when the entire structure was envel
oped in thick, black smoke which issued from every
crevice Of the doors and windows. The alarm was
given and number of engines were promptly In attend
ance. Considerable delay ensued In thawing the ice
from the plugs and still greater delay in gaining an &C
the Of the building which was obtained
at last only by breaking with Iaborous effort through
the iron sliding doors and through the windows and
shutters.
OUTBREAK FLAMES
For nearly hour the smoke continued to issue in in
creasng volumes which at times completely hid the
store from view, aud, whired in flaming columns
by stiff breeze darkened the sky above and the
streets below. About six O'Clock the flames began to
burst forth from the basement on Leonard street,
and gradually spreading, the building was soon
completely envcloped and ablaze. considerable
amount of goods rescued from destruction on the
first floor but the Are advanced with surprising rapidy,
the wind eddying about the building and tanning the
flames into intense heat which greatly jeopardized the
surrounding buildings, the window panes swapping into
fragments, and the ss corniccs curtains and other
niammablc material igniting and readily charring.
Large pieces OF flaming timber VIII red high into
the and thrown blazing the surrounding buildings,
on which, however the 6remen and others were busy
eff m
ing OF the flames.
TIE FALLING or Tux walls.
Shortly after six o'clock the roof ard floors fell in
with a terrific crash The northern wall then began to
outwards and tumbcd on the street below with
fearful shock. The flames within. blown by the winds,
then roared and iCkered with the intensity Of fur
The wall finally toppled over aud fell crum
bling to the ground The sidewalk IN front Of tho store
then fell to the deep cellar below and the flames came
bursting out in wild and lurid fury, but the copous
streams Of water from dozen engines began to
percept bly, the progress OF the fire. The roof
OF the opposite In Leonard street. scorched
aud charred and finally gned but the tin sheetng was
torn oil and the flames speedily extngushed. The
front wall which is strongly supported by SIX
pillars and the adjoining wall TO The souh still stand,
though me iron columns Dclow wn'ch SUSTAIN mem are
thrown down. In the brief space OF two hours the on
tire structure, with its full contents OF costly maes
reduced 10 shapeless mass or ruins. The entire
loss roughly estimated AT something over 81 000
which is nearly covered by insurance.
ORIGIN or THE FIRE
From such information could be learned from the
Fire Marshai II app that whom first discovered the
on Corandt alley side and fra che vicinity Of where
the steam boiler Is located under Me alley AT this
part Of the building, however there was dumb waiter;
and L. Is up this opeang that the Ire Is supposed 70
have spread rapidy-psrra not moro than half an
had elapsed after the dis Of the fire before
the flames werc bursting forth from tho windows
story II customary for or the Junior members
OF the firm TO visit all parts OF the biding every night
Just before closing: and this inspection was made on
hondas night Usual and everything arpesrSdto TO
all right slA (
Some years since, and before the building was occa
H. tINAr nr
lire from this building caused in consequence o. the
coal tho boiler taking fire from the heat In what
particular manner this hro occurred Is at present only
conjecture but from the great Roadway the fire was
under when discovered Il m believed to have been
smouldering all night
cn.rTESDEx c.. q LcssFs ABOUT 100000.
The whole building occupied by B. Chittendcn
Co.. importers aud obbcrs Of dry goods Thor entire
stock destroyed, and estimated In value at 10
tween $500 900 and 5000 900 their insurance, which
city and out Of town companies Is about 800 900
less than the amount or loss.
The following complete list Of tie insurance on