The New York herald., 1878-12-05
DESTROYED BY FIRE.

BURNING OF THE BROOKLYN PACIFIC MILLS LAST
NIGur-TERRIBIE GRANDEUR OF THE SPEC
TAcLE-THE LOSS ESTIMATED AT TWO HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS.
The Pacific Mills. Brooklyn. were destroyed by fire
last evening, involving loss estimated at $2O0Ooo
At twentysix minutes past six O'Clock the alarm for
fire district No. % sounded by the bell i'll
tho City Hall tower and the first section of the
Fire Department. summoned by the alarm, gave
prompt response to the call. When engines Nos. 2.
3 and and truck company No. ! reached the burn
ing mills which situated Coumbia street, be-
tween Pacific and Amity streets, they found
volume of flame issuing from the third story.
i'll the part, on the river front Chief
Engineer Nevins realizing the dimensions
of the threatened conhagration. and the value
and Importance of the surrounding property sent
out word to ring the second alarm. The latter sum
mons was sounded six minutes after the first. The
next engines to arrive the were Nos l, and
7, and No. truck. Attachments were made to hy-
drants for blocks around the neighborhood
and six streams of water were speedily
brought to bear on the burning buildings.
front and rear The structure which was
of brick, three stories in height and fronted
on Columbia street, being numbered from 30 to 3s,
inclusive It was we'll stored with meal. oats, corn
and other material used chiefly for horse feed. Ad
joining the mills were two three story tenement
houses Columbia street and four on Pacific street.
These domiciles crowded by poor fami.
lies who. beholdins the grip that the
fire fend had on the great structure
that adioned their frail looking habitaons became
panic stricken and with the assistance OF their
neighbors ut early stage Of the fire began to
move out. They piled their furniture. bedding and
humble effects on the sidewalks and their remained
moodily and goomily watching the progress Of tho
fire.. assembled
water and the streets and eagerly watched the out
bursts of flame and the volumes Of tinted and be-
sparkled smoke which shot out from the windows
and doors of the mills.
A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE.
Shortly after seven o'clock the flames commune
Gated to the great elevators which rose to an elevation
OF about hundred and eighty feet on the water
Der. The flames shot up rapidly from the roof Of the
mill to the elevator. and speedily enveloped
the wooden structure The latter in tho
course Of demolition presented magnificent
spectacle from the piers and along the river.
The framework was dry as tinder, and sent forth
white sheet Of flame which, when it reached the
summit, gave it the appearance Of a burning light
house. The lower part remained intact for upward
Of half an hour supporting, as it were giant fire
brand against the darkened sky. Az by de-
grees the smaller timbcrs fell from the burn
ing tower they sent up showers of sparks. and ex-
cited ordinations Of admiration among the spectators
Several additional engines were subsequently called
out by the Chief OF the Fire Department and cop.ous
streams Of wafer were poured in upon the ruins. At
quarter-past eight the west wall Of the main build
ing fell out with loud crash, and few minutes
later the frame elevator fell in and myriads Of
sparks shot upward. The iremen then had their
work completely under their control and there was
longer to approhend any spread Of the fire.
The Pacific Mills. which were built in 1861 for .
pork packing establishment. have been for the past
ten twelve years leased by David Doves, the owner
the property, Charles II. Heuberer and others.
Mr. Heuberer is the present lessee Of the mills which
used for grinding feed for horses. About
seventy men were employed there. Mr.. Heuberer
last night stated to reporter that there
about 100 900 bushels of grain all that the mill would
hold stored there. He said that the value Of the
stock destroyed about $4,000, and Of the
chinery between $4,000 and S50,0O0 The value OF
the building about $4,000. The property was
fully insured but he could not tell in what companies
the policies held. AS to the origin of the
fire he said he could learn nothing more
than that it broke out the third story Of the
building. the northwest side on the water front.
There fires lamps in that part Of the mill.
and the employees had just left the place for the day
The grain continued to burn and shoulder through
ont the night, and as precaution, couple Of
streams Of water were kept playing on it.