The New York herald., 1875-12-23
FIRE IN vEsEY STREET.

AT about a quarter 10 twelve O'Clock last night
nre discovered in Smiths paper pattern manu-
factory in the upper part Of the house No. AZ VeEey
street. the lower part being occupied by RlHard A
Co, dealers in chanpagnes, cordals, &c. owing
to the extremely infammable nature OF the
material, the IRE spread with terrible
rapidity and in incredibly short space Of
time the whole top OF the building enveloped in
flames. The fre engines were promptly on the ground
every possible effort made get the Ore under
control, but for a long time with little effect
copious stream OF water was poured in
on the burning building through the front
windows and from the roof OF neighboring
house, but il had effect than 80 much spray.
The blaze out in fearful volume through the
windows giving the bars the appearance Of 80
many grdirons; but eventually they came
down with crash the sidewalk, 70
the no small danger OF the nremen The
heat emitted BY the burning building was intense and
the neghborhood for several blocks around was urdly
illuminated by the dull red smoky glare The house,
No 40 Vesey street, occupied by W. H.. Griffith
4 Co, billiard table manufacturers, in short
time attacked by the hames On the
top of this house is wooden cornice. 50
dried up that il caught are short time the
wind was blowing the blaze from the nearest window
Of No AZ and this the top noor Of No. 40
soon took fire 1t required all the exernons Of the
remen 10 prevent spreading the lower part OF the
building; but eventually its fury began abate
what and after the fire completely under
control
At about halfpast twelve O'Clock the hremen had
two ladders raised against the front OF the building No
AZ Vesey street One reached up window OF the
1h floor and the other to the third floor. II the
intention that should 60 up the former
ladder TO combat the flames, which rolling out
and tapping the cornice Just then large and heavy
wire screen sign nclosed in heavy wooden frame
broke down and only prevented from falling the
walk by the strength OF the wires at
tached TO It, There il hung, menace
to the 1remen standing passing in out Of the buld
and uncomfortable threat against the safety OF the re
men. The the roof Of the house
went to work to cut away the wires that
held up the sign, and when that done
the immense mass OF iron and wood crashing
down. and with il the heavy cornice OF the roof This
mass came down with a tremendous crash, breaking
down the two ladders, knocking down lamppost and
shivering the thick Tagging Of the sidewalk. II was
Immediately found that the cornice had made furrow
In the ground several inches deep II indeed
fortunate that everybody warned TO keep
good distance from the birnng house before
the sign thrown down; for, other
wise, nobody thought that the
cornce would fall several persons must have been
kllee As II pipeman who intrepdly held to tho
nozzle Of his hose somewhat Jared by the contact
OF the mass with the ground near him.
The buildings very nmsy constructed and
hence the rapid progress OF the FIRE
The insurance people say that the cornces OF the
buildings were shamefuly made They also declare
that such fire could have occurred in other TWO
buildings on the block and cause small loss This
can scarcely be more than $35, 600.