The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-03
CLUB HOUSE BURNED.
rHR MANSION OF THE NEW YORK CLUB DAM
AGED IN FIFTEEN THOUSAND poLLARs-NAR-
ROW ESCAPE OF WOMAN FROM DEATH IN

ROW ESCAPE OF A WOMAN FROM DEATH IN
THE FLAMES.
The New York Club House, situated at the junction
Or Finh avenue and Broadway, was the scene last
sight OF nre which, for time, created great excite
ncnt and threatened develop into large conhagra
hon Fortunately, however the drcmcn succeeded in
checking the spread of tho flames, combining them to
me upper western portion OF the building, and limit
ng the damage to about SIS oo0
Tho fire was discovered few minutes after nine
o'clock, at which time the dumb waiter leading from
The basement to the top floor abaze. The inmates
Of house quickly hurried 10 the street and gave the
alarm. Nearly fifteen minutes elapsed before the
yines responded second and third alarm had in the
meantime been clegraphed and shortly alter the first
detachment came to hand endorsements were on the
spot Before the hrcmcn had got fairly to work the
flames had burst through the roof Dense volumes OF
smoke filed the air and rolled upward.
The scene in Madison square was one OF great ex-
element The park filled with thousands OF
spectators, and in front Of tho Fifth Avenue hotel
dense cowd of people collected The police had their
hands full in preserving the IRE lines intact The
windows OF the hotels and res dences in
she neighborhood were filled with spectators
was especially crowded large share OF the spectators
being ladies' Just before the hrcmen had begun d.
Tecting the streams the building incident
Cured that caused a shuddcr the hearts Of those
who witnessed It, The form OF woman was
sssn on: on tho roof running from one me- end to
- they darted upward, distinctly revealed
her face TO those tho ground She appeared have
pst her reason. Among the first 10 catch sight OF the
Unfortunate woman was Police Commits Toner Voorhis,
sho happened in the neishborhood as the nre dis
covered With him Detective Thompson, OF the
Central Office They cndeavorcd 10 ascend TO
the roof from the front entrance, but the
dense smoke would not permit They joined
by Insurance Patrolman James T. wenman, aud tho
bhree hurried TO an adjoining house Fifth avenue
and assembled The hook and ladder truck had not vet
Down through some OF the adjoining residences
The three rescuers quickly reached the ROOT, and in
moment the woman, who proved to be Elizabeth Null
hgan one OF the chambermaids had crossed over the
root and SAFE
fright tho fire having slightly singcd her hair AT the
time the flames reached the fourth floor she sitting
In her room and losing all presence OF mind, she
60 the roof and thought OF seeking safety In
crossing TO the neighborng roofs.
THE FIRE OUT
Tho flames completely extinguished within an
hour. During the fire Commissioners Periey and King
remained on the scene, directing the movements Of
their subordinates.
III. ORIGIN OF rnR FIRE
The origin OF the fire was subject on which there
was difference OF opinion among the members OF the
club, who were in the house ut the time the lire broke
put. Some under tho impression that the
lanes originated IN the lower part OF the house. while
uhels were equally positive that the beginning
.he top OF he house. At quarter past nine O'Clock
pnc Of the members Of the club who sitting the
parlor the second floor reading, alarmed by the
smell OF smoke, and upon running INTO the hallway dis
covered that The fire. He Immediately gave
the others who we're down stairs in the cafe
ind by them the word communicated 10 the officer
post, who ut once sounded the lire signal from a
neighborng box The officer then raped for assist
ance and soon four or i've other policemen were
- hand II was then deemed advisable
30 send TO the Hippodrome Tor additional force, aud
Sergeant Taylor brought from that building twenty
men who were on duty there. The insurance patrol
were the first body oil hremen" on the ground, and
they were closely followed by hook and ladder
pany. The general impression Of those who pres
ent at the breaking OF the fire that the Fro
Department tardy in making its appearance but ir
they were slow in these movements can be said that
Sgnal Police Commissioner voorhis,
IN conversation with HERALD reporter,
stated he in the vicinity OF Madison square
and Twenty-sxth street, shortly after nine O'Clock,
~hen glancing III the direction Of tho club house. he
Iaw flames emanatlng from the roof He found only
Jew members within and that the fire was all ut the
upper portion OF the house. The hremen OF the
opinion that the flames originated by defective hue
Me kitchen, which Is In the basement on the Broad
ray side and ran up througha dumb waiter about in
She center Of the building The other theory that
the flames started The laundry, which the top
loor, thence spread TO the roof The defective nue
eheory the more generally INDUCED in and probably
20 the building far could be estimated last night
will In all probability not exceed S. ooO The top story
used as servants quarters, the only seriously
damaged, but nasnuch as this part OF the building
only cost 81, 500 TO erect there remains only to be
taken into consideration the damage done to
the ceilings by wuier and the burning OF
She WOODWORK in the shaft Of the dumb
waiter II IS expected that most OF the ceilings the
broadway side OF the club house will have TO be re-
hescoed, but beyond this aud the repapering of the
the Ere Is supposed to have originated as Il
undoubtedly did, the damage Is principally confined
TO the woodwork and broken crockery anu crockery
utensils. The loss tho furniture WILL 1t Is
thought not exceed $1,000, the principal damage
being done by water The insurance patrol were
early on hand, and saved much loss by their prompt
efforts IN covering up the carpets and other properties
With tarpaulins The whole loss to building furni
Sure Is fully covered by INSURANCE, but in what COM
panies could not DC ascertancd. Several OF the
bers who occupied rooms IN the club house, which
they had FURNISHED themselves, will DO heavy losers
Tor II Is asserted they had policies their effects
Several valuable PICTURES Is said are totally ruined
HISTORY CLUE
The New York Club founded 1S45 by num-
Der oil young gentlemen OF wealth and leisure The
srst building occupied by the was IN the
southeast corner vi broadway and Astor place. Ii
contained the usual Restaurant and reading and
Afforded good view OF the promenaders ON
proportions, and finally II numbered 500
members while the amount oil money the treas
ury grew propor:ionatey. In 1861 u was decided to
remove to the brown stone mansion OF Mr.gRchard X
HaIght, corner OF Fith avenue and Fifteenth street.
70 certain extent the fashionable pronienaders had
Deserted Broadway aud belaken themselves the
luct and stately avenue. The windows OF the quar-
bers afforded letter opportunity 10 while away the time
y watching the gay promenaders The house was
0chy furnished aid very line conservatory extended
long distance IN the rear The wife Of
Me former occupant Of tue MANSION who
~as Ia her day one OF tho leaders OF
FASHION had devoted much of her attention 10 the
decoration Of the interior of the building, and tho
artistic and ornamental work the subject general
edn,raton. The club went TO considerable expense in
furnishing the mat son. and grand bali gwen in
honor OF It's Inauguration a club house THIS
Me last gathering OF the KIND that was ever held
herein From that time the members con-
cnted themselves with tho usual routine
eating, smoking aud reading The rent
paid urst $4,000 u year, but II gradually
Increased 10 SIS, OV0 demand for $25 QUO year
sas finally the cause VI dissoving necluo. Mr. Henry
Hall Ward, we'll known Wall street broker, was the
President at the time OF ITS dissolution The clue
Of the wealthcst and celebrated in the city,
and We'd with the Union Club in prestige Its sudden
suspension, May, 1869, the cause OF universal
psto nshn.cnL over ono hundred OF the members
lonsd the Union Club out tho rest scattered them
beives elsewhere
The club was reorgarized in May 1870, under its
Old president but though opulent and stylish II has
never recovered Its old standing. The building M.
bo9 Fifth avenue was leased by the club at us
organization and lifted up appropriate fashion. The
Stub continued there until May, 1874. when II moved
70 It's present quarters. A lease taken
N tho building Tor nine years ut an
annual rental OF $4,000, and between $50 COO aud
$4,000 expended in furnishing the building.