The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-05
THE NEW YORK FIRE.
Tile Origin. Developments ana Damages
of the Fire.

New YORK, Sept. 4.-There were eighty
buildings burned by the great fire yesterday,
which started in Hale's piano factory. The
fire resulted not only in q financial loss. but,
1t is feared, lii terrible sacrifice of life. Two
persons are known to be dead. several have
been seriously wounded and more are miss
ing. Most of the buildings destroyed were
cheap structures, many Of them shanties.
The loss is estimated at $25O,OOO.
Hale's manufaetory in which the fire origi
mated, was a large brick building, eight
stories high, having a front of two hundred
and fifty feet on Thirty-fifth street and about
the same on Thirty-sixth street. What was
known as the old part was nearest Tenth
Avenue, and ran through the Harris block and
had front Of twenty-five feet on Thirty sixth
street. Here was the main entrance and stair
case This part Of the factory was built in
1860. and has been noted for the many misfor-
tunes attending it. That year, 1862 a part of
the wall blew down and two or three men
were killed. later boiler exploded and
mangled ain engineer.
Recently large additions were erected to the
building. There was q staircase In the
northeast corner, opening on Thirty-sixth
street, but this was always kept closed; there
were also two escapes on the Tenth Avenue
side and two in the recesses on Thirty-sixth
street side. All through the building were
piles of partially finished pianos. The estab-
lishment was perfect tinder shop
The fire originated at 8 80 O. m. and as far
rs can be ascertained from many and con-
iiieting stories, arose from some material
whiehasas being heated.
Il ny,I
he saw the whole bench on which the mate
rial stood. in blaze. The man gave the
alarm instantly and escaped. Such was the
infiainmable nature of the materials that the
flames spread like flash. breeze was
blowing briskly from the north, and the win
dows, which were open in the building.
helped the flames. There had been employed
nearly 200 men. Up TO the present time d
number Of casualties have been reported.
Two persons were killed and four injured
and in addition to these several are reported
missing and 1t is feared their bodies may be
i'm the ruins of the burned factory.
OF the dead. Oliver Fasnocker jumped from
an upper window and was killed by the fall.
1t is understood that he leaves q wife and
family.
Annie Smith. infant: before the child could
be removed she was suffocated.
Paul Hess, aged 10, jumped from @ win
dow and has severe spraned ankle
Thos. Ludwig, aged 49, jumped from q
window and has a lacerated foot
James Roland, member of engine Is. wall
fell on him and he was caught in the debris:
injuries. compound fracture of the leg
Conquest escaped from window con-
siderably battered about the face and hands.
and his knees split in two.
The missing are Albert Lee. varnisher.
aged So; Henry Demorest; Mr.. Gipe, an old
man; John Gendergor. aged q; John Dun
can, JAS. Smith. Patrick Trainer.
New YORK, Sept 4.--The ruins of yester-
days fire present a scene of indeseribable
desolation. To-day the ruins are still smotl-
dering and the coal yards blazing The Chin
neys and walls left standing will be blown up
Tomorrow morning by the sappers and
miners corps of the fire department, who
were on the ground this morning. but owing
TO the intense heat they were unable to do
much. For the same reason the ruins have
not been disturbed. and the uncertainty as to
the number Of those who have perished and
been buried under the mass of brick twenty
Get deep is as great as last evening. Blt
one engine is kept on the ground, AS there