The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-19
the loss occasonsd BY the leaking hose is considered
only slight.
SCENES AT THE RUINS or THE GREAT FIRE
IN WEST rwENTY-rHIRD srREEr--rEARISa

SCENES AT THE RUINS or THE GREAT FIRE
IN WEST rwEsTY-rHIRD srREEr--rEARISa
DOWN wALLs-LossEs AND ASSURANCES.
The ruins OF the great IRE on Twenty-hrd street,
between Seventh and Eighth avenues, were visited
by thousands yesterday but the great majority were
forced TO be with such view could be OBJ
tanned from the line Seventh avenue, at Twenty
third street, where a force Of police formed .
barrier against the incursions Of the curious
on the space Immediately In front OF the ruins
Low, drifting clouds OF steam obscurcd the INTERIOR
and u hose pipe lying along the sidewalk kept up
a constant stream over the debris at the west sido
OF the burned structure Five or six long, trail aud
blackened sticks Of timber swaying in the wind wore
all that was left Of the sprc OF the Twenty-third
Street Presbyterian Church. Pointing up TO heaven
like the gaunt fingers OF skeleton. they seemed 10
possess strange fascination for the crowd, who were
never tired looking up ana wondering why the
flames which had them at their mercy icaped
on and left those feeble memcntoes Of their
tremendous ravages They stood up bravcly through
out the day, though looking as II breath OF wind
would blow them instantly down. section Of over
nifty front up TO the top Of the third story OF the
massive front wall OF the Excelsior Building stood all
day I'll late in the afternoon. when the hremen
pulled II down. This done bv the aid OF the aerial
ladder with which the fatal experiment was MADE
few years ago in Chatham square IL was orougnt on
the ground about three O'Clock ana PLAINLY showed,
by ITS slow and clumsy workings, that Tor purposes
oil saving life In the pressing exigences Of hre u
would be worse than useless.
HAULING DOWN THE WALLS.
After some time consumed IN putting Its numerous
joints together II was elevated by the turning Of
crank TIL It's top rested against the sill OF
window on the third story. Then a bold fireman
mounted up the steps with u stout ropa IN MS lett
hand while all the privileged people Within the bar
rcrs ana all tho residents OF the houses facing the
runs looked on with intense interest. The great
crowd in the distance were also deeply attentive
hu.h IN
fireman fastened his rope around the dividing piaeer
of brick between Two OF the windows and descended
The ladder wheeled up the street, blocks ana run
nng lines arranged and with purchase secured IN me
raiiiug front Of an opposite house the nremen
iorth. Suddenly the rope snapped and the hromen
fell IN heap on tho sidewalk The tackle
stropger one and al the next the job was ac
compshed and the street was strcwn with Dricks ana
cheered and thought the sight as good as circux
FEATURES OF THE RUINS -
Up TO the Oeiry OF the Presbyterian Churcn
was still smoking, but later GU this ceased.
XSou. haa.pass len o'clock the rear wall
OF the church fell, with a loud roar. ane
gave much relief TO tho minds OF tho nremen.
Who had been watching IL with some anxiety.
The hose directed the runs was passed under tho
tracks Of the lwenty.thrd street Rail- oad by means
of cxcavuling the ground beneath SO as not 10 I'M
| pede travel. gang oil mon were hct 10 work early
by the street car company to clear the d6brs from
he rails and in short space time the running OF
the aud stages was resumed, Out MS was again
interrupted while tho hremen were ENGAGED pui'ins
ON twenty second street. behind tho scene OF the
fire. several families were occupied moving away WIN
their furniture, though the danger was enrcy ended
and never so remote. A great Scare evidently came
over all the residents IN The rear Of the hre and from
their looks and speech betraying In every instance
unusual excitement Of mind, It is easy to account
Tor impulse that drove several oil them 10 PACK
up and Quit the ncignborhood. None OF them had
their houses damaged 10 any extent, but all ielt they
had q narrow escape, ana were ever so willing TO
throw their doors open ana es ps0ps S.ms anu
The signs, ''Manhaltan Steam Laundry" and "SuIer
little children 10 come unto me-" over me ground
Of The wall at the southeast corner
surmouuted by a strongly built chimney. lowered up
conspicuously all the ruins. and IN appearances
dehsd any attempt OF tho hrcmen To haul IL down
With dynamite. The facade Of each OF the
churches appear sound, aud with very little repair
may be made available again.
THEORIES ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
Fire Marshal sheldon Said he had been around all
the morning seeking Tor such people as might be aoe
was uuaDe to meet any who had positive testi-
mony on the subject His own theory was that the
Ore originated Ia the basement At the rear OF NO zig
West Twenty.third street, aud might have happened
| from me spark Of pps or cigar falling among
wnere the IRE started from ana was used for drying
had boon closely shut up and the air confined, then
the collection OF rubbish, OF shavioss, cotton waste.
Intended holding an Investigation into the matter 10.
day and would have ten or eleven persons summoned
SUPERINTENDENT Adams, OF the Building Depart
mcni gave as mis- theory OF the fire that some OF .he
workmen who. II was known. were In the habit Of
Gaming 10 the factory on Sundays to 90 a little
work on their own account, must have made
work and some OF Inis Hre may have got among the
dry and ufammable material common 10 furniture
| warehouses. Ii not that, then some workman must
have dropped the spark oil cigar or Pipe In the CON-
| bustIbe stuff around him.
INsuRANCEs
The officials OF the Insurance companies wore busy
oil day yesterday in Trying to make complete list Of
the insurauces and losses II was almost impossible
to yet the correct all the nsurauccs but the
tables gwen below were Cleaned from all reliable
| SOURCES yesterdny:-