New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-24
THE FIRE RECORD.

KEYPORT NEARLY DESTROYED By FIRE.
THE BUSINESS PORTION BURNED, CAUSING Loss
or SI30,OOO-AN UPSET LAMP THE CAUSE.
On the southern shore of Raritan Bay, where
pleasant drives ntersected beneath the shade Of tall
trees was centre OF Keyport Jersey town.
OF perhaps $500 Inhabitants At the were the
church. pOsOce and hotels, and here the drives
were called streets-Broad and Front. The dwellings
were small houses ringing the business centre Some
Of them were tho Summer homes OF New-YOrk mer-
chants Keypor was settled about forty years
and m reason its being was that point the people
OF the neighborhood took the boats for New-fOrk. t
was the outlet FOR AidGleown Point called Mata-
wan and other villages II the Of some actv
ity for over thirty years. but the railroad
was built and its departed Nothing WIS left
for il but moderate oyster trade and the patronage Of
Summer visitors.
Enterprise angIished, and not the usual village
Are company existed much % the present sorrow ~ the
villagers. For, Of Friday night, at IL o'clock fire
broke ont and could be controlled, the business
portion OF the town was burned down The origin OF the
fire seems have been kerosene lamp, which exploded
or was tipped In FAR. Keyp0rt and Chicago are
alike The lamp was IN q small two-.tory frame building
on the side OF Broad-s, which occupied party
by a man named Norris who kept butcher shop on the
ars Aoor front The second story Of the building
was occupied by and IL Is said that the lamp
was upset in their apartment At IL O'clock Friday
evening therefore, bell OF the little steamer lying at
tie dock rang alarm, aud at the
same time the proprietor Of the Pavilion Hotel who
had gone the porch 70 close the shutterst cried
Fire" He had smelled something burning. The viz
layers were soon reused and running the OF
the fire. for by this time the sght structure owned by
Morris was in flames. a brisk northwest wind
blowing and Warmers little cigar store, standing close
by. caught almost Immediately. line Of men wiz
buckets was formed to cstern on the corner aud when
that supply exhausted 70 the Bay But they could
do little good. The Mansion House large hotel was
blazing and the sparks We're falling thcky adj
iacent wooden buildings. messenger was hurried Of
on horseback 20 Matawan, ma hall miles away for
the fire engine at that place These ncighbo responded
quickly and directly theiE engine rafting over the
road toward KeypOrt.
Meanwhile the Atlantic Hotel, Blocks brick sore-the
principal business in the town, containing large
stock Of dry gouds-tLe Post Office and number OF less
important buildings were wrapped in flames, and
urd column Of fire and smoke lighted up the surround
ing country and the waters OF the Bay The Episcopal
church. the most noteworthy building in The village,
endowed by ex-Goy. Potters family, and Boosting three
handsome memorial windows. WAS also burning. At
midnight, or q little after, the fire engine from
Matawau arrived. The fremen fought the Games
a. best they might, but found that the burning
buildings must be left TO their fate. small frame
shoe store next 20 tie Post Office torn dOwnand
this Vantage ground tie OF the fire was checked
ana i;tc aier il was under control The only hotel
ler standing was the Pavilion. whose scUrched front
shows now nearly II had been destroyed About thirty
buildings had been destroyed and many families were
homeless. Northwest of the main corner between the
Pavilion hotel stables and DccAers shoe store al -
mass Of smollderiug ruins, and on BrDadsf from tho
Pavilion nuei TO the Office OF The Report Bseky, not
house is left standing
Happily tho inmates had all escaped, and most OF their
effects had been carried into the streets II was learned
soon tha some these things had been stolen. To pro-
tect the remaining property, Company g., of tue 81
Regiment. mounted guard 40 daylight Tie total loss II
estimated at SI3OOOO. The larger losers are Wac0t
Matthew'S builders, $4,000 4, Campbell Railway HO-
te IS 900 prODretOrs Of Jhe Mansion House. Sl7JOO;
the Wling Estate, $4,000; the Atlantic Hotel Com
pany $4,000; Vi. Natal, $4,000, and A. Block, So
0OO The sufferers are A. Morris, H. DOugherty,
Charles Miller, 4. Holmes, DIR. Mckinney, John Van
Woert, James Brown, Capt. Britton r. Hoffman,
Btdle & Thomas, \. Saz and others. Inc
Episcopal church valued at $4,000. Tho
insurance Is little than half the loss ana the RISKS
were In the Mercer Mutual Insurance Company OF Penn
sylvauia tie Royal OF England, the HlDernla OF New
Jersey Peoples Home and Exchange. Inc Post once
vas ia tlrcestory brick building owned by Rufus Og-
dom This building and tine Block store were the only
brick buildings destroyed The other buildings were
frame The mail matter saved The Office or the
Western Union Telegraph, which was in DR.. Mcklnneys
drug store was destroyed The Office Of the Atsnic and
Pacific is IN the Pavilion Hotel. OF the memorial win
dow. Mary's church. was 10 the memory or the
Late EsH0p Doane, aaotuer We contributed o. Mrs.
DinslOy Newl ana the tlid by tue kew lelIaf
HoIgson The organ also q line one