The New York herald., 1878-11-07
AN OLD BUILDING ON FIRE

PARTIAL DESTRUCTION OF THE PREMISES NO. 80
ROSE STREET, FORMERLY USED AS BRITISH
PRISON.
fire broke out shortly before ten o'clock last
night in the premises No. 80 Rose street.
occupied by Messrs Buchanan & Co., dealers
in paper stock and bookbnders boards.
Tho origin Of the fire is attributed to a
spark from pipe which fell into the rag shop, also
owned by Buchanan l. Co., speedily extended
thence. second fire alarm given
about twenty minutes after the first When
the engines reached the Nos. IL and
81 were placed in position to play upon the first floor,
and Nos. 0, and detailed for the purpose Of
checking the progress Of the flames on the second
floor. The engines We're placed along Duane street.
just opposite the burning premises. No. Duane street
is occupied a saloon by Conrad Stubbe; Edward
Cunningham has smithy in No. 4. and Edward
Sweeny keeps foundry at No. Duane street. all Of
which premises contiguous to No. 80 Rose street.
AN HISTORICAL BUILDING.
They all belong to the old Rhineander estate, and
among the Oldest edifices IN New York. The old
building where the fire broke out had in iron letters on
its walls the date 1858 being the year Of its
construction. II then situated 'away out in the
country. and did service for long time q
public prison. When the British had posses
War it was here that American prisoners
incarccrated. 1t does not appear at what time
the property fell into the hands of the Rhnelanders;
but the head of this family used the old prison for
long period as sugar refinery until in the of
time, and owing to the growth of the city, it
rounded by newer buildings
Last night during the progress of tho fire. the old
barred and grated windows of the former prison
were viewed by passing through the saloon
the original granite wall. over four feet thick,
pierced by low, dark window. guarded by
the strongest iron stanchions. With the excep-
ton Of the Walton House, in Pearl street,
which fell last night is supposed to be the oldest in
this part of the city.
BY midnight the fire, feeding upon the combustible
materials found Buchanans promises, began to
tend toward Nos and Duane street Meantime the
saloon at No escaped damage excepting some loss
by water
CONTROLLING THE FLAMES.
The firemen were unremitting in their efforts to
subdue the conhagration, but were unable to get
the flames under control until o'clock this
playing with undated energy the an
cicnt walls. The engineer in charge believed
that in hour all the engines excepting
one. which was to remain guard, could
be drawn off. BY halfp twelve o'clock, when the
fire at its height grave fears entertained for
and also for the Newsboys Lodging House. which is
situated at the corner of New Chambers and Duane
streets. The saloonkeeper, Adam Searle. at No. 8
Duane street. fearing the approach of the fire. began
midnight the fire reached the roof Of the burning
building. and fearing its advance towards the west,
streams of water directed to be played upon the
Newsboys' Lodging House.
vhe damage to the stock, which insured. is esti
mated at $4,000 and to the building all the way from
$500 to $500 The calmness of the night, together
with somewhat copous rainfall. facilitated the fire.
mems efforts to extnguish the flames.