The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-11
GREAT FIRE ~ MERCEB rsraIxr.
Tho &c. Nicholas Hotel Laundry, Stables and
GINS House Burnsd-Loss About 100000
Two Perg0ns Badly Burned.

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Tho sc. Nicholas Hotel Laundry, Stables nns
| GINS House Burned-Loss About 100000
Two Pergons Badly Burned.
Mercer Street. which In the past has suffered sc
verely from the FIRE gend, was yesterday subjected
to disastrous visitation. that ragged for hours and
| for time threatened to reap lswath OF namt
through to Greene street. About ten minutes before
three O'Clock, while workman. named Porter, In
the gas house OF the st. Nicholas Hotel, situated in
the rear the st. Nicholas stables Nos. 81 and SO
Mercer street, was pumping some crude oil into the
boiler slight explosion took place and flames burst
forth Immediately.
The alarm bells were promptly rung, but ere the
steamers arrived number Of policemen Of the pre-
cincL citizens OF the neighborhood and male and
female employees OF the st. Nicholas, opposite col
iected in front Of the structure. For few mo-
ments the widest excitement took possession OF the
servants, nearly two hundred OF whom had their
entire worldly possessions exposed to the IRE should
1t reach the floors above the stable and the i've
story brick structure doning mos. 81 63 which
Is used as laundry for the hotel on the three lower
doors ana sleeping rooms above. rush was made
by them for their sleeping apartments and Tor a
snort time the stairs were damned by pane
stricken crowd. The officers, however, succeeded
girls 'e out q the laundry. se on the ou
moor oiiicer Abiah Smith found Ann Suiii-
van, cook, VINO had rushed IN for her
her and, Notwithstanding her vigorous resistance,
carried her out. BY tins Time the names had run up
from the gasworks to the rear floor Of both build
ings, ana when the Fire Department got on streams
the consuming ement had stretched out its arms
TO the cellar under the stable as well, and was
eagerly tapping up everything OF combustlbe
character. The stables, which are very extensive,
are owned and occupied by Chester Lamb, and
when the Are was hrst discovered were filed bs
horses and carriages. The energetic labors Of en-
pioyes citizens and the insurance patrol rescued all
the horses. and vehicles. with the exception
OF three or four coaches and selghs.
AT ten minutes after three the fire communicated
wa1 an immense tank used for the supply OF gas
to the hotel and an explosion followed. The hose
men, who were gallantly battling the enemy, were
driven out through the large front DOORS followed
by a dense volume OF led name and smoke that
called TO the minds OF the spectators Mton's de-
scription OF hell. Additional streams were intro
duced ladders thrown, the upper stories entered,
ana for two or three hours Croton anu fire met III
desperate embrace, and The latter promised to be
Victorious. Additional steamers were summoned,
streams introduced from the Greene street SIDE, and
by Dal-past I'VE O'Clock the fire. exhausted, yielded
up the victory
The damage was very large. Nos. 81 and SO were
occupied, as already stated, by Mr. Lamb as stables
IN the basement and first floor. Ia the rear OF the
main stable was smaller one. occupied as stor-
age for vehicles and feed. This was badly damaged.
The gas machinery was situated between these sta
bes and the tank nestled close up to the south wall
OF the aundry, which win account for the rapldity
with which the fire reached the iatler building. MIR.
upon which he IS insured for $4,000
IN IN twelve ely companies. The second and
IuIIu uUUTS Ol NOS. o. anu o5 were occupied
by the male help OF the hotel, whose loss cannot be
estimated, probably $4,000. Mr.. Lambs loss on the
building Will be s. 900. The laundry building was
occupied IN the two upper stories by the female
hep, VINO lost everything except ID isolated
The prOprletors OF the st. Nicholas Hotel estimate
their loss on stock In the laundry at $4,000 to
$4,000. Much OF IL was the linen OF the guest, who
must suffer serious inconvenience from the destruc.
ton Of their goods. The building, which Is almost
gutted or It's contents, is damaged about $1,000 to
$40 900. The Insurance, which Is understood TO be
ample 70 cover the loss could not be ascertalned.
tel proprletors by the cutting or OF The supply OF
gas and when night dropped in to pay Its accus.
toned diurnal visit the hotel In utter darkness.
The connection with the city gas pipes could be
easily made, but 1t was deemed unadvsabe to turn
IL on, lest II should feed the ame and hundreds OF
candles were brought out from dark Closets bottles
secured Tor candestcks, and SO the guests partook
OF their evening repasr. Later IN the evening, when
the fire had been completely extngulshed, the city
gas was turned on, ana the saloons halls, corridors
and parlors OF the ST. Nicholas threw OF their clouds
OF mourning and sparked In their accustomed
radiance.
The most unfortunate OF the sufferers are the poor
servants, between 3JO and 400 OF whom have been
deprived OF ali their clothing excepting cover
ing their persons.
The girl lSuvan) was taken to Bellevue Hospital,
suffering severely from ner burns; but she VIII
cover. Mr. Porter, who was slightly burned about
the lace, was taken to his home. Zoo much praise
cannot be given To the police Of the Eighth precinct
under Sergeant Schoheld, the details from the Your
feenth, Fifteenth and nth. and captain Alaire, or
Tue Fourth for their assistance TO the uremen.