The New York herald., 1871-10-22
FIRE In THIRTY-SIXTH STREET.
A BLOCK OF BUILDINGS BURNED.
Breaking Out in the Basement Miraculous Es-
cape Of the Tenement Houses-Fury OF
the Flames-A Night Of Horrors
The Firemen Injured.

As II in emulation OF the great fires raging in the
West, and the one chat has just consumed Chicago,
a minor connagration, though one entailing con.
slderabls loss OF property, occurred In New York
shortly after three O'Clock yesterday morning. 1t
originated IN the basement OF the building at the
rear OF 4l 4l6 AIS and 42O West Thirtysixth street.
ana swept round TO the adjacent houses with a
wonderful rapditv. Owing to the quantity OF wood
in the workshops al the rear OF these buildings the
flames were fed until they had reached
A FRIGHTFUL EXTENT
The first house consumed was tho property OF Mr..
John Redmond and IL total loss. II was insured for
$4,000 IN the Washington, Etna, Hamilton and
Hartford Insurance Companies. The place was
used as a cabinet ware manufac.ory, and was occu-
pied by A. Lavenbeim. The fire Is supposed TO have
been caused by an overheated furnace or by
spontaneous combustion OF oil, rags and ruoDish
OF an innammable nature that were lying
In one OF the corners of the place. The superin-
tendenJ OF the establishment Mr.. Benjamin Hart.
man, who was likewise a partner in the concern,
the last person that left the factory on Friday
night and then he had been down into the basement
but saw nothing that would lead him to suppose
there was any danger OF fire. To make the matter
still more sure he cautiously went about the place and
examined everything for he felt sort of indescriba
BILE foreboding OF danger but what gave rise TO the
feeling or what the coming trouble was likely TO be-
ne had no means OF .ascertaining. He lett the
house at nine O'Clock, and then everything al-
morn,ns the ~ fonrues of danes Sad burst out ana
were sweeping around on all sides.
two story frame building, No. AZ, also the pro
perty OF MIR. Redmond, was damaged TO the extent
OF s.. 900. 1t was workshop, fronting the factory
on Sixteenth street. AS the fire merely touched It
It's course the damage TO the tools ana machinery
| within was very sgnt-only about $500.
Another two story frame building, belonging to
Mr.. REDMOND, and which was used as Q turning
"
erty 1t contained was injured.
| The two story frame building occupied by J. D..
! Clark as q brass foundry ana finishing shop was
| damaged $780, and the stock was injured TO the
amount of $500. They were insured for 900 III the
The four story brick building Nos All. 40 and 42l
| West Thirty-tifth street, the property Of sarah
lett standing but portion OF the front walls. The
fire bore down on this side OF the block with ter
ribe force and eat up all before IT, This house was
occupied by Palmer Il Embery. who were also
cabinet ware manufacturers. They sustained
damage OF $4,000 but are partly insured. The
building Is also insured. but only for small
Next to that house was three story ana base.
W,,am ens "n Rradey Tits house was also Quilted and
| destroyed to the amount of $4,000. But It IS IN
sured Tor that amount In the Bowery Park and Mer.
| camille insurance Companies.
| The first moor OF this house was occupied by John
Hows residence, ana his furniture was injured
| to the amount oil 500.
The second floor was occupied by James Irving,
who sustained loss OF $l25.
The third moor was occupied Dy Cnarles FISH, ana
he damaged $780,
lhe fire TOOK In the entire centre OF the block ana
Quilted it, the front walls on bOtn streets being the
only things standing with the exception OF the
little workshops on Thrty-sixtn street. 1t took the
greatest efforts the part Of the fire brigade to
CONFINE THE FLAMES
to the middle OF the block In which they had started
and prevent them from sweeping along the streets,
for on both sides are large tenement houses occu-
pied by numbers OF families AMI II these mad been
touched the consequences must have been lrightful
The Danger was the greater as the houses
on Thirty yslxth street are wood and Old, looking
II they ripe TO blaze away At the nrst oppor-
| tunity When the second alarm had been sounded
| on saturday morning, and the flames had begun tc
show themselves above the burning buildlngs, tnt
greatest alarm was spread throughout tht
| neighborhood. Men, women and children
! rushed out or bed and hung IN the window:
watching the flame ana waiting TO see II the de
strucJive element was going their way. Numbers o
others were more cautious, and started into thu
streets with all or the most valuable portion OF the
worldly goods and were hard at work the momea
when the fire was nut out replacing their house.
hold gods All IN the vicinity feel that they have
| had lucky escape, and the enirc population Ii
! cOrrcspondingly grateful. IL that fire had broken
ont the night before, or In fact, any night foI
the past three, nothing could nave saved the
at least the uock from one avenue to another.
The only accidents casualties that occurred
TO two OF the nremen. One or them broke his leg
through having TO jump or the building as the fire
was gaming upon him too rapidly, and the other
one was severely injured through falling down
u nOorIng that gave way.