The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-10
Origin Of the COnfIagratiOn...s ,cnnos.d In.
cendiarism,
General scaler, New York end Morrisania
firemen and the Fire Steam
er to the, Rescue.
Full Account Of the Losses and In.
surznce liabilities.

HERALD OF Yesterday as having broken out In
Yonkefs al an early hour in the morning proved a
far greater calamity TO many citizens OF that village
than was,a one time supposed to be possible. In
deed, so fierce and ungovernable was the devouring
element during IT'S progress that the citizens became
thoroughly alarmed lest the entire village should be
destroyed and in their terror mplored aid from the
metropolitan Fire Department.
DISCOVERY OF THE FIRE.
At forty minutes past twelve O'Clock yesterday
morning, ana while the stiffness of a Sabbath night
yet fingered around slumberiDg population,
rOundsman Austin, OF the Yonkers police, while
patroiling on Main street, discovered volumes Of
name and smoke issuing from the neighborhood OF
Dock street. He Immediately gave the alarm rap
and then fastened to the station house IN order
thai the men of duty might be aroused, and at once
o uun,oer OF police, with Sergeant Flandreau at
their head, ran to the spot from which the names
were Issuing, and found II TO be wagon
shed, owned by Messrs. J. l.. Parsons
Il Co, and situated directly in the rear
ofthe lumber yard OF that firm, on Dock street.
lfe supposed, an incendary applied the torch,
inviting spot could hardly present itself for the
neldsh act, the shed being surrounded by lumber
ysrds carpenter shops stables and other frame
,bnldings, all composed of mhammable material, and
IN SUCH proximity to each other that the destruc
dlon OF carry with 1t the ruin Of all in It's
neighborhood On seeing the fire make such rapid
Roadway the police first turned their attention an
adjoining stable and breaking open the doors of this,
led QUE number Oh horses which it contained.
the property of Ackert d quick by this time the
TIRE be,ls OF the village had commenced ringing and
number OF citizens had fastened from their beds
to the sceae OF the fire. Seeing that the premises
OF Ackert Quick were already being Tapped by the
flames, t6e police, who were aided by The citizens,
broke in the office ana dragged out two large sales
containing books and valuable papers belonging TO
the firm, The greater portion Of the Office furniture
was Also thrown out. until the rapidly IN
the baiding. While this was going on,
Ontcer Osborne, who was ON duty at the Hud-
son River Railroad depot assisted by some citizens,
man,aon Dock street, and rescued several valuable
horses, which must have persisted mad they been
allowed to remain there fifteen minutes later.
ARRIVAL OF THE VILLAGE FIRE DEPARTMENT..
Al about one O'Clock the village fire department,
composed OF three hand engines, one hose com.
pany and hook and ladder organization arrived
on the scene Of destruction, and manfully did 1.-The
members battle with raging element; but despite
their efforts the flames leaped dehaniy from one
lumber yard to another until the dry timber which
covered two whole blocks, bounded by the railroad,
BashfOrd street, Nepernan creek and Wells avenue,
was one seethine, Kissing and terrible mass OF
Same. The hre boys. hoping against hope, re-
doubled their efforts and continued to work aborl-
Ously. 1t should here be mentioned that on the
arrival OF the fire department the tide IN the Hud
sen river was so low none OF the companies were
able to ATTAIN water from tnat source and they had
to supply themselves nom the Neperhan creek,
which luckily afforded sufficient water for the
emergency.
ALARM FOR THE SAFETY OF THE VILLAGE.
SHOT more tnan one hour mad elapsed from the
ttne OF the first alarm OF fire before the neighbor
hood OF the confagration was crowded with thou
sands Ofterror-s stricken men women and children who
bed lett their houses IN order to prepared for the
worst. at this time the wind was blowing from
westerly direction, and fears were entertained that
the entire lower portion OF the village would be
1royed SO truly alarming was the prospect that at
the request OF the village trustees the police tee
g-aphed TO the Metropolitan Fire Department or
New York to send two steam fire engines without
delay. This despatch was answered at haif-past one
O'Clock by the Chiei OF the Fire Department, stating
hnf a nd nn
Railroad depot at Thirtelh street TO be forwarded,
but the company's superintendent could not be
found to supply the necessary locomotive power.
The Chief added, however, that If the need si con-
linued to be urgent he would send an engine from
Carmansville.
ARRIVAL OF oPpoRTUNE AID.
While the last despatch from the department in
New York being eagerly. copied from the wires
Of the police telegraph Engine Company No. /, of
Morrsania, arrived in the village, after brisk run
OF over ten miles, The approach Of It's members AT
such a critical moment was a signal for the widest
enthusiasm, not only from their almost exhausted
brethren OF the village, but cheer after cheer went
up from the thrOats OF thousands OF grateful
citizens. Getting to work without loss OF time,
the Morrisanla boys conducted copious
and this, with the steady labor heartily bestowed by
the village fremcn, succeeded at ABOUT four o'clock
IN checking the iames leaving one OF the most
poriant manufacturing portions OF the village mass
OF runs. The wind had also by this time changed
and ceased TO blow towards the village Two large
coal, became ignted by the Intense heat and these
dehed all attempts made by the Fire Department to
SCENES AND INCIDENTS
On Dock and Bashord streets IN the i,nme-
SV ae families iI occupied apartments par ' in "s sens
ment houses and other dwellings, the
and out neT scan aces Of
furniture and conveying them to place OF safety.
Wnlle the fire was at It's height crowd Of laborlng
men looked on unconcernedy and absolutely refused
when requested by the police TO assist IN saving pro-
perry just before daybreak two of the Yonkers
aremeu, whose names were not ascertained, while
holding the hose which was playing on a pile or
lumber, were precplatcd in the names, owing to
the boards having burned from beneath their feet.
They were rescued after receiving some Slight burns
Offcer Mccullough while on a ladder endeavorlng
TO save one of the dwellings, on Bashford etreet
had both his hands severely burned. Several
dwellings near the scene OF the lire were saved 10y
the occupants, who spread their carpets on the roofs
and Kept them well saturated with water.
ARRIVAL OF ENGINES FROM THE CITY.
When the hour OF noon mad arrived Yesterday the
immense massesso coal, before alluded to, were Still
burning Gercely, and the local fire department hav-
ing shown evident signs OF WEAKNESS, telegram
and at two O'CLOCK a freight train On the Hudson
River Railroad brought two steam IRE engines with
their companies, TO the village. little later the
steam tug John Fuller made her appearance at the
dock, in charge OF General Shaler, having Commls
sioners Galloway and Wilson, with Chief Engineer
Kingsland on board. The Fuller IN short time had
two effective streams playing the burning piles OF
coal, and not until then did The anxious citizens ap
pear to breathe lreey AT SIX O'Clock IN the after
ner az to indicate That the volume OF water being !
thrown upon 1t was having the desired effect.
THE LOSSES. /
The following comprised the principal Osses:--
Ackert a. Quick, builders, occupying premises on
Atherton street, sustain loss stock, machinery
and buildings OF $4,000; insured $500 in the
following c0mpanies:-
&C. 600
Nagara .-s............ I0O0
Metropolitan. ..-..................... 1000
star. 800
International ............ 1000
Total insurance $1,000
Loss over insurance s27,50O |
Tbie arm emnoyed about forty cgrpenters each |