The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-31
Burning Of q Portion Of the United States
Appraisers Warehouse.
THREE ALARMS SENT OVER THE WIRES.
An Emeute In the Vicinity of
Tenements.
Energetic Action>ef the Firemen-The
Damage Done-A 1875. 900 Supper
for the Flames
Cut by the Engines.


warehouse, rented by K. p Getty 4 Sons, iis
Greenwich street. in the rear of Trinity church.
AS soon as the first alarm was sounded the fire.
engines and hook and ladder companies
came quickly to the spot, but by that time. brief
as 1t was, the flames had gained such ascendancy
as to cause panic among the residents OF the
tenement houses in the vicinity OF Thomas street.
who flung their furniture recklessy into the sloppy
street and carried out their semi.somnulent chill
dren in state Of nudity, The hoses were scarcely
screwed on to the hydrants ere the danes utted
from out the windows OF the building the crimson
jets licking up with
FORKKD AND LURID TONGUES
everything consumable that came within their
reach The building was formally intended for
pork packing establishment, but mad been con
verified into storage warehouse for bonded goods.
There were costly silks curiosities rom Iar-ofr
climes, merchandise, valuable and dutiable stored
upon those doors; but the democratic fire, which
was no respector OF costly imports, seemed to take
savage delight in wreckng and consuming
everything that came across It's path.
Sergeant Ferris, who is at present acting captain
OF the Twenty-seventh precinct, was promptly on
hand Lines were drawn and the predatory popu-
lace were thereby deferred rom cleaning from
field they had not sown. AS the lurid flames leaped
out of the windows cool jets of water sparked in
the midnight air, scattering with their force and
their spray the flame-encumbered beams, until
myriad sparks scared skyward, telling the waking
world OF disaster dire and dreadful.
THE SECOND ALARM
rang out and third followed, when 1t became ap-
parent that the engines on the ground were made
quate to the situation unable to repe the furious
advance Of the fiery God, 1t was pretty and
cooling spectacle during the night to ace the
silvery streams flowing high in air over the burn
nrh trvld haC in af
and foam against the seething sides OF the
red-hOt edifice. The populace cared not for pud-
families in the tenement houses on Trinity sround.
near at hand, thought of their Lares and Penates,
and though knowing their olive branches we're
some love gilt or some little token OF affection,
cherished since childhood should fall prey " the
greedy flames. StrenuOusly and manfuliy did
THE BRAVE FIREMEN
work. until the lurid glare OF the flames grew dark
and dense, and great clouds OF suiphnry smoke
rolled skyward. The fallen ralters and floors, the
Quilted upper stories of the stately pile were but
little considered, yet prayer OF thankiuness
lost and that the poor people who live IN the vcin-
lty OF the coniagration were not sufferers.
At five minutes past ten o'clocE the first signal
was sounded, and this brought five engines and
two ladder trucks to the scene OF the disaster.
Alter few minutes vigorous putting and squirting
OF water the engineer decided the IRE to be
out, and a message sent to the Central once
from the Twenty-seventh precinct station house
SOUNDED the worthy sergcan. at the station hense
informed the battalion OF reporters at Police Head.
that the re was WAS gu S an upper door Of NO.
building being the United States Appraisers ware
house. Some twenty or twenty-five minutes later
q second alarm was sounded, recalling the engines
and trucks which had responded to
THE FIRST SIGNAL,
together with four engines and two trucks from
the Sixth dstrict-that 49, above Canal street.
After the lapse Of fifteen minutes more third
alarm was gwen, and TO TINS three engines and one
tai force on the ground Twelve engines and five
trucks. .Tne whole Of this force should
have been called out the moment 1t was known the
fire in the Appraisers building, Tor it is notO
rOus that q greater finder box does not stand
within the limits OF the metropolis. One hundred and
twenty-five feet front on TWO streets, i've stories
HIGH all the floors constructed Of wood without so
mucn as plaster ceilings and filled from cellar TO
bic nature that Is imported into this port. this
building stands, and has stood for years, at the
head o. the list 0l the most dangerous and lie and
property importing institutions within the limits
OF Manhattan island. These facts must have been
well known to the
FIRE AND POLICE AUTHORITIES,
and therefore they should have taken proper
measures at the outset to combat fiery demon OF
no ordinary proportions.
Greenwich street front OF the southwest corner OF
the building in what is known as the Fourth
Division. Why any one understanding his bust
ness should, fifteen minutes after tue starting
of the fire, announce It's complete subJu-
CATION merely because no flame could be
was done, however, and the fire III this way gath
cred additional strength and vigor for the final
burst, winch soon after wrapped the entire rear
portion OF the structure III one magnificent sheet
OF name- The height OF the building prevented the
FREE Use OF CROTON
rom the sidewalk, and the falling In OF q portion
OF the third moor under the pressure OF goods and
water warned the intrepid firemen to keep out
side Alter deal OF labor i've streams were
brought to bear IRON the New Church street side,
and these began at once TO nave a sautary effect.
The only redeeming feature OF the construction
OF the binding is two dividing walls running ongl
tudlnaly through its centre, and to these masses
OF brick must alone be given the credit oil checking
q fire which would otherwise have In all prooa-
Dility, destroyed the entire house, together
with It's contents. Owing to the impossi-
Sy OF any Of 9ne to get no an ds de s
OF the loss could, last night be arrived at Dut the
general Impression among the engineers and III.
surance men was that Sj0O000 on goods and
$4,000 on the building would not be lar out of the
way.
SCENES IN THE STREET.
AS the fre grew III strength and the flames be-
gan TO paint The panes OF the narrow pivotal WIN
dows, the residents OF the adjacent houses grew
restless. Soon as the flames burst into view and
were seen curling and moving seriously along the
ceilings OF the fourth and fifth nats Of the burning
building. these INHABITANTS OF the little, peaked
rooted dwelhngs-sole "reminiscences of the solid.
steady, phegmatic respectabes who used to dwell
IN tnem-became anxious or the safety OF
their valuables. Rushing into their rooms
they soon rid them OF their contents. ecant in
deed were these. and likely hereafter to be more
stinted for those VINO willingly aided to remoye
extreme anxiety to save from fire. 10 put
the furniture and other articles where they
would be SAFE from the narm OF water Rushing
hastily out. they deposited their burdens In the
street. where the puddes and mud were all envei-
oping. Here, alter their efforts 10 preserve their
effects from destruction came the owners TO
SIT AMONG THEIR RUINS.
and each, like an unphilOsophical Marius, to be-
moan his losses. There was a study for some inl-
mature Dore with the force OF realism In his
pencil Sitting In the shadow, now lighted up by
the sudden outgush OF the flames from the con-
Stunning edince, and again made vaguely dehnlte
by the light from the engines, those anxious
watchers sat intent upon the progress or the de-
vourer that threatened to e1ace their homes.
Many Of them are labOrers employed IN the burnt
building, and, as che nreithrows them out OF work,
the possible loss OF ther homes was
POIGNANT ADDITION
to their grief The crowds about seemed imbued
with tber sorrow else very sleepy for