The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-18
.gE THIRD GREAT FIRE.
-, utSSITE IRON BUILDINGS IN
uoKTH STREET DESTROYED.

. ,7.ql last evening Police Officer Jacob |
| ..,,, vas patrolng Worth street. between |
.'',lrav and Church street He saw bright |
~, an the third floor OF 62 and Ga Worth |
..,,, the third building from Church street. |
's.ine rough from Worth TO Thomas street. |
~. ,birl and fourth floors were occupied by
t,o.s ucsslein \ Co.. linen dealers. The fire
~. also discovered by John Schefmcycr.
,,-yate watchman The alarm was promptly
.,sn The buildings from Church street to
Roadway have massive iron fronts. but tho
,.iers and floors are Georgia pine. and
s.re are no partition walls between
a, ,th and Thomas streets. The flre ran
cough the building with frightful rapidity.
"a the flames were quickly seen in Thomas
s,set Within ten minutes streams OF water
,.ra poured over the front Of the building. but
b. are seemed above reach. and the roof was
,s,me before o'clock. The pitch pine floors
IA eirlers threw out an intense heat. The
,g was overcast. and the damp atmosphere
nrew reflection upon the clouds that lighted
No lower portion of the city.
The fire ate its way int the roofs Of Go and SO
rd e6 and 6s Worth street two numbers
icing scored to each building. Two OF the
bindings extended through to Thomas street.
ould see to pick up pin on many Of the down
tvn streets. Goals of fire rained upon the
blocks toward the Battery. and hissed in tho
,nowbanks in the City Hall Park. The bright
lght iium.ned church steepes and shot towers.
snd brought out in startling relief the massive
piles occupied by the Post Ofilce. the Western
Union Telegraph Company and the Mutual
md Equitable Life Insurance Companies.
4
with spectators. over 90 900 persons were
packed in the snow. watching the flames.
Crowds crossed from Jersey City and Brooklyn.
sud poured down on the elevated railroad.
Strong cordons OF police were required to keep
back the eager spectators. BY half past eight
the luors Of CO and Ga fell with terrible crash
anl the flame and cinders were beched into the
SKY as though coming from the crater Of vol
ono. Gradually the fire ate It's way down from
f,or to floor in the adjoining buildings. The
tough iron fronts bowed slightly inward. but
stood firm. The copper fastened cornces.
hacked 10y brick. sent out sheets Of blue fame.
eni iell into the streets.
Al the engines down town were brought into
Ray. II was fortunate that there was plenty Of
v,tor. Tho twenty-inch main was used to its
iullcs, extent. and undoubtedly saved the whole
book and II. b. Clafln's store. Church street
is y,ry narrow. and at one time 1t seemed as
though Clahin's immense store must so. His
full force Of clerks was said to be on
hanl ready to assist in removing the
600 Is at the slightest notice. The front Of tho
massive building and tho fronts OF the stores
On tie opposite side Of Worth street were kept
VT By g o'clock four powerful streams were
paving upon the flames from the roof Of the
C4lin building. They were very effective. but
dl not prevent the fire from eating its way to
Church street The different floors and walls
tgveen the structures fell with so loud a crash
that some Of the spectators imagined that the
n11s was made by explosives.
Tie Arrn.en were wary OF thc irca fronts. but
the mass was well rveted. and stood the shock
barely Az 10 o'clock three Of the buildings
were q total loss. Girdcrs. walls. and floors
v-ie falling every five minutes. filing the
az with sparks and rumbling like ar
tery Tie Fire Commissioners. seve-
ri % the Board Of Aldermen. n half
dzsn Police Captains. and many prominen,
business men nnd politicians were on the
g. and. The slush was knee deep on the cross
s'..'- nrl rlyulets q water poured down to-
" w.Ti Tt .-' broadway. a swarm Of clerks and
whose property was endangered.
y l-I-t tNeS" rtNul"f5.
A.ll D. VI Nh" nre was under complete con
o.. r.,. ..uI mo fr7rt.r., Cfur.i Street y-as
sa.f '.uu.h seriously lamarod. s partition
v..- -.,.i "A Thomas street. but the store was
'bOa.Ile n.
r.. the Clanin building and o. a s,ore
q. i.l. .- -'r,rt were the Keys of the situa-
y raworfu streams could reach the top
q 70 ft. street The Church street Al ie
waste. n.. go important. The hose was dragged
...t D. fti.-e huillluLs. and four etrrlu s
C l.l from C.nNIu's store. hut without nu n
o. 70 SlmD-e nozzlcs. or noz2lcs that throw
v.'or 'f 90 iwo separate hose pipes in a single
vrff!. -tr.am. werau used nt the last nl0nl,nt.
o I'd Ur.,- tIe flames from the root Of the
i..-nn Church street
l'r .k ~ buildings bounded by Worth
TI0r..- u.l Church Streets and Bronday was
llHi iu 1913. On ground occupied by the I'D
NV rs Hospital Tho fire has burned over
\ ~ .il no. Is Hose Worth street was then
b. .vu r- Anthony street
Tibet f.I loss cannot rvoeed 81 100000 Woll-
X 800 merchants consider this an excess va
estimate. The buildings were owned by tine
NIr % E.l I-tate Association. of Will
J.r,- >a1ou uul J. T.. Howe are oriDars
ln 'ir- -.N--fOry iron front double building M
l...I. l. A.4-- Ilt--.ein a. co.'s premises. the
.-- t.. a- ,oilYWs: d" \ .u--. Hr--leiu & Co..
mlI Itr- ~ lnau. ialIlr-' trimmings, aud
sfI ~: Ma'tir- r-hnw& x Nright. importers
.. W. .I- s1in.uJI: Won NOlkrniuruh a
I aNr lwpuriris oi dry goods S25O.OOu
.e lu ng extended through TO Thomas
If..t 1I aul ~ fhn firms having a front IN
o.. -.r 's. ~ C5 anil - wrr. Hnnry ". r.
t... i.ayy importers ~ i B.lginn cloths.
. H. U' fNc hrm H. the Bplg .Hn consul ~
.-I ..f. ..-. szul 900. = --nnairl Bros. Wo0lleu
b l.n .. I.-- szHIuui. The rear Of the build.
rs H o. aal - Thomas street occupied hy
i.I. srr& C..h ma 'i- and prints, hny' q