The New York herald., 1871-09-15
TEE PERRY STREET FIRE.
Twenty-three Horses Roasted-scene Of tho Dis
aster-Probable Cause Of the Confa-
gration-The Losse&

Al halfpast nine O'Clock on Wednesday evening
Mr. Peter Wilson, the proprietor OF the stables thas
were burned down In Perry street, went into the
building to make his usual round OF the place before
closing up. As he was going through the stalls on
the first floor he noticed that one OF the horses was
Ill, ana he went down stairs to tell the man In charge
OF the horses to look after the matter. The man
went up. examined the animal, and returned to re-
port that he thought 1t was all right, and that the
horse was only little tired. Mr.. Wilson then told
them to close up the place. as there were horses
out. Just as they were shutting up the watchman
entered,
SMOKING CIGAR
Mr.. Wilson told him to put 1t out and look sharp
after his work. They then left the place. About
nalf.past eleven O'Clock an alarm OF fire was given
and crowds OF people rushed to the scene Flames
were Issuing from the back windows and through
the skylights Of the roof, eating up everything be-
fore them. The cries and meanings OF
THE ROASTING HORSES
within were terrible to hear. especially as the
people outside were utterly unable to assist them
A number Of Ore engines were quickly on tho
ground aud succeeded In combining the flames 10 the
burning building; but nothing could save tho
horses, Of which thero were twenty-thrc o
to the the proprietor, Mr.. wilson, ana the
ana left in his charge. Scarcely half on hour had
elapsed from the time the fire irst broke out when
completely wrapped in names Thev were album
danlly fed by large quantity Of nay IN loft az the
It is supposed that the fire originated somewhere
this place ana was started by the ashes N IRE
from pipe dropped by some men IN the building: i
remen arrived they endeavored to rouse the watch
man, but could not. They called through the ONCE
they then burst In the small door on the lefhand
side Of the building ana had to =,
so "A Sg EE Ss sSssa Neasr 1Sa smoke oamos
nor the noise made by the men was sufficient 20
wake HI him , aud 1 tnoqGas he was m1oXicasee
the building was two story wooden structure.
situated In the middle OF the block between Waverey
place and Fourth street. On the first floor, where
the horses were kept, there were eighteen stalls on
one side and nne on the other. The lower or ground
| floor was used for the accommodation or wagons
rugs and harness. both belonging to Mr.. wilson
and the people who had horses boarding there. Tho
scene Of the confagraton yesterday was one OF the
most frightlu the mind could picture The bodies
or the horses were strewn around In all directions,
| lying Is they had fallen In
THE AGONIES OF TORTURE.
Broken beams ana iron bars that mad tumbled
from their places were resting across some OF the
carcasseS, IN some places crushing out the cnralS
| succumLed to the flames was o bay mare belonging
| TO MIR. William Winants, Of Bank and Bleecker
oas 10 when he WAS ~ Very much attached
| Winants arrived In front OF the burning building
soon after the nTe broke @ out ana saw w MS n vose 1
air and battle furlously with the consuming Gle
mcnt, but to no purpose, FOR she Iell soon alters
burned almost to q ctnder.
The other horses burned with the stables, besides
those belonging to MIR. Wilson, were the property Of
| man Jacob Dodge. Oliver W. Buckingham, William
Booth, Edward Maple, J. Van Dyke, William Young,
| Mr.. Miller and Charles A. Crassin. The building
itself was the property OF MIR. A. Pearsal, and was
fully insured. the loss being only about i've hum
dred dollars. Mr. Wilson also insured for 81 200
IN the North America Insurance Company. Ills 0ss
Is about four thousand dollars. The work OF clear
ing away the debris was begun last evening and u
by this tme completed.