The New York herald., 1879-11-06
FATAL FIRE IN ELIZABETH.

DESTRUCTION OF GYMNASIUM AND STABLES
AND DEATH OF A sTABLEMAN-THE LOSS
ESTIMATED AT FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
In Elizabeth N. j.. yesterday morning the GYM
nasium and club stables built in 1869 by D. w. DIM
mock entirely destroyed by fire. A stableman
and four horses perished in the ames The building
stood upon the hill, on Maple avenue. The fire was
discovered about three o'clock by Officer Elminger
who sounded alarm and the fire engines re-
near the stables, awakened by the fire, ran to
the buildings and aroused Mr. Mccormack and his
family, who live in part of the Dimmock buildings
The family barely escaped with their lives and were
able to- only chest of linen out of all their
effects Mrs. Mccormack came near being sunocated.
After tho stables were on fire Mr.. McCor-
mack saw his son enter the stables with
Mr.. Honecker. He also missed a man who
employed by him, named John, whom he had
hired only few days before. aud who slept in tho
building near the rear Going in to search Tor his
he was almost overpowercd by heat and smoke and
compelled to retire. His son was afterward
found safe but the stranger perished Early yester.
day morning the hremen found skull in the ruins,
and at half past one part OF human body-the
hips and thighs-were discovered. Tho remains
were believed to be those Of John, the man whom
Mr.. Mccormack had hired There were twelve
horses in the stables. eight belonging to Mr.. Nc
Cormack and four to DR.. Woodward. Messrs. Bon
mails belonging to Mccormack. but the others could
not be saved. Two cows also perished, and
tve carriages, two hearses. eight or ten
sleighs. three large omnibus sleighs several bug
ges and three sets OF fine harness were destroyed.
Mr.. Mccormack loses everything he had except the
eight horses rescued His loss is estimated at $4,000;
insured in the Germania, of Elizabeth, for $4,000
The dwelling house of George J. Cave, adjoining the
stables, was destroyed, but the furniture all
saved. The insurance on tho Dimmock property IL
as follows Caisse Generate, $2.00U; New York Com.
mcrcial, $4,000; Merchants OF New York, $4,000:
American, Newark, $4,000; Fircmcn's. Newark.
$4,000
HISTORY OF BUILDINGS.
The club stables and gymnasium were erected by
Mr.. T.. W. Dimmock and number OF other gentle-
men, and in the days of Elizabeths prosperity were
q very fine resort. There q gymnasu um, bill
lard room, bowling alley, &c., and tho place was
select rendezvous, whence the club men rode 10 and
from the depot in fine style in large and handsome
omnibus The original cost $4,000. When the
club went down tho buildings fell into the hands Of
NJ Morgan Co., OF New York, by the foreclosure
of u mortgage for S35, ,000 aud for several years
past the place has been occupied by william Meteor.
mack as boarding and livery stable. carriage
aud sleigh storehouse, ana the club rooms. which
were very finely appointed, as q residence At the
time OF the fire the gymnasium contained little Of
value. When the stables took fre the heat cracked
the glass In the windows and the flames eaped out,
and in this way Mr.. Caves house gnited. The
stables aud gymnasium ut the time of tho lire, were
the property OF the National State Bank, of Eliza.
beth. who held them under foreclosure OF n mort
gage OF $4,000. The total loss all the property
destroyed s estimated at 100000 The oriain OF the
1re Is unknown; but as the windows of the ny M
nasium were broken out aud the place essble
to tramps and incondiaries, IL is supposed that the
place was fired by some such persons either through
intent or carelessness.