The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-12
DISASTER IN PASSAIC VILLAGE, n j.
Destructive Fire Yesterday Morning
One Man Killed and Several
Badly Injured.

Tne nocturnal quiet OF Passaic village, on the Erie
Railway was disturbed about half-past one yester-
day morning by the shrl cry Of ire," and the lurid
glare ovcrspreading the business portion OF the
place betokened 1t no false ALARM "Passaic ~ ia
The only fire apparatus the place can boast but with
their old hand engfne-formerly the property Of No.
9, OF Brooklyn-they are considered equal to any
ordinary emergency; SO quickly as possible this
company had their machine on the road, and
although but few on the rope they succeeded In
reaching the confagratlon in a very short time,
The fire was In building situated on the east side
OF the main street. in the most closely built locality
Or the village The back OF the lots here touch the
river and from the street to the water Ia declivry
OF some fifteen or twenty feet within the depth Of
the lot. When the engine reached the fire there
were but five or Six In charge. and 1t was danger
Ous.fOr that number to ATTEMPT TO take their two
. ton engine down the declivity to the river
But they tried it. and were succeeding well until
broke aad h the lost ali ee
Down 1t went smashing into stable at the foot OF
the declivity until stopped by the wheels coming In
contact with one OF the upright timbers.
One OF the firemen, named Cornelius Norman, a
German, unmarried, about twenty-three years old.
here met q shocking death. His head was caught
between the wheel and the timber ana wrenched
around suddenly, so as to completely break his neck
killing him instantly Besides this his skull was
crushed and his nose partially broken of.
Anothey Of the iremen, young man named Isaac
Demarest was also struck by the wheel and had his
leg broken, besides sustaining some very serious
bruises. One or two OF the Otner members of the
company IN charge Of the engine wSe also
stderably bruised.
From the position In which the engine was lodged,
and the almost criminal apathy OF the bystanders
was some Tune be ore enough members or the COM
pany arrived TO eXricate the machine from It's
tangle dispose of the body Of their dead comrade and
get to work. BY that time the entire building was
In flames ana all that could be done was to prevent
any further spread.
During the heat OF the fire, when the whole struc.
ture was one mass OF flames, the figure of man was
seen at a second story window ana then bunglingy
to throw himself headlOng into the street. HIS name
was Christian Graver, and it seems he had been on
spree and had just gone to bed little while
previous, and 1t was not until he had
been seriously burned on the head and breast
Injured internally by his Jump as he fell nat upon the
ground, and there are grave doubts whether he VIII
recover. He was taken yesterday afternoon to
Paterson and placed in charge OF the sisters at the
hospital.
The principal building destroyed belonged to Mr.
James Collier, who occupied portion Of it himself
a. liquor saloon. His stock was entirely destroyed.
HIS total loss Is estimated at ST. 00O which there
Is an Insurance OF about $4,000. Mrs. Skinner occu-
and fancy store. she valued her stock at $1,000
and was insured for only $1,000. James Bedell's
paint shop. on one side, was entirely destroyed.
His loss Is about 81 500, which there was no in
eurance. The stock Of Hall Il McGregor's grocery
store, on the other side, damaged to the amount
or $1,000. Their stock was insured for $4,000
Four families living In the upper part Of the
mouse and one or two families living In a eX-
tension were entirely burned out, in some instances
sidered to be the worst fire that ever occurred In
q