The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-17

The Hamilton Buildings in Blaxe-The Long
Island Historical Society Collection DAM
sgsd-Lawyer Tenants and Their His
fortunss--Ths City Treasurer and
Registrar Of Arrears Floated
0ut-Losses About 100000.

The aar m OF fro VA given shortly before sl1
O'Clock yesterday morning by the Brooklyn City
Hall bell, and three minutes later IRE engine No.
S, stationed in the neighborhood stopped In 'front.'
OF the handsome four story and basement Portland
stone and iron columned structure situated on
Court street, between Joralemon and Remsen
streets, and known as the Hamilton BUILDINGS.
Hero It was found that fire was raging in the last
OF the row OF ediaces embraced In thus block, No.
49, The danes ragged in the rear room on the sec
ond story, and were rapidly making their way up
to the third floor on which resided the Janttor Of
the buildings Mr.. James Hughes, and ms family. q
Attention was Immediately given by the nremeA
to their rescue, which WAS accomplished with some
di1nculty. On the fourth floor was Mrs. Clark tho
widow OF the late director Of the Business College
OF Clark, Bryant q Stratton, which school extenos
throughout the entire area OF the upper door Of
the building. This lady had also o narrow esoapeN
for her life The fire soon enveioped several rooms
in the rear OF the building, and crept upward IN
manner that threatened to envelop and demolisn
all that was perishabe within the walls. Engineer
Nevins caused . second alarm to be given which
had the effect OF bringing out the entire Western
District force and the reserve OF tine police under
command OF Superintendent John Folk. Mean
time despite the intense cold that prevailed in tho
early morning, large crowd assembled up0n tho
sidewalks in expectation OF witnessing possible
Chicago spectacle before the water could conquer
the seething flame within The police Grove back
the eager spectators and made way for tho
flremen 20 work untrammelled by outside pressure.
Many streams were introduced up the iron stair
ways ana into the stronghold o. the names while
the water Tell in deiuging quantity upon the doors
and made its way In heavy showers through ALI
the ceilings beneath, carrying destruction In ita
Jury by fire was averted, and several OF the engnes
took up their hose and left. The water continues
to pour down through the handsome cenings
which had escaped the fire, and spoiled carpets,
desks chairs valuable records, &C., until late IN
y vee wSo ecccupied ocss on the second and
first doors, and their losses consisted for the
most part in damage to taeir libraries,
papers generally. R. 4 ". NJ. Ingraham. in whose
Office the fire is supposed to have originated have
slonai sense by OF the destruction Of legal
papers. The disciples Of Blackstone wore very
their cleared oGices and gazed upon their satu-
rated and abbreviated briefs and c0gitated upon
The ways and means OF repar1GG %
than ever with the barristers OF the Hamilton
Buildings, judging. fom appearances, for Some
The Long Island Historical Society, which 'em-
brace an area OF ten rooms on the second story.
which came down through the ceilings in the 'front.'
part Of the building, occupied by their library pic.
so so'e badiy that rebindng win be necessary; the
carpets and furniture, which were new, were spoiled
in the 'front.' rooms mat pa sent Sne cnt n H.
rooms rooms on Thursday night and was aroused about
quarter before six by tho cry OF "Fire" ne de-
the window, looking out across the little court
yard, saw names issuing from the law once just
He then fastened down stairs and opened
the door to admit the aremen. NJ.
suspicious about the origin OF the fre, which he
did not understand. Parties were working until
midnight in the Tax Arrears once, but there Wa
that the fires in the basement were extinguished
at six o'ciock-a statement which a man who had
building that night corroborated by saying there
was no heat whatever from the heater in the lodge
room The building Is owned by A. A. Low, and is
damaged to the extent OF from $4,000 to $4,000
1t is insured for $40 000ln the Continental 0OOOy
Nassau, MOntauk, Hdgewood and Lamar, 5000
The occupants OF the buildings lost according to
their estimates about $4,000 in the aggregates.
although the insurance agents object most Strenu-
Ously, as usual, to such as the actual loss.
THE LOSSES IN DETAIL.
No. 3S Court street-Basement. Thomas Mont
gomery, wines and liquors: about $1,000; insured
in the Citizens and other companies
First noor, Ridgewood Fire Insurance Company;
second floor, law Offices of Messrs. Dickemau,
Pray, knobe and lngraham The first three gentle
men estimate their loss at $4,000; Mr. lngraham
the fourth floor, occupied as business college;
No 40 Court street.-Occupied in the basement BY
Great 4 Sons, dealers In wines and liquors; loss.
of,ces and Collector James Freeland's once: the
losses are about 81 00O
The third moor was occupied by Hubbard Rush.
more, Marion and others as law Offices. They est1-
mate their loss at about $40, 900 each.
No. AZ Court street.-The basement was occupied
by Mr. Manning. who Kept real estate, insurance
and intelligence Office. Loss 81 600; fully insured.
Above this Office came that Of Mayo Little, Regis
trar of Arrears and Taxes. Loss on furniture
The third floor was occupied as law onices BY
Messrs. Daily, Browner, Hubbard, Rusnmore, Peck
and Martin. Losses, varying, estimated at from
$500 to 81 900.
The rear rooms OF the second door were occu-
pied as Law offices by Henry c. Murphy and
William T.. Robinson, and the Atlantic Yacht Club
had rooms there too Damage from $500 to QUO
each.
Tue second moor extension was occupied by the
Long Island Historical Society. Loss estimated at
from 81, 600 to $4,000.
No. Al Court street.-The lower part Of this
building was occupied by the ofhces OF the Citi-
zens', Hanover and Asbury Insurance companies.
and the handsome furniture and books therein
were damaged to the extent OF about 600 each.
The second moor was occupied as the City Treas
urer's once and the furniture was damaged to the
amount OF $500. The upper floors were occupied
as rooms Of the ofncers OF the Thirteenth regiment
and by Company A OF the same regiment. The
In the business College," fourth moor, all the
desks and books were DESTROYED, proving an entire
loss to the owner, Mrs. Clark. who held policy on
the property up to within the past few months,
when she permitted it 10 run out, and, failing to
renew It, sustans the loss, amounting TO about
$4,000.
AS an instance Of the uncertainty OF all things
sublunary it is told that, wni!e the Empire Stores
were burning on Thursday evening. the owner.
Mr. Nesbitt was approached by young Mr.. Low.
proprietor OF the Hamilton Buildings, who jOcu-
larry remarked, $50 you in for 1t this time, old
fellow ?" Early yesterday morning the gentleman
thus addressed remarked to Mr.. Low, while he was
inspecting his charred property, $50, Old fellow,
you are in for it this time"
The Fire At the Empire stores.
Notwithstanding the fact that the fire at the
Empire Stores was under control on Thursday
night, it retained tenacious hold OF the merchan-
disc, and it was found necessary to keep one or
two streams OF water on the smouldering debris
until noon yesterday. The losses, however Will
not exceed the amount stated in the HERALD OF
yesterday The loss on the buildings is $4,000
and the loss on stock SIS, 900.
INSURANCE ON THE STORES
The insurance on the stores IL as f0llows:-Nae
tonaI OF New York, 50. 400; Nassau, OF Brooklyn.
&C. 400 Home, OF Columbus, Ohio $1,000; Citizeus',