The New York herald., 1876-11-13
FIRE IN THE ANTHONY HOUSE.

SCENES OF EXCITEMENT AMONG The GUESTS
ALL ESCAPE WITHOUT INJURY.
nre broke out shortly after four O'Clock yesterday
morning in the Anthony House, No. S34 Broadway,
causing damage OF about $l2, 000 Tho
OF much excitement all the guests being asleep at tho
time and several narrow escapes occurred. Fortu-
natsly, however, no person was injured, fact duo
only she heroism Of few Of tho boarders aided by
the prompt and energetic action Of the police and nre
mon, who displayed cooncss and courage msriting
high praise.
Tho building is a six story brick, the first floor Of
which IL occupied as general restaurant Ninety
ave guests were in the house, considerable portion
of whom " + '-sntcnniai visitors
Tbclsst clss Aaiscovered at ten minutes past four
lAoe.len' l = ND MITCHELL the night waichman, whose
atteutoR-was attracted to smoke issuing from the
Kitchen. With the exception Of himself the o1icc
ecrk and two painters work In tho restaurant every
body was asleep AT first the smoke through me
crevices slowly, but rapidly increased In volume The
watchman hurried up stairs and awoke the proprietor
Charles A. Merritt who quickly sent out the nre alarm.
The work OF arousing the inmates BY kicking At the
doors and shouting then began: Among the
agent OF Barnum's Circus, who with his
wife occupied room on the second noer
smoke thai swept into his room Mrs Hopkins was
lying sick in bed, having been confined TO her room
for two weeks, and, hastily dressing her, he carried
Of policeman to procure shelter, he hurried back
and awakened Miss Moss, sister Of Theodore Moss.
Df WalIack's theatre who was sleeping on the third
door BY this time the house In an uproar, and
men, women and children we're rushing down stairs
through the binding smoke few Of the cooler had
partially dressed, some had caught up blanket or
sheet In their hurried departure but the majority hao
forgotten everything in tho hasty flight ior liIc
Within nvo minutes alter the alarm had sounded the
engines were the spot, and almost simultaneously
detachment of police under Captain Byrnes, OF the
Fifteenth precinct, aryved. Chie Engineer Bates saw
a. 4 glance that rcniorcemcnts needed and sent
additional alarms, which brought 10 the scene
in all eleven steamers, together with hook and ladder
trucks -Four streams wero quickly got to work and
kept up ncessent torrent ana Captain Byrnes with
his officers and some OF The aremen, undertook .he
fined the hut tho dense smoke aed the stair
way and made tho task not an easy one Women
screamed excitedly they rushed wildly rom their
rooms, and strong men paed with Tear lest before
they could get out the stairs would succumo 70 the
flames. Not few instances OF real herolsm took
place. one instance beng that OF . chambermad,
named Mary Q'Dricn. She was asleep on the
Top aoor whom awakened AXE By the .ra1nIn sunn
Her roommate became historical a. tho danger, ana
Tell back on the bed in aint. Mary dashed cold
her face 10 restore her. but without success
The smoke was becoming denscr every moment, add
tho cracking OF she flames could be distinctly heard
TO remain wtnhcr any longer equally So Taking her,
therefore, 10 her arms she CROPPED through the smoke
down the stars. until policeman hurrying up re-
licved her OF the burden.
Al last ali were safely on the street, shivering in
their scanty apparel but secure from danger Captain
Byrnes about conveying the houseess guests 10 the
Mercer house for SHELTER whom Mr. H. Ellis
boarder opened his stationery store on the opposite
side the street. and did everything In hU power
make them comfortable. In three or four Instances
the police lound pockctbooks dropped In the flight and
restored them to their owners. fireman iound
gold watch and cham and delivered IL up No property
was lost by any Of the boardors.
WITHIN thirty minutes the 1re was extineuished,
having completely burned out the basement and rcs-
,aurant, the upper floors being saved. How the hro
originated is as yet unknown, but Mr. Merritt thinks
was caused by overheaied furnace In the kitchen
rho loss to stocK Is about 900 and 10 the building
81 0O0 which IL covered by insurance IN the Citixons
Com ,no orcial and Greenwich companies