The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-01
THE PUBLIC STOREHOUSE FIRE.
Glance at the Smoking Building-The Loss
Estimated at $500, o00-Cozplsts sus-
pension Of Business-Hist Of
tho assurances.


the assurances.
The warehouse IRE in Greenwich street on Wed
nesday night was not so great as It was first re-
ported to have been. THe amount OF he loss Was
papers stated yesterday that the loss was two mil.
lions it is now certain that it win probably fall
short OF $220, 900. The officials in charge OF the
bonded warehouse sad the loss on the goods would
prOpably be less than 5000 900 and the loss the
building would not exceed $4,000. The buildings
Tor there are two-include the public stores No.
49, 1l6, lit, 1l9 and l2l Greenwich street. and are
owned by DR.. J. G. Aver, of Lowell Mass, and his
brother, who rented them to the government for
$e6,Ooo year. They were insured for $780, 900, 30
that DIR. Aver win sustain no loss.
The scene around the warehouse was unusually
animated. Hundreds OF merchants rushed to in
quire whether their goods had been consumed by
the flames or otherwise injured. One of the en-
gines
PLAYED UPON THE SMOKING WALLS
OF the Greenwich street building until eleven
O'Clock yesterday morning. A vast crowd stood
round the building and watched the working Of the
engine. There was leak In the hose, which extern
ded to the roof, and stream OF water shot from 1t
every now and then. The ravages OF the fire could
easily be seen from the street. The walls OF the
At the first glance we would not have thought that
the fire was 30 fierce and that it took such long
time to subdue the flames. All that could be seen
were fallen roof, o number Of broken windows
and walls blackened at the upper stories.
One OF the ofaclals in charge OF the building who
had investigated the matter gave 1t his opinion
that tho fire originated In the sixth floor, amidst
the bales Of wool, Dundee linen, human hair and
mating. The cause Is still unknown. The damage
by fire was confined to the fourth, fifth and sixth
noors The fourth floor contained
VALUABLE BOOKS AND DRUGS,
and was principally injured by the water. The
nth floor was for artificial flowers, bunting, human
hair and hair braid, hosiery, carpets and feathers,
parasols, umbrellas ana woollen knit goods. The
sixth floor was set apart for the examination of
woods, hemp, jute, shoddy, bristles, canes carpets
manufactured and other iurs and mating. This
floor was completely destroyed
The loss in the leather room was not very great
and large quantity OF drugs was saved among
others valuable invoice oil Turkey opium and 1873
spared the rooms in which these goods were stored
sixteen cases Of very valuable French books,
The insurance patrol arrived early yesterday
morning. They covered the goods with Oilcoth
from further injury by the dripping water. Deputy
Collector Tompkins had given strict orders that
none nom but members Of the insurance patrol or the
ADMITTED TO THE DAMAGED FLOORS.
Appraiser Darling telcgraphed early in the morn.
eminent win order an investigation Mr.. Darling
said to the HERALD reporter that the government
% up f eSVs
bic that this store would soon DC abandoned.
The business was entirely suspended. Tue office
unable to do any work ail day. A great many
merchants wanted to see whether their goods had
even his best friends admission. Some who had
brought their delivery orders rae were sorely dsap;
allowed to enter the upper floors.
-. Tne rich firms who are supposed to have lost by
they
MADE SCARCELY ANY INQUIRIES.
There was, however, the sad case Of young i'm
porter bright cnesrl u no man, who mad
lost human hair worth $1,000 TINS ms was ", s pretty
He was nearly distracted when he discovered that
all his property had been consumed W the flames.
He had lost in a day what IT probably had taken
him years TO accumulate.
No goods were received yesterday. All goods
that would have come 10 the store were directed
to be sent to the nearest store until the Collector
and Appraiser could resume the ordinary business.
the duties on the amount lost viii be made by the
Secretary OF the Treasury. Where bond has
take on the amount Of the duties on the property
destroyed. on goods which have been warehOused
the loss viii amount only to the dutable value.
These regulations Will be OIL great importance to
all affected by the ire.
1t was impossible to ascertain the names OF the
, firms and the amounts OF losses. The records OF
the warehouse we've all saved, but
THERE WAS SUCH A CONFUSION
% e s %
that was known was that A. I. Stewart, Horace
b. Claim and large number OF other firms had
goods in the upper floors but none OF the officials
were able to tell how much each fra lost. Most OF
the goods were insured, the insurance being
amounts Of from ST. 500 TO $1,000. The folio ing
are the names OF few OF these COM
5000; Continental Insurance Companys loss viii
net exceed $3,O00 Jefferson Insurance Company,
on stock, 5000; Equitable, Of Providence. on
rents, $1,000; Hanover Insurance Company Is loss
will not exceed $4,000; German Insurance Com
pany, loss on stock, will not exceed $4,000 Lycom
Ing Insurance Company, on stock, 5000; Citizens
Insurance Company, loss will not exceed $500;
a coo ON o
$4,000; st. Nicholas Insurance Company's loss VIII
not exceed $500; Phoenix Insurance Company, on
building, 81 ,000 &C. All officials agree in praisiDg
the Fire Department, which, through It's efficiency,
mas saved thousands and thousands OF dollars.
Effect Of the Fire at the Custom House.
In order to ascertain additional facts concerning
the great fire Of Wednesday night in the Public
Stores representative Of the HERALD called upon
Mr.. John b. Lydecker. Special Deputy and Acting
Collector In General Arthur's absence. Mr.. Ly-
decker, IN his usual afYable manner, impaired all
he knew concerning the connagration his infor-
nation being based upon the report Of Mr.. Temp.
kns, Deputy Collector Of the Eighth division, and
In charge Of the public stores.
The loss to the government, Mr.. Lydecker stated,
owing to the fire would be but very trining. When
an invoice Of imports is presented at the Custom
House for entry portion thereof is ordered to the
public stores for examination and appraisement.
The importer gives bonds for the payment OF the
tax, and, In case the balance of goods on
the same invoice are required they would
be forthcoming. Those wares in the hands Of