The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-15
TIE FIRE IN YHIRIY-FIRSH STREET
An Entire Block swept by
the Flames.
Danger to the Dwellings in the
Neighborhood.
O It III r R # I Tc II =
Three Hundred Thousand Dollars
Burned Up During the Night.

Burned Up During the Night.
An extensive IRE broke out about haltp past one
O'Clock yesterday morning in the boiler room OF the
planning mill belonging 10 the firm OF Fife Duffy,
on the corner OF Thirty-second street ana
First avenue. When first discovered by
Onicer Mongan, OF the Twenty-frst precinct,
the fire had only started, and II 1t had not been that
he was compelled to wake up the Waterman OF the
oailding. David Plat, the flames would never
have reached the adjoining buildings or even
destroyed the one IN which 1t originated The plan
ing mill OF Fife Il Duffy was
A TWO STORY BRICK
construction and the firm lost to the amount Of
500, 900, and was only insured for $4,000.
The house has Only been occupied by this firm
about month. They moved INTO 1t ar That time
from Forty.second street, where they were burned
out.
In the middle OF the consumed block was the
extent OF $4,000.
On the corner OF Thirty-hrst street and First
avenue the building belonging to William
Thden Blodgett, ana which was used as
varnish factory was completely destroyed.
causing damage OF $780, 600. This was also one
story construction and 1itv feet deep. The great
quantity of varnisn and oil that was housed on these
premises made 1t a difficult matter for the iremen
and policemen to get the fire under; but by con.
tinued exertion they had finally gained the mastery
over it about eight O'Clock yesterday morning.
Blodgetl's place burned up like clnder, owing
to the quantity OF inhammable material in the place,
ana caused considerable alarm In the neighDorhood,
as the flames swept along the block, and 1t was
feared they would extend TO tho other sue OF the
street and endangcr the dwelling houses. AT the
FED THE FLAMES
and made the heavens lurid throughout me night.
hemock, walnut and other woods OF an expen-
vs M su sTy oss 81 nS
by the destruction OF this property 1t Is exceed
ingly fortunate That TIE spare lots on the block
case there is no telling where the fire would
have ended AS It. was everything n|1 Of value ,nat
petely eaten up by the devourlng element and
No'"'T THE r' SHARrEp AND sMouLpERrNa RUINS
OF the buildings. IL was only through the unremIt-
ting labors OF the police under Captain Leary and
ton OF the city on that side was saved. When
the police captain and the engineer got upon the
was 100 barrels of henzine which were In the rear
of Blodgetts place, and In the very pathway or the
could nave saved large portion or that district for
this STUFF would have exploded the barrels and then
run in liquid flames through the nelgh0orho0d,
DESTRUCTION AND DEVASTATION ALONG WITH 1T.
This those TWO gentlemen luly cOmprellenucu,
and they at once put all the men they could obtain
TO roll these barrels to place OF safety from the
maasy at THIS terrible engine until the entire stock
or the dangerous benzine was brought away.
ane Su%Sar Of ece IN ro% the
precincts, who were sent there by their respective
% ne Widest sey on
| the First avenue among the inhabitants OF the
10 the vicinity OF n1 the re es Men, W SH er ana
heat shrieXng with dread OF the flames
coming their way. The streets were sud
neighborhood bore signs OF being thoroughly
aroused Great confusion was visible In me largo
tenement houses on the opposite side OF tue ave-
nue., and the heat from
| The BURNING BLOCK
| great that the people could not remain In
! their rooms Many OF them began to make prcpa-
rations for the coming OF the names I'm their direc
| tOn and began TO put out furniture and household
! goods upon the sidewalk.
| The police used every means In their power 10
assure the people there was real danger, but that
was not enough. they were completely dcmorai-
ized and showed, by the dismay Win which they
aware Of the extremely dangerous character Of the
block that was burning, and many OF them had
pitch that one wouli have supposed, going among
them, nothing could save the city from destruction
| been got under the control OF the engines,
THE TERRIBLE DANGER
| that existed was very apparent: AL! tne ouiiangs
| ened and blisered by the heat. and MANY OF Them
were considerably damaged me one BLOCK exactly
1
will require considerable outlay TO restore 1t to Its
| original condition.
The drSt alarm. OF IRE brought out engines NOS
| rhe second alarm brought %, IA and 10.
The third alarm brought 70, "a and 70.
| And special Alarm sent out by Engineer Perley,
brought Nos. IL and IL
| About daylight the ire steamer John Fuller came
uptO
and began TO play from the river. This was cOntin-
ued all the forenoon yesterday, and Will, no doubt
be necessary for the greater part Of the day. En-
| eiDeer Perley said, when he was working upon tue
| names, that II was the most difficult Ore
| to get under tnat the department had
! to cope with IN ten years. various
| causes are ass 4ned for the origin Of the hre but
np 10 last evening nothing but speculation could be
| arrived at. One theory was that the furnace com.
| muncated the flames TO
| THE vARNISH WATTS
! lett lighted candle In dangerous place
aud that mad caused all toe damage.
| One thing certain IS that the watchmen
| caused q good deal Of the extra damage
done; for If he had been awake the policeman
would not have been obliged to lose the lime he did
| In giving the alarm, and great deal OF me
| property now destroyed might have bee1 saved.
| The entire damage done Is estimated at about
| 5000, 900. The amount OF insurance and the offices
| In which the various hrm3 were entered nave n0e
| yet been obtained.
Another Fire.
| At about q quarter to seven O'Clock yesterday
morning fire broke out on the fourth n0or OF the
five story brick building Nos. IS and 81 Wooster
IA yunll T.