New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-10
THE GREAT BROADWAY FIRE.
FULL EXTENT OF THE DISASTER.

SCENE AROUND THE RUINS Observation-Disclosures
REPORTS ABOUT THE DISCOVERY AND ORIGIN
OF THE FIRR-sTATEMENTs OF THE LOSERS
LISTS OF THE SUFFERERS, THEIR STOCKS. LOSSES,
AND INsURANCEs-EsTiMATE OF The INSURANCE
COMPANIES
The scene of the great fire in Broadway pre-
scented animated appearance yesterday Portions OF the
walls Of the building which stood NJ No. 452 broadway
still standing making 1t very dangerous for persons
stand them The walls of the other buildings were
eveed to the ground the greater portion OF the lots
| burned being covered by heaps OF smoking and
steamng bricks and mortar upon which several streams
were still playing. The members OF the busnessloGses
that had been burned out hunting for their safes
which buried under the piles OF brick and rubbish
The police under Capt Alare OF the Fourteenth Pre-
cnct formed lines above and below the scene OF the fire,
across Broadway and Crosby-st Ira ell by Broadway
was cut OF pedestrians and vehicles being Obliged to
find their way down by otls routes than past the
scene Of the nre.
Tie building At No. Asa Broadway damaged very
little. 1t had strong, thick dividing wall running the
entire length Of the building from street 10 street ana was
from the nroads Of the fire. Dense volumes OF
smoke whired through this building nj a large
quantity OF poured upon the roof and front
and TO keep the woodwork from gnitlng. Tho roof
OF this building being still sound, the fremen made II
bae Of operations in hurting down the ruins OF the
building at No. ASP Broadway, which threatened to fall
WITHOUT ntlp NJ moment. IOilg nfhNS wan
dawn up this roof and used battering ram
A stout rope Was tied 10 one OF the rounds
near the end. and thus the fremen were
able TO guide the ladder. aud place 1t against that
point where 1t would bear heaviest Capt. Aaire or
dered his clear every body from IN front OF this
wall The Side wall pushed down first, and fell with
great crash. Then the fremen turned their attention
10 the front wall. The front Of iron aud brown
stone. The iron columns were keyed into the cross
beams Josts, aud required considerable force to
break them of Tie structure swayed and totercd ana
then doubled upon itself with loud crack and fell to
the ground with sh force to crush IN the arches COW
ering the cellar making large hole there. The inner
wall nearest 10 No. 45i Broa wry. was then pulled
down strong rope attached to one Of the wrought
iron ioss aud the remen soon had that wall level with
the others.
Even while the nremen pulling down the danger
on. ruins. digging FOR the safes that were
buried the general mass Of rubbish. The hremen
turned their streams upon the hot bricks that covered
the safes sending up clouds OF steam. As soon as the
bricks we're cool enough TO he handled, they were re-
moved and the safes exposed All OF the beat
safes, It reported, protected their contents IN the
most complete manner Tie valuable papers taken out
were not even scorchcd The boicrron Safes, a. they
were called in when locked silks aud lices Gli not
preserve their well those more deliberately
constructed One Of these safes, belonging Ia les'fer,
whitman Coz opened and the contents were found
TO be badly scorchcd and steamed. There we're some
heavy duck goods, evidently IN original packages thai
were vaults under the sidewalk ON Broad
way Ia part of Leschcr, Whitman Co.'S store These
goods had been tightly packed together that only the
outside had been injured by the fire and water. The
remnants OF other goods that found were not OF
sueI,,ut nunutity TO materially diminish the losses.
There .ceincd to be question To how the hre
gained 50 great headway Tuesday night thorough
Investigation revealed the following facts; Patroiman
COREY Fourteenth Precinct Police had tho post
that embraced No. 10 Crosby~t Hc relieved his com
rade a few minutes past o'clock On Tuesday evening
ana. messed along up Crosby-s from Howard 10 BrOomc-
ST., irving tho doors As late "a quarter past o'clock
the rear OF Leschcr Whitman Co.'S store wac appa
routly all right and safe Corey tried the door AZ lie
passed and went on mp Crorby-st About 20 minutes
past tho officers attention attracted by seeing
smoke curling from under the door leading to the
engneroon Looking in the flames and smoke appeared
TO come from under the boiler Corey stated that he
did hesitate moment, but ran as last as possible Y"
sound the alarm from the nearest box which was at
Broadway and Graud-st. The officer met Sergeant
porcher at Grand st. told him where the fire and
ran along To tine signalboI. lie said that he
swung his club. giving the alarm rap all
tie way The alarm received at the Police
Central Office at G.2s Sergeant Porcher bcint IN
command patrol hurried 10 the fire. and arrived AT
No 10 crosby 81 before the engines had responded ."
the ALARM Nevertheless, he said IN the few minutes
that had elapsed before he reached the place the flames
through the whole building. II stated that only one
stream was turned upon the fir at the beginning. This
was planned by stating that II this had not been done
there must have been great loss OF life The Name"
were ~ hot that the tenement the opposite side OF
Crosbysi. had taken fire IN several places, ana II waS
feared that would be destroyed before the 40 or 100
inmates could got OF the house. All the streams
except one were turned upon this tenement and the In
hurried out by the police without any aeci-
dent
During this time. however, the flames gained great
headway and soon destroyed the roof OF the building IN
which the FIRE started. aud spread to the adjoining build
ngs. Additional help was secured. and determined
stands being made at points where the buildings were
separated each other by dividing walls OF brick the
rcpen gained control the r. IL feared that the
flames would extend through the smaller buildings along
Grand 10 the large store OF Cochran Mclean ~ tue
northern corner " Gri,ndst. and Broadway. Mr. Tai
man Of that house tad that though the firm was fuy
insured yet II they had been burned out their business
would have been severely depressed They employ 100
persons and this OF the year as Is the ease IN
most large houses, getting in their stock for the
spring trade.
Foellcr, Boyer K Coz dealers III wooens, occupied The
first OF the store at Crosby and Grandss MT Fool
Ter said he hs store while the fire was raging,
and expected every moment that ii would burst through
into his store The iron shutters were 80 hot that the
heavy plate glass behind shiyercd Every few min
ue- smoke entered through the shutters aud WAS wt'd
through the store Mr.. Foeer became 80 much alarmed
that lac took hs boo- away from his store The build
ing was thea drcnchcd with water. and the stock
was not covered until tho greater portion OF II "as
soaked. Mr.. Foellor said that lie believed that the
shrnkage the stock would he between 40 and 30 per
cent The stock is valued at from 81 $4,000 to Sl25OO0
and was Insured for 5000 The insurance was placed
by Hines Goodrich No. l6l Broadway. and Mr. Foel-
Ter unable TO in what companies lis policies