The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-09

A-Two story extension. D-EIevator.
B-Coa house IMAM building.
C-Engine and boiler t--Onice.
ORIGIN OF THE coSpLAGRArIox
The origin OF the Ore is still In doubt. II frs,
discovered in the wcst OF the building by the
employees OF the Bridgeport Horse Railroad Company,
whose barn located nearly opposite the OF the
disaster, the north side OF the railroad track. On
discovering light In the fourth story OF the hat factory
At that hour Of night thalf-past elcvcn) they
called the attention OF the Waterman OF TIE Metallic
Cartridge Company, whose works near tho scene,
10 the light Mr.. Beibe the Waterman for the cart
ridge pany stepped to the Office Of the hnt
factory, where he found N. b. Durfce, the Waterman
ms hourly rounds ut eleven O'Clock, twenty min
utes before. The alarm wac ut once sounded, aud tho
Fire Department responded promptly. Durice, after
being notified OF the IRE by BeIbc ut went 10
tho third moor Of the main building, called the ing
ROOM where no found the fro started In three dlcr-
places. This part OF tbe building uscd Tor tho
storage of the wool from which the hats are
turcd, mud around the SIDES OF the room bins wcro
constructed tor holding tho different grades Of wool
FCTiLk IMPORTS or ThR riIEMEN.
On tho arrival VI the Fire Department every effort
made 10 stay the flames, but tho Insufficient sup.
ply Of water preventing any service of consequence
was not long boore the whole upper part IN Lncs.
and gradually binding It's way down through the hatch
ways on the ioos which wero left opcp and the ec-
vator running from the basement 10 tho garrett tho
fourth story To add TO the Roadway OF the ro there
woro two violent explosions, which seemed TO add
iuoi TO the already sweeping flames
SAVING Property.
The spectators seeing that tho building must DO
totally destroyed thcrc was general rush to get out
OF the lower stories such goods within reach
Some entered the basement and succeeded In wing
quite large quantity OF hainnishcd hats. some NJ
teen or twenty men entered the Office at the east
Of the main buiidiug, where there considerable
stock stored ready os shipment
VITAL FALL op WALLS.
Al twenty minutes before ono O'Clock tho spec
Iators aud frcmcn heard low rumble, then crash,
when tho top OF the front wall qrivercd and Tell
ward with fearful crash. When the front wall fcll
u carried the cast gable end with H. and the brick and
outward and fell upon tho rooi OF tho olcc, wherc
some fifteen mon at work trying To
remove tho safe containing the books OF the
concern. Tho crash heard by the crowd outside,
been zone. The wall as II doscc ndeu crashed easily
through tho slight rooi OF the ONCE. ng death W
those beneath Tho annou nceflcut that there we're
persons In the building thus crushed sent thrill OF
horror through the crowd, and although Tho debris
hot that u scarcely could be handled with
the naked hand yet operations wcro at begun
reach those VINO had met such sudden death.
Nothing could DO done 10 advantage until Jour O'Clock
In the morning. tor The bricks were hot and tho
steam 80 great that the nrcmen wcro able 10 do Little
toward the OF those buried beneath the black
encd. smoking ruinA
SIGHT MORNING LIGHT.
II nine. o'clock this morning before the last
body OF tho victims secured, and the painful sns-
The soutcst heart sympathzc with tncm their sore
aI,ction Wives and children IRON place 10 place.
cagor get glimpse at tho bodies they TAX en-
out hopes 10 recognize some dear lace that
aud burned corpscs by ono land on sbc grass
IN front Of tho ruin, they lost all hope and gave way
the most bntcr weeping None could be recognized
by their features, the only means OF identification
being the found tho persons OF tho several
Victims Tho last boay taken ircm The RUNS was that