New-York tribune., 1877-03-07
DETAILS OF THE CONFEDERATION.

DETAILS OF The CoNfIAIRA1IbN.
The fire broke out early in the evening in the sub
cellar, smoke having been first discovered from the
area gratings about 7:3O. The alarm was struck at
7:40. and the engines the spot. The
flames could not be reached, however, and smold-
cred III the basement stories for hour or two be-
fore spreading to any great extent through the
bnilding BY 10 o'clock the whole interior was in
flames, and it was evident that all efforts were
vain except to save the adjoining buildings.
Between the Waltham building and Broadway
was the Wilcox Gibbs sales warehouse, separated
only by narrow alley. which extended also behind
the burning building, separating 1t from the struc
lures fronting on Bleecker-st On the west, divided
only by Their own walls, the stores of
Horstman Bros. & Allen, dealers in millinery
goOis, and Spadcne & Abel jewelers., both IN No
Z Bond-st., and Renziehauscn * Co., sverware
manufacturers. aud John A. Riley, iewcier, No.
Bond-st. These buildings similar to the one
which Was burning and for long time
it thought that the fire would inev-
itGbly extend to them. The walls of the
Waltham building, however, stood firm for q tmc
and during the tine when the fire was hottest the
flames shot directly upward from the top of a
high chimney, and surrounding buildings were only
endangered by exposure To the intense heat.
few minutes before II O'clock the mansard
story fell inward soon after ;he interior walls gave
way, and one by one the heavy loors-Inade heavier
by the masses OF silverware and the heavy safes
containing jewelry and watches stored upon thcm
gave way, sending up as they fell sheets
Of fame and clouds of smoke filed with glittering
sparks. Through the large windows from which
the plate glass had long ago disappeared, tine fire
was seen blazing with intense herccness, showing
that there was abundance of material of some sort
for il to feed upon
al
separated from the western sidc-wa and, warped
by the heat, leaned out over Bond-st in threaten
ing manner The warning was heeded in ample
time; the few liremcn and policemen who had been
able to maintain their places subjected to the i'll
tense heat fell back from their exposed
positions, and just at midnight, more
than four hours after the discovery of the fire. tic
two upper siorles of the front Wall fell crashing into
the street without injury to any person.
The fire by this time had done its work, and
the walls hal stood sufficiently long to
protect adjoining property 1t was not
thought ut thai lime that the uames had involved
any of the buildings in the vicinity. Some fears
were entertained however, that they might have
extended 10 the lower part OF No. ., but ii was
found that the fire had been checked 1T that point
After the falling Of the Bond-st. wall the iiameS
quickly snbsided and gave place to columns OF
black smoke.
The iirc was seen from all parts Of the city, the
b7illiancy of the flames illuminating church spires
and being reflected from sky-gh;s at great dis
tancc. Large numbers Of persons were attracted to
the spot and Bond-st., BE, ckcr-,t. and Broadway
were crowded with intensely interested inulti'u'E
The frernea worked with the utmost energy in the
face Of almost consuming heat and in the presence
of actual danger,
OCCUPANTS AND LOSES.
The first story Of TIE Wathan Building was 0c-
cui,;ed by Taylor & Brother aud the Gorham Niann-
featuring Company, each OF whom will lose nearly
500 OOO They arc fully insured III several COM
panics.
Tie second floor was occupied by Carter liaW-
kins 4 Sl0aa Baldwin, Sexton ~ Peterson; the
Adam, & shaw Company, Thomas &. Brown Rob
bins & Appleton, and Jesse ;. Cheney. fhe heaviest
losers on this floor were Robbins & Appleton who
owned the building, and the Adams ~ SHAW Com
pany.
On the third floor were j. Il. Robert Il Co., Jacob
Gerard & Co., Pcarcc, Kuish d Co.. Dominick y
UaN,. and James K George Darress-all dealers III
;cyyelrv and syerwarc and all heavy losers.
The fourth story was used rs a factory for plated
work by Baldwin LeXton & Peterson. Everything
was destroyed, with the exception OF some articles
in The safes.
The fifth story was partly occupied by Hale d
Nulfoy,,'. Inanuflctory Of slyorware. Robbins ~
Appl.tou's manufactory III tine same story.
The Gorlain Company had $4,000 Insurance III
the Continental Hire Insurance Company but IN
underwater stated that this company was carrying
only sS. 800 Of this amount The resi- han been re-
insured in the New-YGrk City, the Empire 'ly'
Standard. aud Brewers and MalSteiS Fire Compa-
MES Tie Continental Fire Insurance Company had
= noIcv of SlO GOO on the stock the floor above
thai occupied by the Gorham Company.
Henry A. Oakley, eX-rrcGdent Of the National
Board ol Underwriters who was present during the
evening, estimated the total loss at considerably
more than $4,000 The building, he said, cost
over 5000 900, and the Gorham Company has car
ricd more than 100000 in stock. The stock of
Taylor & Brother, lie thought, was worth at Ieas,
Ii20 900. As most of the valuable goods were Kept
:, GTc-nroof safes there would Of course be con-
siderable salvage, although the property would
necessarily be much Injured