New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-26
THE rouRTEENTH.sT. FIRE.

sTr.u.PIPEs TOO CLOSE TO wooD-w0RK-THE
OFFICIAL INQUIRY.
The investigation of the origin OF the lire IN
Bsruum's Museum was continued, yesterday py fire
Marshal Mcspedon. Two witnesses we're ehamineu
whose testimony served to establish still moro clearly
the opinion that the fire must have broken out In the
ceiling of the boierroom where the steap passed
close to the woodwork Of the door above
The ruins Of the great fire In East Foureenh-s were
viewed by thousands OF curious persons yesterday
Smoke still ourled up from the depths Of mass OF
broken bricks and twisted iron Orders, which once
formed part Of the Museum building. Back Of theee
ruins stands the she'll Of the burned piano factory To
the right an iron porico is all that Is left Of the stately
iron building used ivory factory By f. Grote
& Co. Here all day workmen we're digging among tne
ruins at the back part Of the store for the nrm's
safe, in which were placed. on Monday night, every
record OF their business transactions The broken walls
of Grace Chapel were viewed with mournfm interest
by the spectators Of whom had formerly worshped
within them Perfect the facade and side walls stl
are, the empty windows and gaunt Interior ehow the
utter ruin which has befallen Che building the ola
mansion OF Mrs. Laurence stin retains the enamel OF
ice over Its dark brick front, which 1t gained on tns
frosty night of the fire. Several fire engines were kept
at work In Fourteenthst during the day. pumping water
upon the last remnants OF the fire concealed beneath tho
rnns Owing to the absence from the city OF the owners
OF the ruined buildings and also Of the agents OF the To-
surance companies their places of business, was
impossible to learn the namesof thelsuGering insurance
companies. .-,.,
Fire. Marshal Mcspedon ressrned yesterday, his in
vestigaton OF the origin Of the fire
William H. Frake testified take care OF the anir1ais
in Barnums Museup on Tuesday morning was arouiSo
smoke In the building; ran to the back part OF tne
above tie boiler the trapdoor leading 6oierroOm
being open 1t is not usual to keep this trapdcor open
20 down through the the bolerroom to get
hot water for the animals. and then nave noticed
SoiIer and sYf the door, assisted in throwing water
the flames think we threw about two dozen oucne.s
standing top the cages the other side OF the
after throwing on al the water within reaen
reached their cages by and found it impos
sible any OF them Mr. Nelson, the night watch,
up and while we at work with the buckets OF
water were finally driven out Of the building oy
the heat; the very last man out OF the building;
the just reached there as got CUT Ok the Dud
Charles Wait testified have been employed in Bar
NUNS Museum to take OF the animals on the night
Of the fire s oT Ge Of Ss nms
arousedi by the night watchmsn saw smoke IA MN, ,ie
smoke oi throughout the building did any flame
AT this time smoke close by the trapdoor that
tSe trSpdoor was open or NOT it is generally closed at
night assisted IN getting pals o. water rom me top
OF the animals cages and handed them 10 some VI the
men TO throw on the fire; ths time the flames came
bursting through the floor right over tbs top OF the
boiler hDd IN Tue uelSnOOIuoOu VI tho haPu"St
wo had pals OF water on the top OF every cage we
hauled down about three dozen pals Of water which
were taken up BY other men and thrown on the
fire after we had hauled this water down tho watch
into the street aud gave the alarm think we
used ali the pals OF water within reach two other men
myself then TO the granes cage to break mat
down and get the animals out the was IN the cor
per above where the fire ginaed, aud tho anes had
rs-ahsd 1t got ono giraffe out when it Vac
caught by the flames and sank upon the moor the IRE
then down the cages, and IL was az much as we
could do TO get out OF building; not more than 10
minutes elapsed between the time when was
aroused and when was driven from tho building by
tile flames think got out OF the buildng ust as the
fremen reached there. The moment the front doors
we're thrown Open the flames drove out OF the build
ing There were eight nine men asleep In the build
ING when the fire was first discovered. Nearly all were
employed in taking OF the ANIMALS.
rbe Fire Marshal viii take more testimony to-day.
CARD.
70 IA. Edftor OF The Tribune.