The New York herald., 1879-02-14
Partial Destruction of a Seventh
Avenue Livery Stable.
SEVENTY HORSES LOST.
Three Firemen Injured While
Battling with the Flames.


west corner and is principally occupied by Will
lam Walter Briggs livery and boarding
stable. The FIRST glance convinced the hrenen that
they had hard nights work before them. A large
quantity of hay and straw was known to be stored
near the very spot from which the flames
issuing, and the great body of fire that was
bursting through every outlet showed that
1t had already gained strong hold on
the infammable material. A second alarm
was instantly sounded and responded to by fresh
supply of engines, ladders feared against the
walls and all the engines were in few moments
pouring streams of water into the building. In
spite of the utmost efforts Of the department
the fire was not wholly mastered until the
entire second floor had been gutted. The
adjoining buildings were. however. entirely safe from
damage. The most remarkable feature Of this con-
hagraton was that within the first ten minutes more
destruction of property took place than usually
suits from fire lasting for several hours. num-
Der of very valuable horses, which were in
the stalls on the second floor. must have
been suffocated by the dense smoke in very
short time. No cries of agony were
heard by the crowd. which quickly gathered around
the building, and many kind hearted spectators
glad to believe that the animals had escaped
the tortures of death by burning Three fremen
injured in the discharge of their duty.
At about twenty minutes before ten O'Clock Michael
McNichol. coachman. entered tho building and pro-
ceeded toward the second story where his employers
team stabbed He went mp by the way of the in
clined plane. and. opening the large door
ut it's top, found the whole place filed
with smoke. He rushed down stairs crying
"Firc! obtained the key Of the fro alarm box at the
office and instantly summoned the department
Then. returning to the building with his son. he
succeeded in rescung, unhurt the animals intrusted
to his care. Thirteen other horses were taken from
the building before it became impossible to
enter the upper foor The rest, seventy in
number either died of sufocation were roasted
to death. Forty-three sleighs, also stored the
upper floor, were lost, as well as some nineteen
carriages. Tho property the lower floor for
tho most part removed and, in deed, the fire hardly
extended to this part of the building.
The force of the Fire Department on the scene
consisted of Engines Nos /. q IA. 10. 2s &c and 49,
with Hook and Ladder Companies Nos. 2, L. and -.
Chief Bates was in command. and Commissioners
King and German werc also present. squad Of
thirty-hve policemen from the Twenty second pre-
cinct. under the command Of Captain Ward, con-
trolled the crowd and protected the property that
was removed from the burning building.
ts- DEPARTMENT WORKED.
In order to reach the frc ladders were raised
against the east and south walls Of the building,
Icacnlng eecOnO
couple of streams poured on the tin roof
from the north side. the remen having entered the
houses facing on Forty-third street for that pur-
pose. Another hose was carried up through
the interior by way Of the inclined plane. Great
courage and perseverance displayed by many Of
the men, who maintained their places the ladders
close by the windows from which clouds Of binding
smoke and tongues OF flame were necessarily burst
Ing One Of the first to mount the rounds was Pat
rick Reilly.
FREMAx's FALL.
He had helped to carry up the hose of Engine No.
and directing the current Of water into the
trail window the Broadway side. Tho ladder was
insecurely placed; it slipped sdewise and Reilly fell
to the ground fracturng one Of his legs and sus-
tanning other serious injuries. An ambulance was
ordered and tho wounded man was taken to Bellevue
Hospital.
ANOTHER FIREMAN INJURED
Meanwhile the fire burned fercely in the billiard
second floor. Here the frcmen concentrated their
efforts for some time and here o second casualty
occurred at about eleven O'Clock. The roof fell in.
and Washington Ryer. of Hook and Ladder Company
No. Z. was injured not. however. seriously. Ho
able TO walk to his home.
After the falling OF that portion OF the roof the
rors, OF inc hIe was passed ana though the hay
the quenching OF the flames was thenccforth but
question of time. Yet later still another fireman
was hurt Alexander Sharp Of Engine Company No. 81
was assisting some OF his comrades with q ladder
when it topplcd over and came down with crushing
weight his shoulders. The was thrown
down and internally injured. though it is believed
that his condition is not dangerous. DR.. sayrc OF
the Fire Department, was present during the CON
Migration and attended the injured men pending
their removal.
TERRIFIED ANIMALS
Mr. Briggs salesman, ID. Cooley, with others,
loon as the fire discovered rushed TO the stalls
whcre the horses already smiling the murky
Air and giving other tokens Of fear. Twilight and
Hruby. both gray Mares first loosed from their
managers and led toward the door. The other grooms
meanwhile turned the other animals out of their
stalls idly they could and tried TO drive them
into the street Cooley had got far the thrcsh-
and excitement having quickly Increased. thew
seized with sudden terror and tho strongest
efforts could not prevent them from turning back.
followed their example and there terrific stam-
.pedc accompanied by the dreadful stamping and
clash Of hoofs and fearful neghs of fright they
scurred back to the rear end Of the central gang
way.
AN AGoxIzrSo SPECTACLE.
There they hudded in u covering. quvcring mass,
their eyes glowing with terror and visible those
who looked IN but powerlcss to them. Sew
rral attempts made to them forward again
toward the entrance. but in vain. They would not
bulge The strange aud mysterious fascination
which fire exercises over brute creatures had taken
possession of them. The flames rapidly cnvelopcd
thom. and then there began u kicking. winnowing
and plunoing which sounded II some Of the trans-
formed spirits OF pandemonium were making thoir
agones heard earth The cries of the poor animals
piteous in the extreme and had something
OF human in them at times that would pierce TO the
hardest heart. Fifteen horses only had been led out
Anners and valncd very highly. She was
the last 10 escape and presented awful mp
pearancc. Her eyes gone and from their empty
sockets dripped pieces shredded flesh and brain.
Her were nearly burned of, and her hide was
clcanly swept OF hair ~ II 10 had bocn shayen.
As she Was lei through Broadway her groans sent
shuddcr through the immense crowd. In u stable
on Forty-nrst street she found temporary refuge.
Messages sent 10 the Office of the
Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals for officer 20 put mcrciful
end to her existence. There she stood in the
middle of the floor with head bent low and swaying
TO and fro. turning IL 10 this side and that whcro
the pitying grooms watched her without ability to
grant relief These men. whose association with
mans nobicst friends renders them susceptible to
their feelings almost 20 those OF human beings.
expressed tho most poignant distress ut the spec
tscc.
SCENE.
Exrcpt for the presence of the engines IL would
have been difficult for person st distance of one
block TO bclicve that destructive conhsgrstion was