The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-13
LARGE FIRE IN CENTRE STREET.
Five-story Building Completely De-
stroyed, with a Loss OF One Hundred

strOycd, with a Loss OF One Hundred
and twenty Thousand Dollars.
Shortly after eight O'Clock last night fre was
observed to break out on the fourth floor OF the
nve-story building 40 and 172 Centre street. two
doors from Canal. The fire began very mildly,
and 1t seemed on the first alarm given that they
would be very easily subdued The first intimatlon
of the fire was from the windows Carl Hollander
Co., scroll and band makers, For some
few moments the names appeared co
rest here, but gradually were observed
lighting up the windows on the whole floor,
going over toward the elevator, which stood on the
northeast corner Of the building. About this time
the second alarm was rung out, and 1t was evil
dent the fire was going 10 be OF more serious
nature than at first anticipated, though 1t was still
believed the flames could be confined to this one
flOor When, however, they reached the locality
OF the elevator they leaped up and down, and
seemed to be furiously driven ABOUT by the rather
high wind which was prevailing at the time. In
this way the fire extended with the speed OF light
ming to the pine noor above, and to the third,
second and first below. Matters Lad now as
sumed SUCH serious aspect that O third alarm
was rung out and more engines came rushing TO
the spot. In less time than IT takes TO tell ten
streams were directed upon the edldce, which now
babe fair to become In its entirety q prey TO the
flames. The fire erept along each moor slowly bu ut
water which was thrown upon it. This was, no
doubt owing to the construction OF the building
itself. 1t appeared to be nothing more than
SHE'LL and IL was remembered that about three
years after fire which had devastated the same
spot the new building was run up In miraculously
short period. The flames seemed therefore TO have
plenty to prey upon There was little else besides
wood in the building. Thus the flames advanced,
ana though three times subdued by the Efforts OF
the Gremen, and APPARENT; under control, broke
olt airesh The state OF things got to be 50 alarm
Ing that iremen were sent to protect the tene
ment houses in the rear OF the burning building
120 1909 and 1872 Baxter street. There appeared
TO be, however, no real danger Tor these.
ment it broke out until about ten, when two of the
floors--thc fourth and iith-gave way and fell IN
with crash. The others were expected to follow
to give way, put also disappointed the expecta-
tons OF the lockers on. The outside wall was so
badly calcined that the top, towards the coping,
number OF streams playing upon the fire 1t
was finally subdued about ha-past ten O'Clock, and
though the building Itself was completely gutted,
the ncigGboring property was considered out OF
the reach Of danger AT one moment the fire
seriously threatened 1853 Centre street. but did not
The total loss by the fire is calculated ut about
one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, divided
as io4lOws:-F. Erchert occupied part OF the hrst
floor as u cutlery establishment; his loss, ali tod,
is about eighteen thousand dollars. q. w. Read,
manufacturer OF veneers, occupied the first
moor Of 40 and the basement OF 122; his total
floor was occupied by A.. p. Birmingham
as picture frame maker, and his loss on stock
tenanted by Heyenga Ruthenberg, briar pipe
makers; their loss on stock is $4,000. and on ma
chnery $4,000 The fourth door was occupedby
&. HOliander Co., and his loss Is $l5,000 on which
there Is an insurance OF $4,000 in the Great West
ern. Scheerer & Gross turner's, occupied the
fifth floor. and their loss is about $4,000. on when
there IS an insurance OF $4,000 The building itself
worth some $4,000, was completely destroyed so
that this may be counted as the amount OF the loss
the building. The ~ list OF assurances 1t was
impossible to obtain last evening. No one knows
how the fire originated