The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-18
Sing sing In A BLAZE.
Great Confiagration and Loss of
Property.
The Town Invaded by Host Of
Rural R0ughs.


| At fifteen minutes before five O'Clock yesterday
morning the village OF Sing Sing. on the Hudson
River, which has population OF about 200 souls,
woke to the sudden clangor or the alarm bell,
rung from a church tower, telling the sleeping
village that the best business portion was in
flames. Olive Hail. at the intersection OF Main and
Spring Streets was a three story brick building,
valued at $4,000 The building was owned by
George Heningshaw and the FIRST moor, having
front OF fifty feet, was occupied by Hamill Brewer
as q hardware store, and adjoining was the liquor
saloon OF Henry Van Lew
On the second floor OF Olive Hall Is a ballroom
used for dancing fairs, festivals and balls by the
inhabitants of Sing Sing. This ballroom occupies
the entire area, or did occupy the entire area OF
Olive Hall. At the time that the fire occurred
Division No II Of the Hildse Bund,
German benefit organization well known
all over the United States was just closing It's
fourth annual ball. This association has fifty
members in the town of Sing Sing and about $50
persons, men, women and children were present
at the time OF the fire breaking forth.
R SING g oe 9 ass sna Of ns
manager, and he was assisted by committee con-
slsting OF Richard Kroner, Charles Elkins, A. W.
Jennings, BENJAMIN flanagan and Jacob Well.
It was the zenith OF the ball, and the
music mus Iron, from the band was pouring lorth
third dance, maddenng German waltz, when
suddenly and without warning volume of smoke
|
the ballroom. In an instance That which had been
scene OF JOY, happiness and leStivity
dismay. Men, women and children ran right and
left and no one could tell now to make an escape.
aes a saws anu al outer gar,
the cloak and hat rooms to be burned
up. The smoke came thicker and thicker, the
spiral wreatns gyratlng and piercing the cavities
OF the ceiling ana floor OF the old building and the
snreks OF the women were really pteous to hear.
from the icy surface of the Hudson River,
and d. as the dancers poured through the
staircase the flames shot forth with fiery
tongues and Tapped the old building. The ball
goers were only too glad TO escape with their
without hats coats, shawls or waterproos, and
the majority OF the women had to put their skirts
over their heads to prevent suifocation. so dense
was the smoke flooding the staircase The morn
ing was bitterly cold, and the dancers having been
the chill blasts which came from the river.
! The chief part OF the business of Sing Sing Is
There are two engine companies at Sing Sing
! Washington and ProtectlOn), two companies
and hook and ladder company which rendered
Mr.. George Cartwright, President OF the Board of
Trustees Of the village; DR.. Isaac G. Collins Mr..
Curtis and MIR. Sheldon editors and proprietors Of
the weekly Republican; Caspar g. Childs, Jr., editor
of the weekly Register; Thomas Leary, MIR. Gregory
were early at the scene OF the fire and rendered
assistance at the right moment. The CrotOn
Aqueduct, which runs through the village was
tapped and after twenty minutes the hose were
adjusted, which furnished water Tor the hand ELI
village, and these were also used Immediately.
Telegraph messages were sent to Yonkers and to
rendered very promptly. YonKers sent TWO ire
companies. Tarrytown two and Peekskl two COM
ee ns
at about nine O'Clock they were received with
good deal a Of enthusiasm and ervor BY this time
over two acres, bakers, butchers shops, harness
shops and chef &C, ks
his noble battalion OF four men, the entire force OF
the vilrge, was on hand and did good work. The
CHIEF says that he heard the church bell ring its
aarm and he TOOK occasion to remark that
the man who rings the bell for "a fire
IN Sing IS thereby entitled to lee OF 81 The fire
ran across Main street to Mrs. Lawrence's candy
store and from thence to Mr.. Buckhout's grocery,
and in three-quarters OF circle there were five
roads running together in the vicinity. The WIND
was very fierce. and the good people of Sing Sing
about to evaporate into smoke, but the hremen
worked very hard, and about midday the
of thousands of dollars worth of valuable property
had been consumed, Sing Sing was declared to be
safe. There remains but one thing more to be said,
and that Is tat Sing Sing was invaded by 800 or 400
Tarrytown and Peekskill, who; being filled with
Hotel. near the depot, ., was broken
upset upset the counter and shelves swept Of every very
thing movable, and, but Tor the bravery
ford, DAVIS steward, and the ' presence sno Of
mind OF an unknown Tarrytown policeman,
MI. DAILY WOulu possibly nave lOSt MS lie such
was the drunken fury OF the conJ,'eres who made
the occasion OF this calamity chance for riot and
The following is a list OF the losses and insur-
ances as far as aScertalned:-
Ts s 0d S insured for
Henry sn @ Sq kS's ON stock and and Ak
National Hartford %ds So nna S So9sh
Joss On ao aRd and
sheldon Curtis, Rsgablican printing office. Loss on
Monumental Dramatic society Loss on scenery and
Ebenezer Fowler: carpenter shop totally destroyed.
wego and onapdaga, Phoenix, N. y. and West
%a %5p's sSs. anG tools
nsS sf s sSss
sioeco; on building $4o00 Companies-Nauonal, Hart
lord New YORK. Hone New York
chants Providence; Narrragansett Providence; Atlas,
lie Sc ssh1, s Sew
New Rochelle Merchants, newark.
on G 5H1s ss.Sns destroyed
Loss on building n1Snown on socS msSsd
for s25OO in the Star New YORK; American, Phadel-
Jacob Elmendorf restaurant Loss $780, No insur-
T. @. Robertson. confectionery; stock considerably
damaged by water Loss $780, Insured. but compan
William Pattison, grocer loss stock. $780, No in
George Hazard barber loss $780, Insured for $l5o
George W. De Revere, scgar store; building nearly
destroyed. Insurance on building and stock. $500;
pan MES ascertanad.
John Vance buildings totally destroyc cd loss SI4 OOO
insured 5000 in the Home New York chester
New Rochelle; Holman, New York. Merchants
Newark Merchants, Providence; Narraganse!!, Prov
| New York; Mississippi Valley, Memphis
w. Ii. Barlow, damage to buildings $3.50; fully in
| sured
b. Forsbury, Sons Nephews, damage to building
$500; insured
Rowland 4 Brandpeth, insurance agents. loss on fur
| niture $40; insured.
Estate Joah Carpenter. Loss building $4,000; in
| sured in New York companies.
w. II. Dean, butcher Loss building and stock,
$1,000 insured for s. 900 in Weschester New Rochelle
Atlas, Hartford: Narragansett Providence.
James Z. Mead, baker. Loss building and
stock 5000 insured fully the Etna of Hartort and
| the IF KENT