New-York tribune., 1872-12-11
A HORRIBLE FIRE.
THE F1Fru.AvENUE HOTEL IN FLAMES.

WEST WING BADLY DAMAGED BUT THE
BUILDING sAvED--TnE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE
a FIREMAN SERIOUSLY INJURED.
AT about II o'clock last night, disastrous fire
occurred at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, at Fifth-ave.
and Twenty-thrdst Is to its origin there are diff
forent stones
Samuel Tenyck, guest from San Francisco, who
occupied Room No. %, on the second floor of the
northern side of the southern OF Twenty-tbndst'
wing of the main structure aud who seems to have
been the first to discover the flames, states that as
he was about to retire be was alarmed by a strong
tmel Of smoke
On entering The hallway he observed considerable
smoke issuing from the creyiees Of q closed door
leadine TO a email room near his own upon the same
,de Of the hall and used as landing for the ser
wants stairway leading from the basement to the
top floor Of the building.
Upon opening this door, dense mass Of smoke
poured out and he saw bright flames within. He
Immediately cried out "Fige' aud loudly repeating
tie alarm, the Railways throughout the vast build
ing were instantly filed with hundreds of men,
women, and children, who, suddenly aroused by the
startling cry, sprang from their beds. and, half
naked. rushed forth aud ran wildly about in the
utmost CONSERVATION.
The scene at this moment was exciting beyond
description The employees Of the hotel and others
las..ly obtained buckets Of water. many of which
were thrown at instead of upon the flames, while
some were thrown hap-hazarl in whatever direction
the distracted amateur 6relnen first fancied.
tf,,b oft pbpd tn t1o
private fire appaTatus through the Railways to the
fire and it is said that an effective stream
of water was in this way quickly poured
upon the flames Several who we're present at the
time. however declare that the dOnkey-engine de-
six ed for tire operation would not work, and that
long and dangerous delay eDsued.
II is nevertheless, stoutly affirmed by interested
persons that no delay resulted and corroborsive
evidence it was declared that the hotel employees
are regularly summoned to ire-quarters weekly, and
that at the time of the last summons only day or
two ago the engines nose and other freextinguish-
ing appurtenances were all in good working order.
TILE ORIGIN IN THE LAUNDRY ELEVATOR.
Another statement TO the point of origin of the
fire is that it began on the fifth floor, in the laundry
elevator which extends to that floor from the laun
dry in the basement.
Whatever may ultimately be proved to have been
the origin of the flames, their exact point of be-
ginning it is certain that they crept with almost
marvellous rapdty either up or down inside of the
elevator and also, far as cOud be learned during
the proress of the flames and the attendant excite
ment. through the servants stairway from the
lower to the upper portion of the building.
Il seems that while efforts were making by those
present at the earlier stages of the conagration to
IL ,.oFo o1o To fha fpa
Department was neglected, and it appears that the
alarm bells were not rung until about half an hour
after the discovery of the flames
Irpon the sounding Of the first alarm four engines
proceeded to the fire, quickly followed by three
others, summoned by second alarm.
Lrpor the arrival of Chief Engineer Perley third
alarm was sounded, bringing three additional en-
pines making in all II engines and proportionate
number of hook and ladder trucks.
Meanwhile strong detachments of police, under
Can't Burden of the TwentY-ninth Precinct, and
Cant. Saunders of the Sixteenth Precinct, arrived,
and beside stationng an ample number Of officers at
different points throughout the hotel formed cor
don about the burning structure to keep back
large and excited crowd which had assembled.
THE FIRE GAINING HEADwAY.
Before the fremen could bring streams OF water
70 hear unOn the fire. the flames had mounted to the
sixth floor, aud they soon made their appearance
through the roof A second, and later thlTd,
alarm was sont ont by order Of Chief-Engineer
Perlev ard additional engines were soon upon the
ground.
These were adyautageously disposed around the
buiidinc and extra lines of hose were carried through
the Railways to the upper floors and Others were
drawn up to tie roof from the outside.
The ficuon worked Ioan.ully, aud ultimately the
flames were confined TO the wing in which the ihe
origiuatct Openings were cut in the partitions
sparatiaq the laundry elevator iron, the remainder
Of the bilding and streams OF water were brought
to beat vitt good effect.
The fire had gradually worked its way beneath
The root and at intervals wonld break out AZ mid
nighi il seemed as though the entire sou. Invest
wing world 60 the great hight Of the building
feu,tna IL ddculj 10 force streams Of water within
ieach Of tie flames.
tlA., of tine lengths Of hose were rendered almost
s,sef,s l,y bnfsng la consequence Of the pressure.
All Il. ic. i. was evident that the ire was COM
pie.ey aadrr control bar IL hour later before
uwas ttii,ly eXtin2uished.
rm rEr LIMITS.
r Tie range Of rooms on the extreme western POI
t.et. OF tne wing, aId iiuntiue the elevator was
l..J. damaged by EIo. o. th, fourth iiltn, and
..AIL iouT- the.c Weie L1Se nuuibcr oI ROOMS
l.dlg .a.a".d
~. ,4.i,e wing ior distance Of neoly 100 feet
vas radlv Ganu-cd by vatar which poured ~
Goad t'.raall .o Aaliw.,i aud soaked tbioael ,W
,c,slpG, Jhe iie,coed ceilings were utterly iuiLft
aud ti.e co,,iy nl.uiuie was soaked with water.
lac l.Upe alG handsome difine-Ioom was also
d.Jm.ecd. fAc f,,.co.i g. ling Was nuerly u'1ed
l.' tic water which soaked through from the rooms
:.sd talip..ss aiose.