New-York tribune., 1872-12-09
4 FIBE IN PARK Row.

! TIE EVENING EXPRESS OFFICE gURSED-A
HOTEL IN DANGBR-LO5s, $4,000.
The office of The Egeniag Express and sew
era other Offices nc Nos. IS Park row, de-
sroyed last night, by are OF unknown origin, whicb
involved o total estimated loss Of nearly s5)O)).
AttO:50 p. M, Officer Deyins OF tne Second Precinct
while patroling bis post, discovered smoke Issuing from
a flout window Of tho tard aoor occupied by s. n.
Gllerseeve, printer He at rst misook The smoke for
seam which he supposed 20 be issuing from heating
apparatus, or from engines at work in The building.
He made IA prompt examination, however, and found
cha. q fire had already gained considerable Roadway
near the Of the building. on that door, An alarm
summoned three engines the SPOT but on their arrival
the flames had shot upward through the "ho.stway,"
formed by boards aud extending from be sides OF the
hatchways and had communicated with the fourth and
firth hOOr
At this unctare another alarm sounded for FIRE
on the fourth floor Of the building No. Is Dcy-st occ-
pied by Meyers Underwood, -four dealers. This hre,
however proved to be Of only trivial nature, and the
three engines which had been summoned by the second
alarm were ordered by Chief Engineer Perley 20 the
more extensive conaagrptoa in Plr-row.
Meanwhile rhe flames had crept downward from the
third floor the sub-celar AT great risk the hrenen
entered the burning building and by directing copous
streams OF water through the holstway," they sue
ceodeG IN cxnguisbing the flames in that direction and
in keeping them conaaod 10 the upper portion OF the
structure.
Engines we're stationed m Park-rOw, and also in Ann
ST. whence stretched across the roofs Of ad-
iccut buildings and effective streams thus poured d.
rccty upon the flames. Hose was also extended rom
the gincs Parrow 10 the roof OF the building ana
after ge IRE had teen extngushcd in the front portion
Of the structure the fremen reached the windows by
means OF ladders and directed streams horzJh1aly
Good pTPs snre was obtained from the hydranrs com
munlcatng with the street mains and the nre which
was under full control at about ll:ij p. W., was CON-
D of.. 51t1. .I.r.tf tflftt. half an
Presses Commercial Hotel, Nos. IT ard 10 ParkroT,
adjoining the Express building, was greatly endangered
at one time aud It's guests were panc-streken err
0us panic was only agerted By the timely arrival or
Pcite C,pt a. frey OF the second Precinct. who
cceded IN partially alaying the fears OF the Doarders
women and children who had been suddenly aroused
S,.1 f,eir b.Js returned tO their rooms and after
dressing themiaves and securing their property, pro-
ceed TO he prors OF The hotel ana there awared the
rosrif If rio c0ugagraton while officers stationed at
The outer doors prevented all unwarantabe Intrusion
m hotel however. entirely escaped the flames. but,
with ~ furnlUIrc. was somewhat damaged Oy smoke
and Ilo loss - pr1DaniY about sl,oOe, "cn 10
coyereG uy insurance for $4,000 IN various computes.
Tie lnis OF the occupants OF me Erress building can
not bo easily estimated TIE Hon. James BrooSs Que
9trendi6g 70 his ofciai dhties Congress- while his
9F}1er 81 m ,ts nrr ts5 oS nieG l IslnS yeseriay
Occupants OF other portions OF The building could NOT
he found. but lar Ue estimated the losses VIII
Tss hers OF the Greentha estate, Of the build
ing wc was brown stone, hve stories IN night, and
about ieet front by 25 in dcptl lose about 5000 tue
interior OF the building having been only paruy de-
vindyke & o,HaTonu, saloon keepers on .,tll The
iug the loss sustained by extensive damage
TO four new billiard tables :. II. Glider
sleeve printer occupant OF the second and third hoors
f the enre building asd the portion OF the fourth
floor lose about 0G; but this occupant had large
number of printing presses and great deal OF ypc and
0fn9r lOr general OD work, his losses have been
estimated at higher hgres.
The Mes.rs. Brooks. Who occupied the remainder OF
the building viii probably lose least $4,000, oi which
$4,000 Is es mated as the lOs upon q welknOwu and
Inc nGm0er of volumes was large, and many OF tho
works cannot be duplicated. As tho collection be-
leved lave been totally DESTROYED, iJ - Thought
probable by many that tAo loss Viii TAR exesed siOe
the entire basement OF the building Wa occupied as
pres. and paper stJrerOOms for The Express and ts
stock, including several large printing presses ana
considerable supply Of blank paper, vas pad} daiSci
v smoke and water The first hUOr OF No. 5 was Occu
pied az q publication and general business pllce:
Ie northern roo tine front OF the fourth hOOr was
the rrivafe ulce OF EristIs Brooks, and the south
ern room IN the portion OF the building was the
private office of the Hon. james Brooks.
Between these rooms was tile lbr1ry which was
highly priced by its owners, who regarded u Win par
dona6e pride On the position OF the fourth moor
were the reporters rooms.
The front toe iih floor were occupied by the
managing editor and the editorial sad, while ON the
rear OF this loor were the composing ROOMS.
Tne Messrs Brooks had occupied the premises con-
tuOusy since 1857 and had recently determined TO va
cale them May l. TO remove 20 more suitable quarters
which were about % be prepared at No n Parrrow.