New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-05-25

One of the most disastrous uItS ludt has w
CURED in this city several years. took place yeser
day by which large steamship pier. tIst-eiass PiO
peer and an immense amount Of freight was desuoJe
and several steamships and smaller craft badly uae
Soon after O'Clock p M flames were discoyereG Pier
Ing from the office OF the Neptune steaisiP yen and
No o. North River. An alarm was at once n uT59mut
the fire department responded IN tne.r aS however
manner 50 rapidly Qua tine IN nS tSs Ground could get
20 work, the greater portion o. the steam
Of the f5SR 9 tor t6e reception Of freight
extending along Wesst nearly 100 iee, front NJ
the GnS and coHrsng rapidly down the long
pier alongside OF which the boats Of inc Of tb FIRE those
y, re noIiee of the Third Precinct stationed IN the
on hurried upon the burning Tans dpoud readily be- T
moved While thus engaged the names burst OutWSTG
from the Office enyelOped the ROOF, ana ran rapidly
across TO the building on the opposite
side, efectualy cutting on Ine escape OF .t Sne
means of exit their condition was critical one FOrtu
natey number OF small 99sts Were saeteG 20 ss
In akng their eseapenone too soon, for in few min
schooner Lochie lying alongside the burning pier was
hauled out by the tug QmStep Just IN time to save her
had been engaged with his comrades saving property
On pier most unaccOuntaby disappeared for ume'
and it was feared st he had been either drowned
burned until after a considerable period Of time
had elapsed did be make hs appearance He had been
engaged with the Of the schooner in aiding 10 cast
her OF from the pier and carried out into the stream
board of her and unable for time TO get on shore
The propeller Oceanus Of the New-York and Provi-
dence line which came In from Providence yesterday
morning at q o'clock and lying on the lower side Of
the PIER took fire before the tugs which had collected in
the vicinity could make fast to her In spite OF every
Interior adding 10 the intense heat, which made 1t
almost impossible TO remain in the vicinity. The sight
OF the burning pier and the immense volumes OF black
smoke which rolled upward, soon attracted to the
spot number oil tugs, among Thorn the seth LOW
John Moore the Quickstep and Others and these were
sfterwad Joined by the Old Colony of the stoning
hanna the CustomhOuse boat and the Police steamboat
Efforts made to induce some Of these tugs to venture
haul out the prOpeers Thets and Mets both belonging
SSp COMPANY the propeller Electra Of the New York and
providence line owned by the same company the prope
named boats lying in the same Slip but alongside OF
Pier No 2S and there great danger of their taking
6oth on fire at the time the danger seemed immi
nent that for time none Of the boats outside would VEN
ture In TO their assistance. One or two at length backed
an lines were thrown ont and made fast and the
Electra somewhat seorched, the Mount Vernon,
and dropped down the stream out Of the reach Of the
flames The Thetis was hauled away from the burning
pier although badly eharred along the side escaped
serious damage The Mets on fire several times but
was finally saved in part by the e1er9ns OF her ocers
board They were ably assisted by Engineer Sullivan
and the remen under ms command lengths Of hose hav
board the steamship where they were used to advan;
tage in playing upon that portion OF the boat on IRE and
The barge Stephens, of New-York living alongside Of
Pier No &C. taken possession of by Engineer Bran
den, notwithstanding the expOstuatOns OF the captain
Of the barge and used with effect TO bring the remen
erful were directed upon the burning mass
Thanks to the exerons Of the nremen under the COM
mand of Engineers Brandon, Sullivan Orr Bates and |
COnley the flames confined TO the Neptune Steam
sP pa S the p& The os Se sae
pany Will amount to about 100000 The pier 800 feet in
length belonged to the Rhneander estate, and was
worth more than S25OOO On this there was insurance Of
but $4,000 In city companies The sheds and build
Eompany. having been erected by it at a cost
Df $4,000. Insured for $4,000 in a Providence |
Entirely reted and refurnshed throughout in the most
elegant She had made but three trips since being
ran be used interior being badly burned out She
worth than 100000 being one of the stanchest
pelers running out Of this port and rated by the
American Loyds The oceanus was Of 400 tons burden
. feet draught and was built IN Van D9sens yard in
best material copper fastened contained two direct
ectng cylinder engines and was 2i5 feet In length by 80
feet in width She contained four bulkheads or water
hight compartments
Hence companies she had on board very heavy load Of
Freight which viii prove almost total loss This
Dement'S iron castings and other miscellaneous articles
and valued at nearly half a million dollars AS this
possible 10 obtain the fun list Of assurances The side
hnd rigging OF the Mes adjoining the burning pier was
badly damaged probably to the extent Of $4,000 par
italy insured The Thets was damaged TO the extent OF
partially hsqTeq 6 Dy hs s1 s sge ME-
s1s very much less than would have been the case on
week day as no freight is received Sunday small
portion OF this got out OF the main entrance but so
rapidly did the flames spread that effort could be
made TO save that further down the pier The books OF
company in the SAFE and were got Out unljured
last evening.
Messrs Duncan & lie Cato. produce commission mer-
chants also had oee adjoining that OF the Steamship
Company had the most Of their stock destroyed pOr
ton was removed In damaged condition; s. f Bogert
Waing. j. H Palmer, and Phlpit Belts all Of whom
produce commission merchants occupying the corner
portion Of the Steamship cOmpanys buildings fronting
Wests, had their stocks considerably damaged By
fire and water.
yers adjoining the fire seriously inteered with the work
sng Of the remen, scarcely any attempt apparently
There from the adjoining precincts and
the small force who attempted TO keep order, in the
hands full Capt Greer, capable officer was un.
fortunately absent; ana; up 70 late hour
the ground Capt Mount Of the Seventeenth Precinct,
assumed command and by his direction the piers were
cleared Of all but those who authorized 10 remain
and the proper fire lines established Soon after the out
reak OF the Are several Of the fremen and marketmen
were engaged In breaking IN the door of one |
were at length successful, and as the door gave |
,sssd forth with an S exposSe ou TsPoF and lame
standing in front had their hair snged and their faces
the crowd but the above Ss m oE ~
casualties that occasion. Later IN the afternoon En-
having fallen upon his head, causing insensibty He
was removed by some comrades and recovered |
JIe received a severe scalp wound.
OF the origin of the fire there seems to be considerable
variety Of opinion The most reasonable statement Il
BhOremen, adjoining the Office on the pier, the
entrance They left the apartment but short time pre-
SiOus the fire. and more than probable that
owing to some act OF carelessness on their part
On the Shad pier Cier No. 26l, the first below the
Oceauus the heat intense, and at times the smoke
and cnders swept in immense volumes the multi
tude From this pier the two engines, Nos and II,
played to good advantage upon the burning steamer,
hnd had been for them the pier would have caught,
md In all probability the HObOken ferry-house
would have burned also. The people, as long
they could get foothOld, gathered on
Sheds ferry-hOuses, posts, balconies. and stores.
The widest rumOrs were flying. One said the fire
caused by boiler bursting board the oceanus. An
other said that several fTemen had been buried under
falling roof. At of the most critical mOments while