The New York herald., 1869-09-02
EXTENSIVE CONFEDERATION.

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Destruction Of a Block Of Buildings In Grand
and Tompkins strects-Loss $35,OOO-How
1t Originated.
Tnenre alarm sounding at four O'Clock yesterday
evening from all the towers in the lower part Of the
city apprised the watchfu enemies of the destructive
element that more than ordinary attack was being
made on property, not on life. The ready engines
swept through the streets to the spot indicated the
horses bounding under the lash Of the drivers whip
The signals indicated Grand street az the scene of
operations and the repeated rlngings told Of an ex
teusive connagration. The first engine arrv-
ing in the neighborhood was ct once
placed in position by the in charge and the hose
being attached to the hydrant began play At this
time there seemed to be little TO Justify the double
alarm, but an examination Of the premises connect
ing with the particular place where the flames were
then starting out revealed the alarming fact that fire
had taken firm hold Of several buildings and was
creeping slowly and steahuy toward the rear Of the
block Of houses at the corner OF Tompkns and Grand
streets Some few seconds after the arrival Of the
first steamer. large force Of remen, with their en-
gines In full working order, and q heavy detail Of
police under Cap tain Bennett were on the ground.
Under the concentrated efforts OF the engines
the fire dipped from view for a moment
ana dense cloud Of smoke filled the air, covering
the scene OF the disaster and the people standing
around the nery engines. The check was but mo-
mentary, however Forked flames OF angry red
burst through the canopy Of smoke and illuminated
the scene Of devastation. The extent Of the re and
the imminence Of the danger were then seen and the
locality was properly noted.
Al the corner OF TOmpkins and Grand streets ID
the wood yard Of Russell 4 Johnson, lumber mer-
chants IL extends from BroOme very nearly to
Grand street and far back from Tompkins street. A
pile OF lumber was placed In the farthest part OF
the yard and close to the rear OF the houses nankng
Nron dcfr
OF sse ssrd relatively houses IN its
hood that should conagration occur In the former
those houses ana the entire nelghborhood would be
exposed to serious peril. Fortunately these houses
fortunately still, the fire in the wood yard occurred
In broad daylight else there might have been loss
Of NE as well as as property % TOD to depore; ,s - -,
children were playing In the lumber yard OF Mr..
Johnson ABOUT fifty yards from the once, which
was at the corner Of Broome and Tompkins streets.
Totally unconscious OF the danger OF their acts they
continued to play, making fires OF shavngs with
lighted matches % ana a standing n%tas, 1y to see
for some time, and then it was too late. The shaw
mgs had caught the wood lying about in small
rushed across the yard. licking up with ITS red
tongue all the debris In Its way until 1t reached
pile Of timber, which was soon In flames, and In
few moments the whole yard was sea OF fire. Jets
OF water in such raging furnace were unavating
on 1t rushed, roaring over everything lnnamInable
and then the walls OF the houses in Grand street
began to show signs Of distress. The private house
OF Mr. Clarke, No. Franklin street. fell
before the onset Of the flames before the Grand
followed suit. The efforts OF the fremen were
unavailing at the early part Of the contest
story building No. 6O2 Grand street was speedily and
entirely destroyed; the frame house No. 600 also
succImbed No; essh was was rendered nnlnhabta6s
and No. 596 had its roof burned of. When all the
houses within reach Of the flames and IN the direc
tion of their had fallen had been secured
against further DAMAGE ATTEMPT WAS m0ue 10
estimate the amount of damage sustained but until
the fire Is entirely out it Will be difficult to form any
proper idea OF the loss to ascertain the amount Of
insurance and the names OF the offices interested.
The following, however, may be relied on as nearly
Mr.. Clarke, with whom were in possession Of
the dwelling house No. TOmpkins street Messrs.
Donney, Brown, Fisher and Downing, suffers los loss
500, sos, 900 and COZ Grand street there Is loss
amounting to large amount. These houses to-
gether with No. Tompkins street, are part Of the
Ketteltas estate. The latter were occupied by the
following persons:-No. 500 by Ellery Ii. McCartin,
on the first aoor as paint shop insured loss M rn,
Loveand as dwelling; no insurance: damage un.
known. No. sos, occupied by Rudolph Demund as
barber shop on first floor; insured for 81, 100; loss
unknown. Second floor, occupied by John RAT as q
dwelling; no insurance; loss unknown. No. 5esH,
occupied by Louis wertheimer as shot store on
first floor, insured for $600 loss about $500.
known. No. ooo-Charles schilscher, lager beer
not estimated. George skinner, confectioner and
liquor dealer, who also occupied part Of the latter
building sustained heavy loss but IL insured Tor
pied ny Patrick Kelly as dwelling; loss $500, nc
insurance. George Whalen, on the third no0r
suffers 5000 damage to furniture. No. 6O1
Henry Waller, on same noOr, cigar dealer
Insured In the sum Of S2200. The second
not known; not insured; also BY Ars. Baker in In
sured In the sum OF $500, loss not estimated. The
third noor occupied by Thomas Glass, is insured 10
S3OOs Dut the amount OF DAMAGE Ia not known.
While we are going to press the nre II still burn
ing, but al danger OF further loss is past The neigh
porhood OF Grand and Tompkins streets 10 stll envel
oped in SMOKE and the debris OF the wreck Of th'
several houses litter the streets. The total loss
vaguely estimated at $26 0O0 but Il 10 feared that
will exceed that amount, The 1remen worked Will
commendable energy, and happily no lives were lost
Fire In William Street.
Between 1--WE and six O'Clock last evening FIR
occurred from some unknown cause at No. 10 Nortl