The New York herald., 1877-09-23

KEYP0RTS CALAMITY.
The Business Portion of a Thriving
Town Burned Down.
LOSS ABOUT 100000.
Criminal Neglect Said to Have
Caused the Disaster.
NO FIRE ENGINES.
LOSS ABOUT 100000.
NO FIRE ENGINES.
KKyPoRr, N. j., Sept


The pretty little town OF Keyport Monmouth
county. n. j. picturesquely situated Rartan Bay,
near the Now Jersey Central Railroad, visited
by disastrous confagration on Friday night which
swept away almost the entire business portion OF
the place, iniicting loss of nearly 5000 O0O only
little over third OF which insured. The origin
OF the nre generally ascrbed to the explosion
of a kerosene lamp in the butcher shop belonging
to ono Abraham Morris. although wild reports
were also anoat that It tho work OF ncondiary.
Tho loud gong Of the bell tho steamboat wharf gave
the alarm at about eleven O'Clock at night,
soon alter the fire broke out and tho frightened
habltants OF Keypori, most Of whom had already
tired for the night rushed out OF their houses TO
with dismay the spread OF the lamcs, which tbcy
were unable to check The lamentablo fact became
patent that there no engine IN Keyport and
the are made rapid Roadway.
THE MERCY OF YLAMEs.
Atecgram was to Mattsawan the nearest station
the Jersey Central Railroad, asking Tor help but,
might have been expected in these rural parts the
Matteawan telegraph oiacc already closed, and a
messenger had to be despatched to Matleawan.
AT last, after ruinous delay, tho Mat,cawan
engine, drawn by the Washington Engine Company,
arrived. 1t was now alter midnight and
the lames had envelopcd the entire business portion
OF the little town. IL was bright moonlight night
and what with tho lurd flames that sho. up from
Blocks dry goods building stored with much indam-
nabis material IN tho shape OF dry goods and tho vast
concourse OF townspcople and neighbors that do
ing their utmost to the from utter destruc
tion the described most remarkable one.
Near the printing Office OF the Keyport Weekly Is u
large cistern and this chosen as starting point
for long line Of volunteer nremcn with pals of water
and ladders. The water in the cstern however, was
soon exhausted, and in the grapple with the flames It
became necessary TO scoop the water In buckets from
the bay
THE coNFLAGHA1loN ARRESTED.
The strong west wind which blowing until about
three O'Clock yesterday morning made 1t impossible to
cxtngush tho namcs but at that hour, fortunately.
the wind shifted and by tearing down Deckcr's
shop and preventing the spread OF the hre the
lane beside the Atlantic Hotel the rest of the
to the southwark saved aud the further
progress Of tho confagraton finally arrested at
about half-past three. Thrty-one buildings had
been destroyed, twenty nine OF which wero do.
voted to busness purposes but fortunately nearly tho
entire residence portion OF the town saved. Many
OF the cottages IN Keyport occupied by Now York
merchants and Of character, stand.
ing pleasant and well cultivated grounds and 1t was
generally regarded matter for tulation that
at least Keyport pretty rural homes saved from
tho flames. The most notable building OF tho town,
however, was a proy OF tho conaagraton. namely,
tc's family and famous throughout the State Tor It's
| three handsome memorial windows, ono OF which was
erected in honor OF Bishop Doane BY great xcr.ons
the Pavilion Hool saved all the other hotels of
tho place being burned down. II was serio-conical
incident Of the fire that all the jugs OF water were
taken from tho quests rooms the Efforts save the
hJtcl.
| The list OF losses is foows:-
| LOSSES.
A. Morris, $500; Hugh Dougher!y. $4,000;
Charles Miller: $1,000; Joseph Mausr $4,000; woco,t
Holmes, $4,000; Ogden, Post Office. sd, 500; Mansion
House, $4,000; n. johnson, $1,000; Dr. Mckinney,
Wort 81, 500 James Brown, 81, ,SSo: the 'I walns
estate. s5O,oC0 NJ. Natal. $4,000; Atlantic Ho.e
Captain Briton, $1,000; Frederick Holman, 1900;
Bedlc Thomas. $500; a. Saz. ,Oc0 Tho Insurance
will probably not exceed $50, 600
ENGINE.
Had there been an engine at Keyport at the tmc of
the outbreak OF the flames the 6rc would have prob
ABLY been confined to the butcher shop whore orig
mated For years the town warned that such
reckless disregard OF all rules OF procauton must
suit in disaster and yet not the slightest provision
was made Tor The contingency certain TO arse
sooner or later and which actually did arise Friday
night The consequence IS that a heap Of cinders
| and ashes aud few Dlackcncd wall remnants are now
TO be where stood all the prosperous shops aud
| business houses OF the town the blow is one from
| which Key port Will probably not soon recover ''fhe
town poor SAID one OF the largest property holders
OF place, sand there /, not enough money
rebuild The houses that were burned down. Many
years Will pass away before they all can DO rebuilt"
The oyster business is the principal trade Of tho town.
Lockport, an adjacent suburb, is noted Tor
| beng The birthplace OF Theodore Tton. Kcyport was
settled about iorty years ago, principally by inhab
OF the local journal stated It's population pre-
cisey 1855 a steamer communicates daily with
New York. but the Jersey Central also affords ready
access to the place. as u only takes fifteen
drive from Malawan station to KeyporL
WILD REPORTS AFLoAr
After tho fire entirely subdued the excited
townspeople yesterday indulged Ia some wild state
mepts about incendiarles having tired to Sc: fire
houses which had Uccn saved from the flames, and
about robDeries OF dry goods anu other wares that
were heaped up in the streets careful invcstisa
ton showed that these reports had but ttle iounda
|
Keyport lownspeople VINO gave them forth. A
fund was raiscd last evening Tor the sufferers
from the fire. ana It is thought that after Tins en-.
pnatc lesson the Keyport town authorities may be
Induced 10 provide an engine and hoso IN case OF
another copiugratou. Miraculous was tho escape Of
the Pavilion Ho'e, which laced the scene OF the
1agration. und which several times caught IRE from
the sparks blown across by The wind. Temporary
Offices opened already yesterday evening lor tho
Western Union Telegraph office. the Post Olice, the
drug store aud other town centres Which were swept
away by the hrc.
| THE INsuRAscEs.
The following are the insurahces on the property de-
sroyed by last nights fire as lar MS atanabc up TO
nine 7. ~ to-day
Episcopal church, insured for $4,000 A bio X,
three story brick buildings insured IN tue Royal Cana
dian Tor $4,000 Citz ns $4,000 Mclcvillc, ~ 900;
holmdel $1,000; t''rcman's $1,000. Asher Holmes
tnrcc buildings insured IN Newark Insurance
Company for $780, Manufacturers, OF Newark.
$1,000: Germania. OF Newark $1,000; Farmers, Of
York. Pa, $1,000 T. NJ. Anderson, cigar store, IN
sured tor $3.50; Joseph Maurcr, saloon anu restaurant
Princeton Company for $1,000 Mercer County Com-
pany So 900 Mutual Insurance Company tor 81. 100
! and Home, OF New York Tor 5000 NJ rris Nala, drug
goods, the MIlIve Company or 81 800 Ogdcns
harness shop post oncc) IN the Prlucelon Company
for 81, go Mercer Company Tor 5000 The WalIng
tate, insured the Royal Insurance, 50, 900; state
S. 900; Standard, So 5Oo Exchange, New YORK 81 500;
Peoples. 81 600. Mansion House IN the Royal Canadian
! for 81, 5OO Mercer County Tor $4,000, Princeton,
81 QUO; Mnvllle, $1,000 Atlantic Hotel, lnsuroa in
the shrewsbury Tor 81 800, Millvle, ~ j., II, 800;
| Princeton, 81, 500; Mercer County, n. j., IL 800
! Wulcott Matthew'S bakery, owned by Jamos
Sprouts IN State Insurance Company, OF Jersey Ciy.
81 0OO Hibcrniu, 81, 600 aud Prncelon 81 900. The
insuranccs on tho other buildings are small aud are
| divided among the Home, oi New YORK; Standard,
| MilivlIc, State, Mercer County and Princeton COM
panics.
OTHER FIRES.
fire broke yesterday afternoon In frame ten
cmcnt on Grand street, between Sixth and Seventh
streets Hoboken. The building owned BY Martin
| a,I, l.,ea astin cd M II