The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-21

.bout ono hundred and ten persons were employed
tho premises during the catastrophe. II both these
statements correct II 10 safe 10 assume that tho
number Of tho victims not large AZ II was feared i
would be- They DO not, however, coincide with tho
statements Of somo other gentlemen who were also
not only eye witnesses Of the DISASTER but also well
acquainted with the firm Of Greenfield h Sons, and
who said that there must have been many
more hands employed. Mr.. Weaver, whore
store in Barclay street, Immediately opposite Green
fields was seriously damaged by the explosion, says
a great many persons must havo been In the Barclay
street section Of the store which was shattered BY
the explosion OF tho boiler down stairs Tho
whole building was badly injured BY this
eveut that he failed 10 understand how any
Of those in this portion OF IL could have escaped at ALL
In this connection comes also the statement Of Mr. h.
Kiemm, Of No. So Leonard street. Hc says that
ne was in Mr. Greenneld's establishment o
short time before the explosion, and It was
full Of customers. Ten minutes later. Mr.. Klemm
says tho explosion occurred and he returned TO the
store He wont the Barclay street entrance and saw
through It's shattered walls TO the roar To his horror
he bcneId number OF screaming girls hanging be-
tween the broken beams OF tho floor. He rushed on
70 bring the police their aid. Whom no returned
the place was eavcopst In flames He did not know
what had become OF the girls
YfnEMES AND POLICE urRT.
Several OF tho nremen and police wore hurt Don
court and Kelly, Of Hook and Ladder Company No 4,
and Sergeant Samuel slatcr OF the Twenty seventh
precinct whose log cut open by sharp fragment
OF iron whilc be was carrying wounded TO an nmbu-
lance Several minor injuries and casualties were
ported to tho police and nrs captains.
GUARDING rRxAsuRG
Cartain Saunders and tho Insurance Patrol sta.
toned mon TO guard the vaults and safes OF the Gro.
GERS Bank during tho night, as both werc exposed
tho walls, windows and doorways being broken IN
many places Police officers were stationed around
the block to protect property In other stores, which
had TO DO left open for the accommodation OF the Fire
Department In ns efforts to put tho nre out alto
gcther. These lasted until morning.
TIE EXCITEMENT IN TnE CITY.
Most OF tho downtown business men were on their
vay 10 their residences when tho immense vol.
ume OF flame and smoke suddenly arrested their atten
ton rush was made for the streets west OF Broad.
way, bu. tho police and nremen having already esab-
lishsd their nre lines II was Impossible to approach
within two blocks Of tue conna grafton This added 10
tho excitement Of the moment and speculation as to
locality OF the explosion INDUCED In 10 an
extent that for q considerable time obltsrated all
thought OF human life then In peril. Soon. however,
the arrival OF ambulances driven at . tremendous
speed Increased tho intense feeling OF anxcty OF tho
crowds that by this time crowded every block from
yesey to Chambers street. To add TO the CONFUSION,
those who intended to 60 up town could not leave
from the ordinary termini At vcsey street. all the cars
from the various avenues having bosn stopped In
College place and directed 10 take their passengers up
Al Park place.
As the second and again the third alarm for more
and st,ll moro engines and for moro and stli moro
ambulances was sounded and became known up town
the excitement ran up 10 fever heat. Nobody even
then knew the exact locality Of the nre. Tho
engines came dashipg down Broadway at . furious
rate, and all wondered what might be tho ex-
tent OF the connagra,ion. Al the Union Place Hotel
the anxiety was no, 81 all alaysd whom Mr. Sheridan
Shook tcegraphcd 10 Police Headquarters TO ascertain
the much sought-for particulars, and In few minutes
announced that a terrible calamity had Just taken
place IN Barclay street
People up town stiIl In q state OF uncertainty
for fully IN hour and half after The explosion