The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-13
THE UNION CLUB FIRE.
PERKS FROM TOP STORY KIroHEE-LUcKS
ESCAPE OF A ZINE BUILDING.

PERKS FROM A TOP STORY KIrcHEN-LUcK1
ESCAPE OF A FINE BUILDING.
Yesterday morning about eight O'Clock fire wai
discovered between the door Of the kitchen and ths
ceiling Of the grand dining room OF the Union Club
House. Fifth and Twenty 1rst street. II
extinguished in few hours with loss occasioned
by damage the building Of about SIS 900 and TO the
carpets furniture OF about $4,000 The nrst noted
taken Of by the steward who perceived one Of
the metal ventators in the cornce TO be red hot and
the interior woodwork In flames BY error in send
ing an alarm to the Fire Department Il was soma
twenty minutes before the engines the ground
When they did arrive the fire had seIzed
on the wooden beams beneath the brick and iron cell
ing, and was burning vigorously. To get properly al
the seat Of the lire necessary to cut away
OF the three panels OF the ceiling OF the grand dining
room The frescong Of this ceiling cost the large
OF $1,000 Three Of the beautiful wall panels done in
delicate tinted tracery, embossed a gold ground,
were 50 scratched and soed make it impossible
restore tham and they must be entirely replaced The
grand dining room Is a noble chamber DIT for prince
Yesterday despite the rum and desoation wrought by
the fire, II still preserved sufficient its oden appear.
ance to impress the visitors with admiration Of IT'D
beauty and proportions
TUE DANGER BRICKS
The nre, according to Engineer McManus, originated
are hauled out Of the furnace, becoming overheated.
In this condition they communicated the heat the
iron Orders beneath the floor of the kitchen and con.
sttuting part Of the ceiling OF the grand dining
Under the Orders wooden rafters, to which
nailed the laths that supported the mental ceiling
The wood being excessively dry and the iron almost
red hot the consequences may be easily Inferred.
IL supposed the fre was shoulder
ing for some time before was discovered and that
when the ceiling was pierced and the air admitted 10
burst into flames. Not long the club house
modelled and the kitchens placed in the upper story in
the northwest end OF the building On the same door
with the kitchen is the room the servants, hall
oyster store, ventilator, servants toilet room book
keepers room, superintendent room, officers mess
room, chief engineers room, store and Linen room,
scullery and two bedrooms II is thought that If the
fire had broken out in the early morning, at
o'clock, more serious consequences might have hap
pcned In the kitchen are two large ranges and a
broiler spit The latter is in corner and the fur
used for 1t Is held responsible for the fire.
Wafer and not fire. did the chief share OF damage in
this instance Not alone did the dining room suffer,
but also the billiard room beneath, and even the west
sitting underneath that again. Tho latter, how
ever escaped very lightly, and simply shows few
traces damp and there along the Of tho
ceiling In the rear billiard room matters are worse
The quantity OF water that soaked through the floor OF
the dining saloon damaged the ceiling beneath that
1t must be taken down and replaced All that part OF
the building the Fifth avenue side escaped injury
Crowds gathered Fifth avenue during the progress
Of the fire. Among them were many members OF the
club naturally anxious as to the result Of the fire.
mems efforts The provision within the building itself
for meeting connagration fair enough six
horse engine in the basement driven 20 its full
pacty, and hose directed from the hall Of the dining
room did good service The billiard tables not
seriously injured The paintings were saved without
any material damage aud the report that the walls
blackened by the smoke is not borne out by the
TACT The employees OF the club worked earnestly with
the hose belonging to the house. The hremen
Bates and Chief Of Ba.aon cVuel The insurance
patrol also efficient in covering with tarpauns
the valuable furniture and pictures and putting away
many precious articles OF vertu and bric-abrac
The Chairman OF the House Committee Mr. Edward
Cooper, stat ed that ire used any floor above
the basement except in the kitchen, the top floor,
the rest OF the house being heated BY pipes. he
had doubt that the IRE originated from the heat or
the range in the kitchen. Mr. Carroll, the supern-
tendent, Was absent when the fire was discovered.
SKETCH TAX CLUB
The Union Club was founded in 1886 and began its
at No Bond street, whore the Office CT the
Commissioners OF Charities and Correction was for a
long time in after In 1887 the club moved into
building the west side OF Broadway, near the cor
ner Of Leonard street II remained there Tor about
three years when it changed It's quarters TO more
stylish building across Broadway, near the corner OF
White street. There lapse of seven years before
another change took place. and this time IL was in obc-
aence to general impulse that appeared 70 have seized
on downtown people to move up The club
was found on Broadway. one door from Fourth
street. IN a house formerly occupied as q residence by
Joseph Kernochan As the club advanced in wealth
and influence the question Of building house Of its
own commensurate with its dignity afauence and num-
bers was earnestly taken up, and In 1854 committee
thereon suitable structure Tho corner OF Twenty
first street and Fifth avenue selected and in course
Of time really imposing edihce Of brown stone was
reared above all the surrounding dwellings The
roomy, massive style OF architecture adopted
harmonized well with the character of the club.
Its reputation that of being emnently solid and
respectable; in fact 1t at time looked upon
exclusively Knickerbockerlsh The club house entrance
placed Twenty first street. in the middle OF
front 100 feet long The cost OF the building
$3.50 600 but its value to-day be at least three
times that amount 1t completed in 1855 and
occupied in May of the year The club numbered
that date 500 members To-day its roll is about
pleted the limit being 1000 members. The property
Is vested trustees, and the government 10
conducted by q committee OF twenty-four men,
bers, who elect president vice president,
secretary and treasurer appoint the superintendent
and clerks and prescribe the duties OF servants This
committee appoints a sub committee of five direct
control expenses, receive and consider complaints
and report upon any communications addressed 70 it
by members, officials or servants Admissions to the
club very strictly regulated. II possesses fine
billiard ROOM reading and tolerably entertaining
library on the members roll of the club may be
found the names OF mostly all the men OF New York
distinguished by wealth and social influence. The call
which brought IL into existence signed by the fol-
lowing citizens samuel Jones, Thomas T. Oakley,
Philip Hone, Beverly Robinson, W. B. Lawrence,
Charles King, E. T. Throop, B. E. Bremen, g. NJ.
wilkins, 5 @. Williams r. Sheldon j. Depeystcr
Ogden Ogden Hoffman, and John II. 1. McCrackan,
Secretary.