The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-11-20
FIRE In A TENEMENT House.
Probable Lon Of Life in . Mulberry Street Tene-
nsnt-A Woman Badly Injured tenement
Houses in Which Eighty Families Hud-
die Together "A Great Calamity
'A'f Averted-some Home Suggestions

About hal1-past one yesterday afternoon q hr0
broke out in the tenement buildings, Nos s, ana
eMuIberry street. which resulted IN very serious
consequences and probable loss OF life. The build
ing, ITSELF Is wooden one, AID bad at that, as IL
presents most miserable and weather beaten ap-
pearance, the walls looking as delapidated as If
they had stood the wear and tear or centuries
The district surrounding Is mainly composed OF
buildings OF the Same class. and In the
event Of serious CONGREGATION occur.
Ing. could be easily destroyed at any time.
The house or houses were occupied by about eighty
poor families and an idea can be formed Of the fear
lui effect OF 90 many people auditing together would
have In the event Of tho disaster having occurred
during the night. II the IRE had broken out during
the night large numocr Of lives must
~ g INEVITABLY HAVE BEEN LOST,
a. 1t was, many have peen injured, and one, In all
probability, fatally 50. fea hM&aH tir8
The origin OF the Ore cannot be ascertained, bat
the superstition Ia that It started In the room OF
woman named Mary walsh, while she was engaged
In Hindling nro. when once started h spread wasA
astonishing rapidity. and IN . very short time the
three upper stories OF the building were cnveioped
In flames. vhe 1remen were
PROMPTLY ON THE GROUND,
and set to work with VITAL to prevent the flro from
spreading, and after considerable exeron they sue
ceeded m combining 1t TO the upper stories Of the
place was at one time very exciting, the frightened
inmates crowdina outanto the street in terror and
tlOsc In the upper part, who could mol reach
the street, were forced to take refuge
on the roofs Of some surrounding buildings to which
they had access Some remained Inside and en-
deevored to save their miserable effects and
CHAIRS tables, bcsteads ana other articles OF furnl
ture were Tying through the AIR In all directions
making 1t rather tcklish for the spectators who
valued the safety Of their neads.
"A HERALD REPORTER
was soon at the scene or action, and found the
scene to be extremely dramatic, reminding HIM OF
Chicago, where he had been during the fire. The
burning house might have stood for Mrs. O'Leary's
the street on which II Is situated, Is almost q
fac suttssef De Rosensteip, Chicago and It would
paces how easily aret catastrS"ne su "pon "a oos e
stroyed the Western city could occur In The Five
Points tfne flames were not extngulshed until tho
upper stories were completely gntted, and IL re.
CURED the most strenuous Efforts OF the bremen TO
prevenpfhe FIRE from spreading in such coulbustnle
district Despite the EFFORTS that were made by tho
occupants OF the PREMISES very little was saved the
disaster being too sudden TO admit OF any great
THE rIcruaR or DISTRESS a
presented by tue poor. people who hadheen so sud
whlsh wretcned al twas, was all the shelter Iney
possessed, was pltiaRie in the extreme. In the rush
tured, and one woman who could not escape named
MAJ Walsh the same person ID whose room the
WIG otikinu'cu, WIS caught III tue KAsneS ana SO
seriously burued that her life Is departed OF Her
BODY presents SHOCKING spectacle, being com.
psctcy burned Dldck and II rs an lmSoSsbilty, the
doctors assert, fOr-her to live. -'AshI@
.ete HER SuEEEaSNGs WE'RE DREADFUL, ,,,f
Sut inc most prompt action was taEen 10 alleviate
enom ana she was Instantly conveyed to the Park
hospital IN 2n ambulance. Some others were also
burned bur iertuaetey this the only serious case
Fears were entertained at one time that the Dire
would spread, but the action'Of the 1relnen soon
alayed O.! apprehensions, as they got the flames
under SubjcoN0nin manner which speaks highly
Tor The thorough efficiency OF the departments. Had
might nave been,saved, and have reason to con-
their business 30 well.
The losS In furniture closntag and household
effects VIII amount TO more than three hon
sand dollars, on which there ~ no insurance; on
the building $4,000, which rs fully Insured. The
COMPANIES sWhr-h the insurance IA held are NOT
yet known, as the owner lives In Cptown dis
trict aud was not 10 be found amer the axe
-. slr. GREATER CALAMITY POSSIBLE.
GLOW provideniisi the fire did not during the
night !" II II had the consequences would have
been FEARFUL as the lire. owing TO the foundation or
the building. might gain y gIcathead without being
parts Of the City should be rooted out as we are
at any time kaisle 10 he Involved In general con-
migration from similar buildings TO the one con-
sumed yesterday. Those thicklys oeoped tenemcnt
lance, and such shocking spactaclcs as eighty fam
lies living under roof longer he permitted to
exist IS plague sD0ts upon our civilizations; as
from the danger OF dre The impetus they would
astrOus to the entire city. The matter should be-
promptly mvestiS gated. The lessen Taught by the
Chicago disaster, the presence OF The cholera IN the
habor and the smallpox In TIE city tsefsimpera-
OF our homes and render great disaster inpos-
dbe.