The New York herald., 1875-11-26
FIRE nv ANN STREET.

DISTRACTION OF A LARGE BUSINESS EDTFICE-
LOSS, ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
The nremen Of this city have seldom had nercer
enemy 70 combat than the Are which met them yester
day afternoon the building At the southeast corner
Of Nassau and Ann streets Such battling malignant
flames ID took possession Of that building are hard to
imagine Now they retreated the rear the build
ing as II ul the anxiety of their brave combatants
and having moved nervousy therein for a time again
rushed roaring up and down and across each Aoor Of
the house. Through the roof they aspircd toward
the heavens; and, coming 70 the windows, they de-
voured The sashes fused the glass and greedy gloated
on the houses across the narrow street Making its
lrst appearance the second floor OF the building,
the ERE rapidly assumed possession Of it, When the
nremen began 10 work the flames them al every
point They seemed 20 be everywhere and all power
mL They gulped the streams Of water which were
thrown 70 them and then them back into the faces
Or the hremon as befogging and bewildering hot
vapor But that which they cast back 50 contemptu-
ousy was also powerful; and,
rHE STEAM GRADUALLY CLOSING AROUND
the flames helped 10 aufocate them Il long,
however before they were overcome. In the mean
time they played such mpish pranks would ead the
least supersous Of the hremen to believe them urged
BY the chief Of the saheranean or anticelesai nre
brigade They caped into the air and the faces OF the
fremen cambered up tho front OF the house, toward
the cornice cracking and ceavng the brown stone as
men below Then they ran back into the house and
covered the rear party wall rom hrst hoor TO roof with
During all this time there we're almost continuous
detonatons within the burning building, some short
and snappish like the explosion Of pistol others duh
and heavy, followed by the expulsion through
the third story windows OF glassbodes that looked like
the necks OF carboys These were shvered upon the
sidewalk therefore Is could be definitely
tained what they were. Various agitating rnmors,
caused by these explosions, ran through the crowd Al
one time ii said there powder magazine in
tha hufi8i auaiu m urspp al of
LOADED GUNS AND PISTOLS
there; and also that there contained in /.
large quantity OF explosive chemicals That there was
active chemical agent in the building proven
BY the orange hue OF tie smoke which aud hung
over the building This smoke had peculiar translu
cent quality, which was one cause Of several peculiar
and beautiful serial effects. The sunlight passed
through hrst from the Ann street side, and striking
the spray the Of being thrown up from
Nassau street. presented to the eye the beautiful
arrangement OF the prismatic colors There was at
one time three OF these mimic ranbows.
The Aremen worked we'll but, as has been said, they
had hard task. IL difficult indeed, stay upon
a ladder or near one while Arebrands bottle necks
and pieces OF window glass were falling showers;
and while explosions were continually occurring which,
for all that could be learned might be only the pre-
cursors of great outburst that would completely dc
mohsh the burning building, and involve the lives OF
men in the general Destruction. There another
circumstances which would have overawed any other
than New York fremen. On the third floor of the
house was a printing Office in which number
OF heavy presses which, II was thought might be pre-
cipitaed into the cellar and, in their descent, throw
outward the walls OF the building Luckily the presses
kept their places, and none OF the brave men who
risked their lives to 90 their duty injured ser
ously. Several were hurt slightly by the flying glass;
and one sturdy Young man, who kept his position
ladder while the flames were scorchng his face the
smoke almost obscuring him. had his hand severely
cut
The ire was discovered on the third floor The
building six story brown stone front al No 102
Nassau street. the OF Ann street. and extend
ing down the latter street Nos &c. So and 40 The
alarm gwen by the iantress Of the building
Mrs johnson, who perceived tho fame and smoke
coming from the fourth hoor. occupied by
Mr.. Normandau, electrotyper and silver platter.
and MT Ernest Loekcl manufacturer OF
hand stamps Before the steam FIRE engines received
the alarm, which was given promptly by the police,
Captain John l. Knight Janitor OF the Bennett Build
ing line Of hose from the large Woodward pump
in that building Nassau street and extnguished
the fire in John A. Dougans hat store the first floor
Of the burning house The Fire Department then
rived and then the hose stretched up the ladders
TO the third and fourth 1oors Of the building which
4 was then mass OF swrling flames, AT twenty mn
4 OF two r ". the second alarm rung, calling
Il more engines and at fourteen minutes Of two p H.
general alarm was sounded calling out the reserve.
The rapid progress Of the ire required the entire force
OF tile Fire Department OF the district confne
the building within which IL originated About four
~ me roof fen N and carried with II the htth floor
The roofs OF the adjoining buildings covered by
nremen, who directing streams Of from the
engines into ihe burning mouse A. SIX 4 M the IRE
under control and then the following losses and
insurance were ascortaned John A. Dougan, halter,
first loor loss on stock $50 090 insured for $40 900
in various companies William Manson liquors, base
Inent loss 81 600; insured 81 500 William Montgom-
cry, basement tin rooer, loss 500;
John Stein cigar dealer, first looT loss $500 insured
81 200 Henry Letve, restaurant, loss $780, insured
81 600 Second floors. Firuski diamonds and Watches
loss tools and fixtures, $500; insured, companies
not known. same hoor J. s. Pes0a loss on tools and
/ materials $500; insurance Same floor David Sal
omon Ayoca Francais, loss 500; insured for S3 600
Third floor Coiyer Judson, hat manufacturers loss
s.. 500 insured for 81, 500. Fourth floor, r. IT, Nor
mandau, electrotyper. loss Sl4. O00 insured for
4 $4,000 in German Of Rochester and other compa-
MES but large salvage expected If the sale is preserved
Same Aoor Ernest Loeke, hand stamps loss
500; insured Fifh and sixth noors Pohomus
& Co, printers; loss SIS, goo; insured for SIC 600
The entire edition of the Ship Olcners' Register for
1876, containing Isis OF 20 900 vessels destroyed
with the copy. The building owned ny St Georges
church, leased by a Raymond, and insured by him.
Damage, $4,000 insurance fully equal TO the damage
The Bennett Building damaged by the heat
cracking the window panes TO the amount Of $500 /;
fully insured.