The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-22
GREAT FIRE IN SOUTH NoRwALK.
TOTAL. DESTRUCTION OF SIX BUILDINGS IN THE
CENTRE OF THE crTY-THE WORK OF INcES-
DIARIEs-Loss. $50. 600
SorTH NoRwALK, Conn, Nav .


CENTRE OF THE crrY-THE WORK OF NcES-
DnRrEs-Loss. s150,O00.
SOUTH NoRwALK, Conn. May 81. 1879.
The city was visited this morning for the second
time within a period OF two years by destructive
coniagi alton, which has wiped ont or existence
TWO OF its finest buildings. The arst indication
that a IRE had broken out this morning was
terrific explosion IN the upper story or
the large iron structure Main street. opposite
the railroad depot aud occupied nv the Fairfield
Fire Insurance Company, LounsDury Brothers 4
Rockwell boot and shoe manufacturers, ana Com
stock Brothers, wholesale clothing The sound
from this explosion awoke slumberng citizens 70
a realization OF the danger to when they were
suddenly subjected, and was heard FOR miles away.
Tne explosion ass supposed, was caused bJ the nrc
coming in contact with quantity OF n9otmakcr's
cement, and il ripped on Que corner OF the build
ing sending fragments Of brick and timLer 100 feet
into tie air. An alarm was sounded and the
Fire Department and citizens came out but 70
qua themselves poWericss ~ arrest the progress
~ the flames. The tire now descended 70 toe
lower stories and communicated with adjoining
buildings with fearful rapidify. Al i've o'clccN
the roni wall OF the fnest structure IA South
NorvaIk fel INTO the street. driving tho dremen
ron their posts VI duty, aud few minutes later
III. rear wan went crashing through the low
buildings corner or Main and washington
streets, setting them on IRE. The greatest
consterns ton prevailed, and az one time
names communicated with Mr. 4. Lander's hulln-
ing 70 Brown a Willows, Rrocers, ana L. y.
Foote'S, halter. Fortunately At this iuncture the
steam nre engine from NurwaiK arrived, and with
promptness got the machine III operation, and,
win Two streams water soon md the FIRE un-
der control Al ak O'Clock Orc broke out In the
remaining portion OF the low frame buildings on
Main street, ana the water supply gave out az the
same time Az the risS Of their lives the hremen
succeeded in pulling the buildings down. Inc
steamer was taken To tbs river, fresh streams
were set upon the FIRE and al seven A. IA. all dan
ger mad passed.
The loss reaches $50. 600, only one half OF which
IN covered by insurance. 10 the Fairfield Fire
Insurance Company Brown a Wilcox have 90 600.
4. =. ROote 200, q. Z. Stllsou $4,000 y. sullivan
fL010 Cvms'ock BrotBers lose $4,000; insured
in the PnGnlx, Of Brooklyn, $5,500i hanover, New
York, 5000; Germania, New York, a,0oe. II. :.
Rood, state Mutual, $1,000. Buckingham Co.,
furniture, Fireman's Fund, Si,a00; American. Phil
ancjp pima, $500. and the same amount IN
two other companies. rhe Fairfield Fire
Insurance. Company lose their elegant buildlng,
vglBed az $4,000: insured IA tho Niagara az
Nas York. 81 100: Commercial Union, London.
a. 20: Continental New N0fA, $500; Gerfnanis.
800 and osher companies Louusburv Breth-
ets lose $4,000: insuT.n, $4,000 on butaing.
ts,000 OF which Il IN tne dsiua, aud twenty otaer
,omparies have from $4,000 70 $1,000 on me
nuIlaing anG stock. The are, which has desOlated
40 finest portion ~ tna civ, IL supposed 70 ave
been 81 inCendiary Origi8. " vii De an incentive
IL the immediate introduction 81 puhhc wafer.
winch has long been needed IN tnls vicinity, and
tenn W all NJ the movement Tor the organization
III a better IRE department The burned buildings
will be Immediately rebuilt. the contracts, IN one
instance, having been signed TO-DAY.