The New York herald., 1868-05-25
GREAT FIRE In WEST STREET.


This state Of things was however. ended yesterday
afternoon by the occurrence Of OF the most dis
astrous fires that has taken place In this city
for many months past. 1t appears that about
ten minutes after one O'Clock ito be precise)
yesterday afternoon, as officer Walsh OF the Third
precinct standing the corner OF Robinson and
West streets he perceived two men making violent
efforts to enter the iron gateway leading to the
freight office Of the Neptune Steam Propeller Com
pany, and the watchman Of the pier making just as
violent efforts to give them entrance The officer
over to the place where the men were to ascer-
tain what was going on when he espied what had
caused the excitement among the trio smoke issuing
In dense volumes from the second story Of the COM
pany's Office which is located on the south side Of
the pier. Walsh Immediately started or to give the
alarm, while several other persons broke open the
gateways and went frantically In search Of ladder
by which to reach the windows Of the Office No
ladder could be had, and 30 the men attempted to
scale the sides OF the building, and succeeded by
united effort in getting the roof Of an adjoining
shed, but when there found that they had very
good view Of the smoke, without fame, which was
issuing forth from the windows, but were unable
to do anything toward putting an end to the threat
ening scene as they had been on the street below.
THE ALARM SOUNDED.
In the meantime Walsh had communicated inte-
gence Of what he had seen to the station house In
Chambers street. and soon the alarm sounded on the
air from several towers, and almost simultaneously
down Broadway, from up town and from down
town, the engines thundered along toward Robinson
street. From the time the police officer
and the three men above mentioned had
noticed the smoke curling up out Of the
office top till the engines were on the ground there
had elapsed but two or three minutes; yet in that
brief space Of time the at the Office had vastly
chi hn hat had at frat
forth from crack and crevice in tfu pus las though
some giant proof against sufocation were amusing
himself within with pair OF powerful bellows)
had now become less in volume and clearer In hue,
while vast column Of flame shot high into the air,
with hnumerable branches at It's base, that like so
many serpents twined themselves about the wood
work and ran kissing along the adjoining sheds
with rapidity that was truly appalling. Up higher
went the flames over the Office, while along the
buildings on the pier and down the shed supports
into the freight rooms they chased another until,
as If caught up and carried along by train of pow
der laid for the purpose, they shot over the whole
length Of the covered pier, roaring like whirwind
as they swept on their path OF destruction.
THE ENGINES AT WORK.
The engines that were first upon the ground
quickly unlimbered their hose and the fremen went
to work with will, but as Ill fate would have it the
first hydrants they attempted to make serviceable
could not be induced to work. and so a slight delay
was caused, of which the flames took devastating
advantage. Certain OF the engines endeavored to
draw their water from the river but the tide at
its ebb and two Of the pipes became cogged with
mud and had to be hauled up and laid from differ
ent point OF the river side. The delays caused by
these unlocked for obstacles were but OF moments
duration, however, and when the machines went
fully to work the fire fought at every step for
the mastery, and found in the engines most deter
mined antagonists. While the engineswere arriving
after the other several of the fremen and police
broke through the gateways OF the pier and rushed
down to the vessels laying alongside the bulkheads
to give whatever assistance they could towards saw
ing them. But though they were quick the fire
was quicker than they, and with cracking
whizzing sound, as OF a wind storm tearing through
forest. it swept past them al ong the sides Of
the pier and above them on the roof finally reach
ing the vessels which lay alongside the wharf, and
causing such general scare on the pier OF the Old
Colony line of steamers that the vessels Of that line
were tOwed out into the stream for safety.
NARROW ESCAPE.
O1icers Mcconnell and Shelly were Of this reckless
namesi about them they ran on to where the steam
propeller Oceanus lay and were about to lend help
rs as dawn them diving Them to
the extreme end OF the pier. On the flames swept
still on and the ofacers In moment % were % cut on of
river behind them. There was no time for second
thoughts and so the worthy two scrambled down to
q small boat come to their rescue, when they were
| transferred to an adjoing pier.
The flames had now wrapped themselves about the
freight offices and sheds along West street, from pier
to pier rs and the whole Of pier ~ In ve . hundred
one vast sheet Of fire; while the steam propeller Oce-
anus, lying on the south side OF the pier and the
propeller Metis rocking to and fro as the
burning timbers fell crashing their decks from the
pier roof and the fire in Its madness shot over them
licking up with its many tongues every particle OF
| woodwork that came within its reach. The fremen
worked manfully, and the engines that had been
from the outset Of the fire wheeled on the adjoining
|
| mass but which seemed to have no more erect than
| II the water had been alcohol. Once In while
stream would continue TO pour on one particular spot
and succeed in keeping the flames at bay for second
| but sooner was the stream diverted In another
| and carry all before 1t. The fire had reached its
height in ten minutes after 1t had started on its
| devourng course from the little Office on the shore
end Of the pier and having spent It's strength on the
| pier itself by consuming all that could be burned
peliers oceanus, Thets al. and Metis II was in vain
that the fremen essayed TO get the Oceanus out Of
the reach OF the flames for with the rapidity OF q
end Of the pier, she was wrapped in Its embrace
and almost lost to view In volume OF smoke
powerIess to Contend. As the vessel became
| less and less like vessel, and was quickly being
uasny ans went Down TO
with her upper deck just lifting Its head above the
surface Of The water and giving forth binding vol.
portsoes soVs the s eH shd +. xhe Y % ne
ht part OF tne Vebse was driven away Dy tne rusns
In OF the waters II struggled under decks into the
forecastle and there held high revel for some tme
regardless Of the streams Of water that were poured
In upon 1t by the engines the piers and the four
streams from the police boat Metropolitan under
command o Sergeant Kelly and roundsman Doyle
when finally the engines had confined II to the mar
rowest part OF the forecaste, the flames burst
forth through the poriholes, sending forth
from each outlet an arm Of fire full six feet In
length, which, coming In contact with the water OF
the river, caused kissing sound like that made by
water pouring into red hot vessels. Even out OF this
stronghold the fire was at last driven but not before
IL had done all its work and totally destroyed the
vessel. While the Oceanus was burning the Metis
and Thetis were, as has been before mentioned
tSe streayn and thus escaned serious damage and
the Thetis being closer to the pier, was burnt CON-
pleely out side before the names could be ex
tingulshed. The propeller Electra lay on eside or
the pier during the fire. but she was towed into the
andfh 70 iiad dan undo a