The New York herald., 1872-12-11

and no one near but few young men, at
tracted by curiosity 10 the horrible scene, AID
little boy who, pale and arrighted, held candla
over the body so that the girl might not be-
trampled upon by the passers-by.
pillow was procured for the poor thing finally
ny the gentleman who first called the reportera
attention TO the unfortunate creatures conditl0ny
and there she was left at midnight.
Once the 1remen and police had arrived the hose
was Immediately dragged up the stairs, and then
went to resume WORK. And serious world
1t was. In the neighborhood Of the
attic the smoke was so dense that
for a time they unable to make their way
through the halls Meanwhile the shrieks OF thd
servant girls in the upper stories were heartrend1
ing. Cry after cry OF distress rent the air and
the iiremen, redoubling their eXertions, draggc4
their hose after them bravely lighting their Way
through the dense smoke, one relieving anotheH
as fast as the foremost man was overcome and
had 10 fan back TO
ESCAPE sUFFocATION.
1t was a bitter fight and the nearer the fremch
got 10 the top moor the louder and shriller becamQ
the shrieks OF the servants in the attic. 1t waA
reached finally, but when IL was reached no crN
issued forth ffom the binding smoke. All was sting
az death, the splashng OF the water from the hosa
alone breaking the deavhlike silence. And 1t waa
the silence OF death, for, the light on
the lanterns for moment baflled tha
smoke, there were deserted the dead bodies Of
thirteen men and The fire had done itA
awful work before the cry Of agony could b0
answered
Ar TWO O'CLOCK
the excitement In the vicinity OF the hotel ha'H
somewhat subsidized, but still throng crcled thol
line OF police that stretched from the corner oe
Twenty-third street to that OF Twenty-fOurth
and extended about hundred feet from
the portico The hose were laid througW
the corridors which were literally hooded, and un
the long flights of stairs and through th0
halls which were all covered with neM
carpets, but were nevertheless sOakc1
with water. In the lower vestble th0
groups OF guests ana strangers were all as|
scmbled condoing with one another with hal1
grim humor on the misortunes Of the occasion1
some of which indeed possessed Of quitd
laughable tint. Bat there were stories OF deathA
which occurred in the smotnering smoke Of tnef
rooms mp stairs that chilled the blood and quickly
eNtnguished the buef smiles that were excited bW
the mcrrment OF light-headed ''sports' who talked
Of the rights ana iates of others with que sonabla
nOnchaence.
outside the extent ana condition OF the fire coulI
he ascertained at this time in the street. At th0
southwest corner Of the building the names werd
sill cracking through the root with an ominouS
red glow; but this spot there wcid
concentrated six or eight streams OF water, which,
enectuallv did their work OF slowly quenchng the
fire. The lnrid light was vividly reflected on tho,
empty windows OF the Nathan mansion OppO-,
Site which had so long been closed to the gleanI
Of day. since the terrible episode in itS
history. On the stoop was crowded n dense mass
OF people, whose faces reflected the flicker of tbef
names. Occasionally lady, snppOrted
on the arm OF gentleman, anI
bearing shawls bags and other articieS
rudeiy snatchcd from their rooms, passed.
by the policemen, and went or toward other porH
tons OF the city. The engines were still working
away with energy but lor the time there was al-
parently no prospect OF further damage.