The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-15
Disastrous Fire on the Corner Of
Grand Street.
OVER A MILLION LOST.
Scenes OF Terrible Grandeur
and Confusion.
FALL OF THE SOUTH WALL.
Two Fmemen Buried and One Of Them
Taken Out Dead.

great fire occurred last evening on the corner Of
Broadway and Grand street The theatres were
about closing and the throngs of pleasure seekers
fastening into the open air. ON their homeward
journey, saw with alarm sky lurid with the flames
Of great confagration. Along lower Broadway
especially gli,nmered the indications of large fire.
Tho flames seemed to envelop blocks. They sprang
aloft. leaping higher and higher at every moment.
and apparently spreading with furious energy. The
majorityof the startled lockers seized with
the usual impulse to witness fire from the nearest
possible point. aud the streets and sidewalks
were alive with people Fastening to the The
precise location of the are at the northeast
ncr of Grand street aud Broadway. magnificent Ave
story brick building. Tho fire first discovered at
halfpast nine O'Clock. but it nearly ten before
the flames had attained their greatest vigor. From
that time until nearly eleven o'clock the dcvourng
clement seemed to have everything at its mercy.
LEArING HIGHER HIGHER
Beginning the third story the flames first shot
upward, forcing their way through tho roof until
their fiery overtowcred the highest of buildings
The massive streams Of water from the engines
seemed playthings with the angry fire.
They caused tho heated walls to hiss in
response they topplcd over corniccs they
shattered window sashcs and forced their way
grew denser. All above being consumed. the fire
next sought for food below. Slowly it crept down.
The engines snortcd with redoubcd vigor additional
streams were directed on the burning building. but
downward and sideward went the flames 1t seemed
Tor half an hour if the adjoining buildings
doomed. The heat in the immediate vicinity
intense. Three blocks away on either hand
stood and stared the thousands of anxious, eager
spectators. held back by cordons Of police. The
flames lit up their faces and the Pickering gas lamps
in the neighborhood looked dying candles in the
brilliant glare. The hremen stood nobly ut their
posts. From all sides their attacks. The burn
ing building fortress defended with belchns
at every opening, and the fire brigade the at
lacking troops. determined to subdue or perish.
THE VIEW FROM A DISTANCE.
The scene from Stewards building, looking toward
the Post office. WAS highly sublime. The great done
OF the building was lighted up that the nagst a
shone Ike a golden pillar. The upper story
Of the building reflected tho red glare in the win
dows. and the ickerng flame gave air Of enchant-
mant to the building
Fiom Fourth avenue the view was magnificent
The red fame made a brilliant background. while
the smoke swelcd upward from the doomed build
ing. The smoke filled with beautiful sparks Of
gold. which were only lost when they reachcd al
ttudo Of several hundred feet in the air
AN EXPI0NoS.
n the midst Of the battle came an explosion that
blanehed the checks Of moro than A. first
it supposed that one of the walls had fallen ill.,
and the valiant band OF rerhen were known to be
al sides. fear that had fallen on the altar
Of duty stopped the breath OF tho panic-strckoa
observers. But happily such was not the case.
The explosion proved to be caused by engine on
Of the floors bursting Still the lettering walls
envcloped in the flames. looked ominous. The strug-
r;e continued Now the work Of the brigade began TO
tell. The flames slackened and grew less. and IL
speedily became evident that the fiery monster
had done his worst. The adjoining buildings, only
a few minutes before apparently doomed. now
doomed up Il the brightness. and every one
ntuitively felt that they safe. but there
could be relaxation on the part OF the
battling with the element. Every fresh indica-
ton Of renewed life quickly met with well di-
rected attack. Streams poured in from every eide
On the adjoining buildings stout hearted fire.
men stood with steady hose vieing with their
brethren in the street. The battle was
nobly fought and the victory nobly won;
but alas! it was not without the sacrifice of
human life. One hero fell victim TO his duty. The
long threatening wall at last came down. and from
beneath its crumblng the police took out the
ifeless remains of valiant fireman. He had
stood at his post of danger one minute too long.
The ENGINES.
Within fifteen minutes after the discovery of the
Are there were the following force of engines and
hook and ladders In the vicinity Engines
Nos. l. 4, s. 0. g. o.. 10. II. II. 10. IL.
Is. 16. II. IS. TO- "a. 81 rs. 70. 30. 81. 80 and
80. and Hook and Ladders Nos. 1, 5, G. =.
80. II and H. The Lower Insurance Patrol answered
the hrst alarm and the Central followed ON the
second At ten minutes to ten simultaneous call
given. which brought all the engines and
ladder companies with the patrol. AT eleven
minutes to ten Engines IL and "a specially
called: ,, Then ~ order was given for the uptown
Thus during the rc the other parts Of the city
covered.
wAnrNa AND cRUMBLNe.
At eleven o'clock the appearance Of the blazing
structure was magnificent in the extreme. There
Of smoke which rolled upward from the ruin
rsaected in .,, gorgeous tints the nerco wrath
titions and pillars within the walls had entirely
vanished Tho window sashes hung in splinters
in their frames shattered by tho tremendous force OF
frc and o. the sashcs damp tho flames burned
sullcnly giving 10 tho mind OF the epcct ator tho
image o. great msGnan' ryss tS with which the do.
bravely trying to stay his progress The immense cop
ing of the roof chung pcrsstenty to ts position but
steadily burning mp, and at short intervals great
masses would dctsch themselves and como crashing
down to the pavement with loud reports Ike the
direction. and horses and men who were siantiingg
idly hundred yards away would start with fright
and apprehension. They soon had rcEon for sudden
and hasty flight.
IMPENDING DANGER.
About quarter after eleven the southern wall OF
the building was first observed TO lean " little
midway betwcen broadway and Crosby street. 1t
was OF great thickness the main part being of brick,
and was faced with brown stone. In Grand street
wero grouped score moro of hrcmon. They
did not seem conscious Of the death which was
literally hanging over them. The tremendous
wall looming up to the height of nearly hun
drcd feet looked a. strong rs ono of tho Pyramids
From their position they could not have perceived
the slow detection Of the wall. but tho
crowd OF fire officials the southwest cor
ner OF Grand street watched its progress with
painful anxiety. At thirty minutes after eleven the
wall had buged out so much the roof that 1t
looked like falling ut any moment and those whose
ogce were fastened upon IL oven thought that they
could II lettering. Another part OF tho coping
feu and wild rush down Broadway was mado by
dozen Of the onlookcrs
The SOUTH WALL FALLS.
Five minlYtes later. when this false alarm had
barely subsidized there suddenly cainc dull aud
sullen roar. The wall seemed to waver iust one