The New York herald., 1876-02-09

my COD, the whole OF New York Is lre, think"
remarked fat German citizen, with steady face bat
with lips from which the blood had lied. The Hudson,
down as lar as the islands the bay ard upward to
the bend in tho river, like "A lake of FIRE. molten
and sulen and smoking, as II looked from tho docks
The moon shone bright above in the blue heavens
ana as the boats neared the slips were fastened and
the passengers jumped OF and up long stretch
ing streets usually dark bat now having ackering
blaze deepening between brick walls they met crowds
OF men hurrying toward Broadway, with fleet loot
steps. ''Ths Is the biggest fire | saw in New
York." was an exclamation banded from mouth TO
mouth. Up Broadway they rushed to meet lines OF po
lice rushing engines and all the glare and murderous
noises OF the night
PROM JERSEY CITY.
II o'clock when the people OF Jersey City,
especially that section between Grove street and tho
Heights were thrown into state OF excitement by the
rumor that the shipping at the docks between the Penn
syvania Railroad depot and the Pavona ferry was in
flames. Hundreds betook themselves To the house
tops, and the lurid glare that illuminated the heavens
seemed to betoken tho destruction OF the i'm
mensc warehouses that line the river Yet heard
the alarm the bells. Fully half hour
elapsed before II ascertained by large majority OF
the people that the flames far oil Broadway,
New York. HERALD reporter happened to pass
along Palisade avenue the great ridge overlooking the
lower section OF the city and commanding charming
view Of the river where hc found groups congregaed
along the horoughfare stricken at the mnensty OF
the connagraton. As the flames swept heavenward
and cast brilliant light that exposed clearly view the
Shipping either side OF the river aud tho
ferryboats passing u and fro, they seemed
literally to pursue their march steadily westward and
devour buildings with alarming rapdity No con1agra-
tion so awe inspiring revealed 10 the astonshed
gaze OF Jcrseymen the terrible oil fire at the Erie
crossed to New York by tho Hobokon, Desbrosses
Pavona and Cortandt street ferries. The scene, us
viewed from tho boats, was one Of awful
grandeur. 1t at this time that tho fire
seemed TO reach its elimination and the gravest
mors as to the extent of the fire anoat 1t
until the fiery clement had been subdued that people
breatned freely and quietly wended their way their
homes
PALISADES
HERALD reporter the fiery volcano from n spot
the Palisades Fort Lee on this great cleva
ton tho baze seemed 10 hold district OF the city
holds the body and heart Of an incurable
patient. The flames eaped up and licked each other
and sometimes spiral tongue of rcdness, mingled with
yeiowness, shot into the cmpyrean If rockets
Roman candles were being exploded II was thought
the Palisades by the onlookers that oil or
whskey was burning from these sudden darts OF flame,
and the conversation changed analysis of tho
magnificent spectacle of the burning lake the midst OF
the forest OF houses to the dangerrhat might
human life from supposed explosions. II WONDER,
said man who was coolly smoking cigar the night
wind blowing Its further end INTO ruddy blaze, II
wonder If Thomassen, the dynamite devil, has got |
loose in New York tonight from his graveS II SO he
has brought a little HI with him"
A HISTORY NO 49,
No 4i4, where the fire began, many years ago |
well known feature of Broadway. The building, which
,na cfa No. fta4 Az
and AS, occupied its upper floors ball and
supper rooms. being known the City Assembly |
Rooms That building was built in 1854 by G. W.
Miller upon the ruins of several small buildings that
had been DESTROYED by fire on the I'd Of December,
1852. The Assembly Rooms consisted OF handsome
ball room, with spacious supper, dressing and
retiring rooms. Tho ball was certainly
the finest In the city. In addition to its
dimensions which were very large, the floor was the
best for dancing IN the country. 1t capable of
afordng dancing facilities 900 persons and even
| then thero was no oyercrowding. 1t well vent-
| latdd and handsomely decorated. Each year made
these rooms the of larger number of reunions
| than any other room In the city. II necessary
great was the demand for them TO engage them
year ahead, and In 1866 they rented for every
night up the lst OF April Some of the most fash
| ionabo balls held here, and the uniform consid
GRAFTON with which all gatherings treated by Its
propretors insured the this extensive patronage
! In addition to their for ball purposes concerts
bazaars, fancy fairs and other amusements held
there through the sumper months. Their admirable
| position Broadway made them great favorites with
all parties On the 18th of February, 1866 the night
before last burned down. the annual ball OF tho
Seventy ninth regiment, Highlanders, to have
taken place there, but for it postponed
| the following month"; and consequently took
place Shortly before tho fire the property passed
from Mr.. G. W. Miller into the hands of Mr. f. Miller
who by the fire last nj ght sustained his second loss
| The first floor OF the building with entrance on
No 49, occupied a theatre. 1t was first opened
by Henry Wood, the brother OF Fernando Wood, as
minstrel hail. in opposition the old Christys Min
| strels then located at No Az Broadway Mr. Wood
proved very successful especially he secured
'Georgo" Chrsty who, leaving H. p Christy, took the
''bonc end" Of Woods troupe. having for his
ris-d- Jim Budwith The company being strong
soon the town, and the original Chrsty giving
up tho business they had tho minstrel field to them
selves Two three years later Mr.. Wood moved his
troupe to a hall next door to the Bal 4 Black
building About this time the concert ball business
broke out while Canterbury Hall, the Art Gallery
and the Chinese building were IN their full tide OF
success Mr. Robert Butler, the present proprietor of
tho Globe Theatre took possession OF '444' and
opened tho first variety theatre in the city Then the
number Of especial" performers few, yet Mr.
Butler gathered about him a remarkable troupe
| OF artists, taking from the equestrian pro-
fession the well known Tony Pastor, who
doGng his dress OF Shakcspearian clown made himself
famous by his comic and ocaf dtties From this
troupe sprung many Of the leading artists in the
business On Thursday, February 10, 1896, just after
rehearsal, flames discovered among tho scenery.
Owing the peculiar construction OF the building and
It's innamable contents the entire edce reduced
| Tho nd WAS Ter rcd NM th0
| building destroyed last evening erected
FIREMES's
The annual ball Of the John l. crcgier Association
Central PatroD took place last evening at Irving Hall
Al ten O'Clock the grand opening march took place.
and M this hour there were fully 300 couples on the