New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-03
FIRE IN 4 CLUB-HOUSE.

IHE NEM-lDRk Ill Blh NED ODl.
ORIGIN OF THR FIRE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN IL
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE FLAMES
RESCUE or Az DPERrLED woMAN-THE LOSS
vARIoUsLY ESTIMATED AT FROM $4,000 TO
S25,0OO-INTyRIoR or THE BUILDING RUINED.
Fire was discovered in the New-York Club
House at Twenty .lfthst and Fifthayc last evening
about Is minutes after O'Clock. An alarm was i'm
mcdately sent out. which was quickly followed by
second and third cans in all ii steamers to the scene
under the charge OF Chef Gcqucl assisted by other
chiefs OF battaons. As nearly as can be ascer-
tained the IRE started from the range In the
kitchen In the basement OF tho building, and the
flames shot up through the well OF the dumbwaiter I'M
III they reached the highest story where they burst out
with great fury and with such rapdty that the fright
cncd servants whose doorcs were IN that part OF the
ng had barely time to seize their clothes and flee.
AnO.I,1 theory Of tho origin OF the fire Is that
il began in tho laundry. which is situated in the
upper portion OF the building and that 1t spread thence
through the attic rooms OF the clubhouse.
The scene at the hi ght the fire intensely eXcit-
ing A dense crowd filed the space about
the monument In front Of the Hon.
man House. extending across the street
into the Square. From this point the best view was OBJ
tanned. Tho lights In the lower windows OF the club
house paled their Intellectual fires beside tho mass
Of lurd flames above. shooting skyward from a vol
ume Of bltunlnous smoke suddenly this smoky cloud
clears, the leaping flame reveals woman hang
ing from OF tho upper wndOws. Beneath the
fiery mass ladders have been placed TO reach the
window; the shout hoarsey 10 her 10 hold on; II Is
soon apparent the ladder Is short. hoarse murmur
rises through tho crowd that the poor woman
must fall. But sturdy arms clutch her from
the window above. The man who has assembled
the ladder enabled reach her. and she Is removed
A more thrilling spectacle Is rarely witnessed
For q moment all are so excited that only
the labor OF tho engines and the roar OF
the flames are heard but the heroic act de
scribed plainly dsceruble through the smoke wreshs
eIIcl,s vehement applause. Tho woman who saved
was ono OF the servants OF the club, named Elizabeth
Mulligan.
In the mean time the flames were doing great damage
in the building Stream after stream OF water was d
rected the fire, and after hard struggle 1t was got
under control. The top story completely destroyed,
the partitions being burned through TO the roof
While the frclnen still the roof large part OF
the burning cornce fell TO the pavement with great
crash. and number Of hremen and Others, who were
almost directly underneath, narrowly escaped death
from II.
Tho damage done by the fire could not no ascertained
with certainty last night The police put II between
$4,000 and $4,000, whilo members OF the club esti-
mate It as high IA $4,000 Tho lower floors were
greatly damaged by the water which poured in torrents
down the starcases and through the floors. On the
lower floor at time there were at least
six inches of water The elegant carpets ruined,
and the frescocs the walls and ceilings irreparaby
damaged The furniture covered as much AS posi-
bic with waterproof coverings, but nevertheless 1t was
much injured The interior Of tho house had been fitted
up at great expense and in this respect the building
among the elegant OF the cubhouses In the city
Inspector McDermott and his aids. Sergeans Pickett
aud Mcven present at the fire and took charge OF
the police arrangements. Among the spectators were
Commissioners OF Police yoorhis and Erhardt,
and Mayor wickham. The windows OF tho neigh
boring houses were crowded with anxious and excited
spectators and the residents OF tho adjoining houses on
Ffthave. and Broadway were prepared to move out all
the portable articles II the word had been given.
About midnight the fire completely subducd, and
the crowd began to dsperse. leaving only the hremen
aud policemen who on duty. The amount Of nsir
ance could not learned beyond the fact that the loss
fully covered.
The Lotos, Travellers and Palette Clubs promptly
rendered Of their houses to the members OF the
New-York Club until the necessary repairs could BIO
be made. These offers were gratefully accepted
The New-York Club Is OF the oldest and most re-
putablo organizations Of the kind In the city For many
years the clubhouse at Fifthaye and Fifteenthst
and then tho club Of the strongest
In the city. During the late war 1t reached
Its highest point In the number and character
OF Its members and the strength OF It's treasury
New clubs formed, however, and the membership
OF this club declined. The treasury became bankrupt
and the fine clubhouse the southeast corner Of Fifth
ave and Ffeenth-st had 10 be abandoned, the owner
converting II into French apartment hotel For several
years the club practically without existence bat some
OF the older members, yearnng for the associations
which the old Club had given undertook to reorganze 1t
on a new and more liberal basis Meetings were held,
aud the present membership gradually enrolled, until
there are now about 500 Of nearly all shades Of
professional, political, commercial and mercantile hfe
In looking around for suitable building for club
house. present structure engaged Originally 1t
was OF
Facing on Broadway, Fifh-ave., and Twenty
nfthst, 1t had most desirable location. and
was eagerly sought for by many whose
means would not allow the contamination OF purchase or
lease. After Its abandonment by private families II
became quiet family hotel and finally purchased
by Carleton the publisher, for business purposes
He removed from 1t and tho Club engaged
1t and remodeed It to suit the required pur-
pose It probably has better facilities than most clubs
in tho city for the accommodation Of thu small cqucs