The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-19
THE WORTH STREET FIRE.
Between Three and Four Millions
Estimated Loss.
INSURERS AND INSURED.
Scenes at the Ruins Yesterday-Crowds Of
Curious Visitors

The of the Worth street fire was visited yes
terday by thousands of people. From early hour
in the morning Broadway. from Duane street to
Leonard. was thronged with sightseers. the police
having at times considerable difficulty in keeping
passage way open for pedestrians the way to their
various occupations places of business. On
Church street a similar state of affairs was OBJ
servable the constant vigilance Of the police being
necessary to prevent the multitude from surging
through the fire lines No person allowed nearer
to the ruins than the wire. except parties doing bust
ness in Worth and Thomas streets and those who
fire badges
Throughout nearly the entire day Worth street. be-
tween Broadway and Church street, was enveloped
in dense cloud Of smoke and steam Several Of the
fire engines continued to pour streams of water
the burned buildings all through the night and during
yesterday it being apparently impossible to subdue
the intense heat.
STILL BURNING.
At six A. NJ. q sheet of flame coming out of the
hatchway at No. So Worth street. Notwithstanding the
many hours the fremen had been working on that
building. Among the officials present ut the scene
yesterday morning were Major General Shaler.
Fire Commissioners King and German, and
Superintendent Wilson, of the Insurance Patrol.
While Fire Commissioner King in the act OF up
preaching the ruins. policeman stationed near the
corner of Worth and Church streets. without know
vent him from passing. it feared that one of
the walls about to fall and the Captain had in
structed his men to allow person to approach.
The officer carrying out his instructions to
the attempted exclusion of the Commissioner, when
the latter made himself known. The streets in the
neghborhood guarded by large force Of police
under command of Captain Joseph b. Eakins of the
Fifth precinct, whom the merchants all say did his
duty in most efficient manner and succeeded in
protecting large amount of property i'll the stores
at and adjacent to the of the fire. Tho side
walks Worth street. opposite the Of the fire.
piled with damaged dress goods linens and
other stock, while at Nos. 81 and So hopelessy dam
aged silks and shawls hung down the front of the
building from roof to sidewalk having been put to
to tho extraordinary of protecting the
outside of the structure from the fierce
ness of the flames and the food of
water thrown by the engines. The building
at Nos. 62 and "a Worth street, occupied by Van
Volkenburgh Leavitt, is complete ruin the walls
having fallen in, presenting only of seething
smoking debris.
This firm has taken the store No 1872 Church street.
in the immediate vicinity of their old stand Just
below the building occupied by Van volkenburgh
Leavitt, the double structure Nos. 5S and GO, al
There is not whole window visible in the building
while the contents have BEEN it il said, com
Structures rtr immediately above and below those
destroyed by the fire are damaged to considerable
extent, chiefly by water. That occupied by Schnabe
a. Co., j. Sladc Il Co. and Horace Maxwell, though
not burned to any considerable extent has suffered
materially from the heavy streams of water. The
building Nos. 81 and &c. at the of Worth and
Church streets. also presents ample evidence of the
fiery ordeal At tho corner named engine No. was
busy yesterday throwing water into the last men
toned and the adjoining buildings, and in the
Thomss street. ali engine belonging to the insurance
companies was pumping water out of the deluged
cellar.
MEETING OF INSURANCE OFFICIALS
Tho officers of most OF the i'll companies in
erested assembled III the of the Board of New
York Fire Underwriters. No. 1856 Broadway. early III
the forenoon, and during the day committees
appointed to lust the losses. 1t found impos-
sbe to ascertain the total amount of loss Superin-
tcndent Wilson, of the Insurance PATROL gave it
his opinion that the loss would hardly fall short
$4U0O.0UO. As number of companies interested are
known lar the full amount of insurance cannot
be given.
Hunt Catlin Co., No. Ga Leonard street, sustained
some damage to stock by water in the cellar The
total amount of insurance the stock of this firm
$685. O0O There is also slight water damage in the
cellar of Bergman Co., Nos ~ and 20 Worth street
The following Is an account of the assurances far
AZ Enn