The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-04
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN VESEY STREET.

The Building OF the United states Tea
Company Completely Destroyed-
Loss SI2O,OOO-Narrow Escape OF Five
Mcn-Onc Seriously Hurt-Inadcquacy
OF the Water supply-The Wind Too
Strong for the Pumping Force.
At twenty minutes past ten last night fire
broke out in the five story building occupied by the
United States Tea Company In Vesey street, two
doors from Church street. Andrew Gilmartin, Of
the Fire PATROL first discovered the fire In the roof
Of the building and gave the alarm. In moment,
almost as quick as 1t takes to tell, the fire
engines were rushing to the SPOT and engine
q was before the building not five min
utes after the FIRST alarm was sounded.
Others soon arrived on the spot, and
three streams Of water were put on the fire. The
strength OF the wind was great that in spite Of
the force of the water, 1t came from the MOBILES,
it was scattered In all directions before 1t reached
the fourth story OF the building, and In this way
was OF but little effect To remedy this the fremen
managed to make their way to the roof and en-
deavored to carry the hose with them, but even
this was found impossible to do. They therefore
tried another plan by putting up ladders against
the walls All this time the fire was still confined
to the upper floor apparently. The first three
floors OF the building were occupied by the United
states Tea Company, which had vast quantities OF
Five ff ''t Of the men en- belonging to the Fire
Insurance Patrol broke down the door leading up
stairs and assembled to the third noor, with the in
tention OF saving as much OF the stock as they
could. They were at work on the third floor, aud
already had some OF the goods ready to be taken
down stairs. when suddenly there was sound as Of
thunder, and the roof and the two upper doors
gave way and came down TO all appearances upon
warned, however, by the previous crashing and
had made the best OF their way down to the street,
the crash wnen tasy were on tine
on the staircase. But here their position was
almost as bad, for the noor above them gave
the street saw the danger Of their comrades and
rushed to help them. The men were all finally
dragged out, two Of them insensible and one hurt
rather BADLY internally His name Is L0wcry me
others-Hamilton Wetsen, Reilly and Glastater-
were more or less frightened, but not hurt Cap
tain Hull OF the Insurance Patrol. struck with
a piece Of falling c0rnice as he was coming out OF
the building alter helping his men, ana he was
frightened that he tainted in the street and was
taken In an ambulance to the Park Hospital. This
gave rise to the report that man had been
When the floors fell in the whole building was q
mass OF Are in q moment, and 1t stretched from
bdSement to roof. Ii was then apparent that not
Q traction Of the whole could be saved. The fre at
one time stretched It's devastating arm 10 the
building Of the American Tea Company, next door,
and q COED portion OF the top cornice was burned
and the IRE spread through the ROOF to the top
noor. Here It's progress was as. stopped however however,
though nothing could be saved. Suddenly, when
least expected, 1t was found to have stretched
have caught new building; but it was part Of
the same and gave entrance to the upper floors.
there was arrested The two oors Of the United
States Tea Company on Church street were the
only part saved.
The two upper floors Of the building were occu-
pied by the Christian Leader and Pelletreau,
printer, stationer and photographer. IL was to a
great extent the heavy ithograpnic stones falling
OF these was completely destroyed. The loss ID
estimated at $45, 900 on the building and fixtures
and $4,000 on the stock, making total OF $780, Oo0
The assurances could not be ascertained, though
they are said to cover considerably the loss.