The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-31

ing to burn as brightly as they had at any time our
ing the day. The Roslyn had not again caught,
and soon the smoke from few smOulderlng embers
and her
m RUINED MAsrs AND BLAcKENED SIDES
give no further sign OF flame. Groups OF ruflaniy-
looking men In small boats were pulling around,
endeavoring to snatch up anything OF value that
os ns s % OF se pse as
contented themselves with spotting what they de-
Sired preerring to wait for the cover Of the night
before they would condscate the coveted property.
IL was useless to expend any more time In efforts
to extingnish the names on the Elpis and Eddy,
and Captain Spelght contented himself with bring
ing MS boat 20 an anchor where 1t lay during the
greater part OF the evening to guard against any
fresh peril that might possibly arise. BY this time
the fire on the shore had completely exhausted
its fury, and. save the column OF flame which
continued to burst from one reservoir
and few scattered embers along the decks every
thing had been extingnished nE4
When darkness came upon the scene, and the
shades of night settled down upon the disaster,
the view upon the river was singularly beautiful.
Far as the eye could reach north and south, the
shores and villas Of Astoria, the long rows of ware
houses in New York and Brooklyn, Blackwell's
Island, Wards Island Randall's Island, the ship
ping In the river and the spires OF the surrounding
churches were NspD
ILLUMINATED WITH THE BRIGHT BLAZE
from the burning boats The masts and rigging
OF the countless vessels, and every place of want
age upon either shore were crowded with specta-
tors, while from bank to bank of the Hudson
stretched an arch of smoke.
burn with undated vigor and as we go to press
the flame shows no sign OF diminution, and will
pr0haDy continue to burn the entire day II the sup
ply OF Oil they contain continues to hold out. On
the shore the work Of ruin and deSOlat,On is COM
plete; everything of value Is destroyed On the
river three seagOing vessels three canal boats two
barges and two lighters, all utterly destroyed
bear witness to the power of the fire dend and at
test his terrible power. 8aC 4e
Among the Incidents of the fire may be men,
toned the singular rise OF large 1ocks OF pigeons
which penetrated into the smoke where 1T was
densest looking like small spots upon wall of tar
The ship Celestial Empire, which was being
loaded with oil at the docks, was ut one time
In great danger OF being consumed, having
caught fire IN two different places, but the steam.
tug Day Spring, Captain Rose, which was towing
barge up the river, came to the rescue and sue
ceeded In eXtrcating the Celestial Empire from her
pcrilous position and bringing her to u place Of
safety. arr 8
Too much praise cannot be given to
CAPTAIN sPEIGuT, SERGEANT SPENCER
ana the deck hands and policemen of the Seneca
police boat for the noble EFFORTS they made during
the fire, and to them must be attached the credit
or saving from total destruction large amount of
valuable property Both officers and men did i'd
mirably, and they are credit to the Police Depart
ment OF the city The United States revenue cut
ter Bronx and tug Catalpa also greatly dstin-
gushed themselves, particularly the former, and
| they are entitled to their full need OF praise
The fire may be pronounced one OF the most
memorable which has ever desOlated the shores o.
the East River, not only from the immense destruc
ton OF property, but also for the thrilling In
cidcnts daring adventures and humane efforts II
brought into play.