The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-10
CASTLE GARDEN In ASHES.
GREAT CONFLA WITH A
MYSTERIOUS ORIGIN.
The Fort that Sheltered Our soldiers, that
was the Theatre Of Jenny Lind's MELODY,
and that was the Immierants' Home.


and that was the Immigrants' Home.
Three hundred emigrants were in Castle
Garden yesterday afternoon, passing the weary
hours as comfortably as they could. They were
gathered in quiet groups In the large rotunda
Twenty minutes past 8 o'clock the cry OF FIRE
was heard, and uncomfortable confusion fol-
lowed. Smoke had been seen issuing from the
rafters over the balcony. Messrs. Oliver, Maher,
and Eslinger, employees, ripped up the boards
Of the floor. and found the flames be-
tween the partitions, about ffty feet from
the matron's rooms. small hose was
rigged and tho water turned on. The
little stream had scarcely. reached the nan es
that tho three men had to retreat. IL was
barely moment before the whole western end
OF the rotunda was In hames, and the strong
wind from the westward spread them with in-
Creasing rapidity. The men kept at work with
the little hose until piece OF the ceiling fe IN,
taking with II burning stick OF timber. Piece
after piece fell rapidly, which spread the flames
In all directions. OGicer Freude's three alarms
called out several engines, but the fire had
gained such headway tbnt their Efforts to check
II were futile. The emigrants on the ground
floor fled to tho doors and got out safely.
The Gre ragged around the rotunda each wav
from the matrons rooms, and inless than twen-
" minutes the whole interior was 10 flames.
Tho burning timbers fellSnward. leaving the
stone walls OF the old fort bare, and as bull
wark OF protection to the frame buildings on
the outside. The offiees ot the western Union
MES, the railroad ticket agency, the ofhce OF
Scully & McDermott, exchange brokers and
Higgins's refreshment stlnd were DESTROYED be-
fore anything In them could be saved. The Of
hces Of the Emigration Bureau, In the second
story, followed next.
the roof OF the large baggage room on the east
ern side Of the ground. The Russian emiRrnnts.
mainly Mennonites, broke through the doors
and worked With the greatest energy to save
their baggage. MIR. Nicholas Muller. the Erie
Railroad Agent. and twenty men, ALSO went to
To ha aana NH a
barges, tho Inspector and the Warren, the
police boat Seneca, and the Hro boat William II:
Havemeyer were moored on the south side OF
the Garden, and on them the greatest part OF
the baggage was placed. The nre spread along
the south side Of the rotunda and swept away
the Custom House building. The wooden walls
next caught from the inside; all tho doors were
closed, and the outside OF those walls was nood:.
ed with water. This partially saved them and
prevented the Ore from reaching the Labor Blu
reau building. Much Of the baggnce was con-
sumed, and more could have been saved but for
the action Of the police 10 preventing the emi'
grants from taking their effects out.
All that remains OF the rotunda IA the red
| trated with numerous square port holes. The
buildings Of the Labor Bureau, Bureau OF In
| formation, Wards Island Department, ths
| hospital. and the ticket ONCE were all saved
| rhey are all constructed OF wood.
The origin OF the Are Is mystery, but th'
| theory was credited that II originated from
| spontaneous combustion. There was no persor
| near the place where the fire was first seen, ant
| there were no fires or lights near by.
The loss cannot be estimated. The Commis
sioners OF Emigration had an insurance o
$1,000 on the building. The janitor. Mr.. Jeyers
and the matron, Mrs. Eslinger. lost everything
they had there. The amount OF baggage lost I
large. There was also a great amount OF un
claimed baggage In the lookup. upon which tn
| Commissioners had advanced money. and thi
| was all destroyed. All the records OF the bureau
except those IN the safes were destroyed;
| The Dire attracted thousands to the Battery
| The bay was filled with boats, and the sight frou
| the water side grand. fhe heat was so In
| tense that person could scarcely stand witni
nfty feet of the burning building. After the nc
| the emigrants were put into the Labor Burea
| building and sheltered for the night. Late las
| night they were given bread and milk, an
| benches wero given them to sleep on.
-Four safes, containing most OF the records
| were found in the ruins. They were not opeue(