The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-01
DISASTER.
Destructive Fire In New YOrk-Loss,
Half n Million.

HaIf n Million.
The New York Tribune of this morning
reports the following:-
Yesterday afternoon, at about Al O clock, a
Ere was discovered in the extensive United
States bonded warehouse situated on the East
river, short distance north of the Fulton ferry
house, known as the Empire Stores, and owned
by Messrs. j. Nesmith u Son. The building
bad formerly been occupied as an oil refinery,
and the floors and beams having become thor
oughlY impregnated with oil, made the wood so
highly combustible that the water poured IN
upon the burning pile had but little or no effect.
The first indication Uf the ire was slight
smoke, which was observed by Mr.. Dixon, the
United States Inspector, Issuing from the
cracks of the closed iron shutters of the
second east window OF the upper story. The
alarm was promptly given, but 1t was twenty
minutes before a stream OF water was directed
toward the seat of the confag alton. The origin
Of the fire is unknown. large quantity of
Istle grass was stored in the upper story, and
the fire had deeply penetrated this iniammaole
material before 1t was discovered. The building
was of brick, and four stories in height. 1t
extended from the river front through to Water
street, distance of two hundred feet. and the
FIRE worked its way rapidly through the gunny
cloth and other combustible articles until it
had the mastery Of the eptire upper floor. AT
about 81 O'Clock the flames burst through the
upper roof and soon after the floor fell In,
bulge out and fall. The crater thus opened 10
view was magnificent sight The walls which
separated the Empire stores on either side from
dbuble, RS so0F and the Se'e' french Hs easily prey
vented the flames from spreading.
Meanwhile, those connected with the store
began 10 get out what they could from the
lower story. About two dozen casks OF pal oil
belonging to Colgate Co. were saved, and
also about 100 bags of coffee belonging to De
Castro Co. With these exceptions the entire
contents of the building were destroyed. Tue
buildings and B, which were destroyed, were
owned by Messrs. Nesmith & Son, who are fully
insured. As their contents were for the most
part sured, almost the whole of the loss will
ing is a list of some of the firms having goo Is
stored in the buildng:-De Castro & Co., 5000
bags coffee; Becker q Co 1900 bags coffee.
quantity of jute, aud other articles; Charles
Zuling Il Co., several hundred bales of india
rubber; Bruguiere 4 Thebaud, 125 bales Istle
grass; Richard ThackeraY & Co., 800 bags cof
fee: II. H. Raven, large quantity sugar; Rbou
d Monoz, several hundred bales OF RUBBER
T. I. & f. A. Dwight. sugar; Baindahl q Co., a
quantity of wool. This list is very imperfect,
and it is impossible to state with accuracy the
quantity of the articles mentioned, as several
accounts are kept by the Government officials
connected with the stores, and goods are being
taken out and consigned for storage every day.
The shipping ale ng the docks was towed into
the stream before the fire had made much pro-
gress, and was thus saved from destruction.
Tie fire was still burning among the ruins of the
building at IL o'clock last night. Between the
hours OF and il male beautiful sight for
the passengers on the Brooklyn ferries. 1t is
impossible at present to give more than a rough
estimate of the loss, but 1t can hardly be less
than $500 600.