New-York tribune., 1879-01-18

RAPIDLY WITH WHICH THE FLAMES sPREAD-
STRIKING SCENES or THE CoNFLAGRATIoN.
A fire broke ont last night III the dTy-gOols and
importing houses in Worth and ThomaS-sts., near
Broadway, which threatened for time 10
destroy every building in the block. with interests
amounting 20 many millions of dollars. Following
close upon the fire NJ Broadway and Grand
ST., the news that another great cOniagration
IN progress in the very heart of the wholesale
dry goods section Of the city created extraordinary
excitement. At the very start Of the fire. just before
5 O'Clock. telegraph wires leading 70 the Police
Central Office became out OF order. and at
that place only a single alarm was received
for nearly an hour. The pohcc officials remained
IN profound ignorance Of the extent Of the fire or
It's situation confidently suppoeng 1t 70 be III Jer-
sey CRY or on staten Island The rush of tremen
and engines down Broadway together with the
glare that reflected from the snow-covered
streets Illuminating every portion Of the
city aud lighting no the rivers, drew Immediately
great crowds from uptown toward the scene
OF the conia grafton. Broadway became lilleG with
persons IN few minutes. all rushing downtown
with one common ann. At LeOnaTd-st this tide was
met by a strong line of policemen drawn across he
street. Arrested here, 1t found Eent through the
side streets, aud wall of men ard women more
than a block deep soon surrounded the district
guarded by the police.
The flames that had broken as suddenly from the
third story windows of No ~ Worth-st the office Of
Neuss. IIessl.en & Co.. dealers in aors' trimmings,
spread with extraordinary rapidIty toward Broad
way. and soon three Of the large tye-story, IRON
front buildings that compose the block bounded py
Worth. Church, ThomaS-st. and Broadway, were in
flames.
Through the upper part Of the city the rumor ran
J.. - II f..
Cnurch-st was in flames with Ito millions of valu-
able stock. hut though the flames separated
from the corner of that street by only
a single building, that proved an effect
nal barrier and a means OF salvation 10 the
Clafiin building The water that flooded its cellar
caused the only damage TO It. The fire once under
way, the strong and apparently freproof buildings
seemed 10 give way like many houses OF card
board. In a moment large column OF flame would
shoot through the roof of house apparently IN
touched and every window on every floor would
be Illuminated by the fierce glow within Dull
revcrberations We're heard at intervals The floors
were falling, and each in its descent crushed
through those below. carrying down with it every
thing IN it, way. H. an hour and half after the
commencement OF the fire, the bare walls alone re-
NAMED standing. and from the cellar
great column OF iiame shot upward. with show
Worth--t bulged outward suspiclously, and the
fremcnlw no were directing dozen streams uDon ths
side took warning in time and cleared the space I'M
medIately In front Each foot gained by the flames
was disputed by the iremen who, obliyous of per-
.onal danger worked with excellent discipline.
Al the first news of the fire President King and
Commi4s Bonner. of the Fire Department,
went to the spot and personally with Chief EngI-
neer Bates directed the work Of the tiremen. Com
missioner Bonner and 4 number of meu of No.
Engine made their way 10 the third floor
Of No. G2. to which the fire was then
confined. The fire suddenly swept around
them on the Worth-st. side, cutting of
their only means of escape and they were COM
PEELED 70 beat a hasJy retreat. They made their
way 10 the Th0nas-,t. side and escaped, barely IN
time. for a moment later the flames seized upon the
building al No. G4 WortE-st., and burst through on
Thomas-st. The stock contained IN this building.
4. IN ;e others. consisted Of dtygood- IN that
served only to intensity The heat ami tlane. At this
time II seemed impossible 70 prevent the further
spread Of the ire 10 the adjoining buildings.
The vol Of the ir,mcn began 90 tell at last. Al
l. o'clock the Hrc was, # NOT under control, still
practically limited IA extent. At this time none of
the outer walls had fallen.
Inspector Diiks commanded personally the police
force that encIrced the IRE. Captains .jurns,
Mcdonald and EaA.u ,ponded quickly to his sum
mons with the reserves from their Precincts and
th, Fourth and Twenty precincts were
drawn upon Is the emergency required greater
force.