The New York herald., 1879-02-02
A NIGHT OF FIRES.

FRONT STREET WAREHOUSE BADLY DAMAGED -
HEAVY LOSS ON STOCK.
fire was discovered at few minutes before eleven
O'Clock last night in the upper part of the warehouse
No. 66 Front street. occupied by A. v.
Ryder for the storage of -four. For some
time previous to the first appearance of SMOKE from
the windows the watchman Front street, between
Coenties slip and Broad street. had noticed a smell OF
fire that block but in spite of careful search, was
unable to discover its location. Finally the
appearance of smoke from the third and fourth story
windows of No. 66 confirmed his suspicious. and he
Immediately gave alarm. to which Engine Com
panies Nos. 10. 32. and 6. with Hook and Ladder
Companies Nos. 10 and H. Immediately re-
sponded. They quickly broke into the build
ing and assembled with their hose. but they
met with Il tremendous volume OF smoke and
hot air, which showed that the spark had been
smouldering considerable time. The second alarm
was immediately given and promptly responded
to. raising the force on the scene to nine
companies. Captain Caffrey aud forty men Of
the First precinct also present. Police Com
missioners King German and Perley were also soon
present Chief Eli Bates comm anded the force Ladders
raised to the windows, the iron shutters We're
wrenched away and number of streams were poured
into the building. The tiremen also forced their
Scholler at No. 6S, and assembled to the roof. The
flames in No. sc, in spite of all efforts reached the
fifth story whereupon the men cut their way down
through the roof and poured in several streams
on the burning mass. At about the same time
tongues of flame burst from the windows and lcket
the front walls rendering the position OF tho men
on the ladders dangerous in the extreme.
This was the only moment when the fire pre-
sented anything of the grand appearance that gen
orally characteriZes a great confagration. The
flames lit up the vast clouds OF smoke that
filled the street and lowered the building
with a ruddy glow that suggestive of the
fierce havoc they were making inside. But the men
worked with the best will and the engines were
driven at their utmost power, and the flames
quickly subdued. Smoke continued to
roll out till about O'Clock. when
the engines began to withdraw, and the
fire was reduced to few smouldering embers. The
the fact that the building was stored with -four
rels piled in tiers to the ceilings, so that the
streams failed to penetrate far beyond the
windows. At about quarter to one O'Clock
the staircase leading from the third to the fourth
floor fell with two men of Nos 4 Company 1t. An
needed as the men, though bruised, were not seri-
ously injured.
THE BUILDING AND ITS CONTENTS.
No. 66 Front street was occupied by A. V. Ryder as
-four store. 1t is five story and attic brick build
ing OF a extending the length of the block.
tant from a similar facing Water street.
There being large stock of liquor in the warehouse
next door the police referred its being broken open
to the barge office, and force of Custom House OFF,
sent up to assist in saving the property
well to protect the interest of the government in
the stock
The ownership of the building could not be ascer-
tanned last night. The damage to it will amount to
about $1,000. Mr.. Ryder's stock will probably be
heavy loss 1t consisted entirely of Hour.
and there is said to have been large guam
ty in the building 1t also believed that the in
jury to stock both from fire and water, must have
been very serious, but in Mr.. Ryder's absence no
definite facts could be obtained