The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-01
CONGREGATIONS IN BROOKLYS.

Destruction OF the Empire Stores by Fire
IIoss Estimated at Nearly a Million and n
Half OF Dollars.
About half four O'Clock yesterday afternoon an
alarm Of IRE was sounded for the First district and
sho Fire Department rendered prompt response.
The scene OF tbs fre proved to be on Water street.
between Main and Dock Streets and made It's FIRST
appearance in the fourth story Of the Empire Stores
In the section known as II. from which point the
smoke issued giving rise to the alarm. The flames
gained rapid Roadway inside the building and soon
the merry tongue SHOT out its confined place OF
origin and speedily proclaimed Its vastating power
sparks new In every direction and the heat was 90
intense on the docks In the front OF the building that
A. was found necessary to tow the vessels which
lined the wharves farther out to prevent their taking
dfo. This service rendered with c0nmendable
energy by the tugboats John Fuller and the 5. f.
Varack, both OF which vessels then attached their
hose to their steam pumps and sent forth telling
stream upon the burning building. But despite all
precautions and the united energies OF the iremen
under the guardianship OF Cher Engineer Cunning
ham and Assistant Engineers Dowd, Corners, Far
hey and Others, the names ragged with undated fury
and soon enseoped section A. Then section q
caught fire, ana IL seemed Tor some time as though
the entire range OF storenouses and other valuable
property along Water street could hardly be saved
from the relentless element The houses on the lat
ter street fronting the burning structures be-
ginning to send 10 tn wreatns OF smoke, and much
care was maniiestly me- essary TO save their ignition.
This was, however, accomplished, and the confia-
grafton was conlned TO the doomed storehouses
named. At about Ave and a half O'Clock
DANES shot upwards to considerable
height and caused = brilliant illumination, which
could be seen Tor miles distant. The h0usetops for
many blocks around were Dlled with men, women
and children upwards OF two hours gazing on the
IRE. Notwithstanding the quantity Of water which
was constantly thrown In and upon the building all
chat remained OF II IN two hours after the fire broke
out were the bare walls Ladders were placed
against these on water street, Tor the purpose OF
throwing them down-a work attended with great
risk TO the gallant men engaged-and about six
O'Clock large portion fell out into Water street
with o great CRASH ami the workers barely escaped
being caught beneath IL. This accomplished much
OF the burning mass Of timbers and other combas-
tbie material came within the mastery OF the men,
who bent nobly 10 their work, sending the water
missing through the nle and gradually gaining upon
It. The fire was cxtinguished about eight O'Clock.
- THE BUILDINGS DESTROYED
were United States bonded warehouses and were
a Sy S Mes Co.. e. o W. ss Baxter being the
running back 2OJ feet TO the river. They well
constructed, being of brick, and four stories In
height Previous to their present occupancy a.
warehouses they had been used oil reflneres and
s IL believed that II parity owing to the fact that
the flooring was satura.eJ with oil that the fire mace
such rapid Roadway. Az near as can be ascertaned
there was about sl00uo 0o worth OF stores In bond
belonging to various New York and Brooklyn firms.
The names Of the losers could not he asceraned last
evening; but Captain Sanford Of the Metropolitan
Insurance Patrol. - OF the opinion that the losses
ever sa docs not think he loss , 50 great - :
tho goods ON storage consisted for the greater
part in palm oil, molasses, gunny bags, gunny cloth,
quantity was removed rom the building under the
Supervision Of captain Sanford and the services OF
The ferryb0at Rosiyn were engaged to remove the
property thus rescued to some other place.
The loss sustained IN the destruction OF the build
lngs Nos. 20 and 81, aad In damage to No. 81 are
estimated at $40,0oo The property Is all fully in
sured.
when the IRE was first discovered one OF the fire.
men, who had mounted 10 the roof OF the bdrning
building, very injudicousy raised the scutte,
thereby admitting current OF air and tanning the
names, which ret forth and soon swept along the
roof and the caves Of the building. To this act In
great measure ID attributed the rapid extension OF
che hre.
No. 66 water street. four story brick building adj
Joining the store houses, occupied as an ofice for
Douglas Wild Cherry Bitters, on the first noor and
BY private families on the upper stories, was dam
aged TO the extent OF $1,000 The occupants removed
fhcr eects TO place Of safety In the early stage OF
The c0nnagration. Assistant Engineer James Con-
nerS was struck on the head and badly injured by
brick which fell ron OH roof He remained on
duty, however. This Is the only accident reported.
Owing to the hour In the evening at which the IRE
broke out and the close proximity OF the scene 70
The Fulton and Catharine ferries, an immense as
sembA4e OF spectators were rapidly gathered, FORM
ing complete mass Of human beings, extending for
blocks around the square bordering the burning
buildings The services Of the police proved invau-
able In preserving order and Keeping the necessary
space open for the Fire Department and apparatus
and In protecting property aong the dock and streets
Inspector Folk and Sergeants cram and Peirce as-
sisted BY squads of police from various precincts,
al n nufv