The New York herald., 1870-03-06
THE FIRE FIEND.

Between S15O,e0O and S200,e00-The
Disaster Viewed by \ Herald Reporter
Scenes, Incidents, Accidents and the In
surances-The0ry Of the Fires Orgination.
In o long series OF years a more destructive lre
has not been witnessed in Newark. n. j.. than that
which broke out ut late hour Oh Friday ana which
was hastily described in yesterdays HERALD. The
loss, though even yet not accurately figured
up. is considerably IN excess OF the
nrst estimate. ana viii certainly not fall
snort Of $l50,o0O, with probability that 1t viii
prove nearer 100000 Nor have the insurances
been accurately determined upon as regards
amounts, though IL Is likely tina. the whole amount
Of assurances VIII amount 10 about $4,000
AS irst reported in these columns the fire origin
ated in the third floor or the building known as the
"Old Ward Hospltal,n which was occupied by John
Mcdonald ana brother as planning mil, sasn, blind
ana door factory all combined 1t is believed though
no one knows positively, that some shavings around
the stove in the door factory caught fire.
burned through the moor and let the stove
down into the floor below which was
occupied by Charles Lewis, pretty extensive sad.
d.e-tree maker Everything here, as, indeed,
throughout the building and around in all direc-
lions was OF an easily igntable character, SO mat
the flanes spread with astonishing rapidly.
In fifteen or twenty minutes after oneer William
Miller or the police force, sprang tue alarm the lire
had got beyond the control OF the Fire Department
Ine latter while 1t unquestionaDly did good service
/
stroyed was unfortunately crippled IN It's working
efficiency owing TO the unavoidable absence OF
% Cnlef Engineer G. X. Carhuir who was
| had been Tor four days Ex-Chief En-
gineer soden and Mr.. Peter 5. Duryea were on
| mana ana dld excellent service but the department
was virtually ike Il shlD without u helmslnan. sick
as ne was, Chiei Carnun put IN an appearance on
ne scene ABOUT three O'Clock, and had to be driven
| home actually.
About midnight the roof OF the ex-hospital build
ing ieil H. ana the gable end over against the rear
| w. q.
later SO that II VIII probably have 10 ne down.
! Two men named James B. RIker ana Henry freutzel
| were pusy removing the more valuable part of the
| STOCK to the 'front.' OF the building, ana would
| nave inevitably oeen crushed 10 death amid the
| dtbris nad Tue wall gwen way. sweeping IN au
opposite direction along the river front the lire hend
had yolly lime among the costly and extensive
STOCK OF lumber III the yard OF Randall, swan X
20. Only remnant remains, ana Cnat considerably
damaged OF STOCK The value OF winch was not less
/ The masons' material yard OF James Il. Sayre, adj.
joining, suffered considerably also. the storehouse
containing some $50 barrels OF lime ana cement, TO-
geher with large shed, were destroyed. Lagowltz's
place located In the large building airectiy IN 'front.'
OF tne Centre street depot, suffered riflng damage.
Tae scene OF the IRE was visited yesterday alter
noon again oy II HERALD reporter III common
| with troops OF sightseeing citizens. All tnat re-
| maned standing OF the ex-hosptal was the nigh
| dark smokestack. Partially buried beneath Il
| huge pie OF brica, mortar and cnarred wood was
The twisted residue or splendid l20-horse power
engine and pianng mill machinery. The wharf
escaped Inc building, owned by G. l.. Cornish.
Mr. Josiah Blood and I. Thayer, all OF New York,
one or the most distressing Incidents connected
with the occurrence relates To the Mcdonald
brothers. who had only recently started business
and were just doing nicely on their limited capital.
Iney reside on the outskirts OF Newark and not
aware OF the location of the fire until yesterday
morning. when, carrying their dinner IN cans, they
arrived on the scene and discovered that they had
lost nearly every penny the result OF years OF hard
labor amt careful saving Tears coursed down their
| manly cneeks NJ the saddening prospect.
Assistant Engineer Mckelstrey mad narrow
| escape from beng buried beneath pile OF lumber
that iell the wrong wayn wniie being pulled down.
As " was ne was hurt about the head and lace. one
o. the men was very severely hurt at the same time
new engine recently furnished by the Gould Com
pany, had "bursliiicalonn and was rendered use
| less. Passaic Engine Company No. were in great
jeopardy at one time. Waie working In the centre
OF Randall swans yard tney were suddenly
| rounded with burning lumber, and IN order TO
escape with their apparatus had To cut The hose.
The fire was subdued about seven O'Clock yesterday
| morning, though tie iremen had not entirely de-
| sisted from playing" ON the smouldering ruins up
| TO last evening.
| TIE LOSSES AND INSURANCES.
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