New-York tribune., 1879-01-15
STRIKING SCENES AT THE FIRE.


t. fan the terri" danes that burst suddenly, last
evening. from the old Brook, Building. the
northeast corner Of Broadway and Grand-st.. the
destruction 10 that part Of the city would have been
very great. With 4 warm night light breeze and
hearty and united action on the part of the fire
men, u still taxed their strength to the utmost
to conhne the fire TO tile bulldIng. covering eight
lots in which the flames started. For an hour and
a half the anxiety Of the fTcmcn and thousands of
spectators. including business men with great in
terest- al stake, intense, and it estimated,
at once that. under the most favorable circum-
stances. the loss must amount To two millions
at least. This falls principally on Naumburg krlus.
Iauer Il Co.., wholesale manufacturers Of ready
mace clorhnc who occupied the four stories above
the first floor, and on Howard, Sanger Il Co.. on the
irst floor ana basement. where they had one OF the
largest and most costly stocks of fancy goods,
French clocks and bronzes in the city.
As spectacle the confagraton was magnificent.
and attracted the widest attention throughout the
city. The first alarm was given at quarter after
o'clock. Fifteen minutes aftcrward the flames
burst from the windows of the fifth story
under The roof. end shot mp with column Of dense
black smoke. If a vast amount of pent up gases
and heated air had been liberated BIZ the outburSt
ING Of all the windows on the Crosby and
Grand-st. sides of the upper story. The flames
appeared IN five minutes To shoot fifty feet n
height and in an equally short space Of time. To
be- at least. 80 feet al the base; IN fifteen minutes
more extending the whole length of 200 feet on
Gcand-st. and 100 feet on Cro>by-st.
Those on the streets who were not attracted by
the sudden blaze had ther attention quickly ar
rested by the glare east upon the quiet expanSe OF
81 ruGs that were drifting 'azly toward the ocean.
Tie whole city wa. Illuminated From distance
,f.a1 cain of
steadily nigh into the heavens and then bent grace
fully 10 an upper current Of air. moving slowly \
Httle north Of east and about the base of this
black coil were long tongues of fame, mingled
with white steam and smoke. Great sparks
filled the air and were slowly borne to long ds-
t1nce. Broadway, at MadisoH-squ1re, was at once
filed with anxious and curious spectators for from
the portico of the Fifth Avenue Hotel the
~l,v portended widespread cOnilagration General
~puola who was standing there. saw the first
column Of flame, aud with the instincts IT man
vino has served thirty years in the Fire Department
of Ncw-Yor!.. started at once for the scene Other
men did likewise. 4 steady stream of persons
began TO pour down Broadway There was sud
den increase Of hor,e-car travel, and many men
rushed 10 the elevated railways, remaining in the
cars until she red glare told them 20 a ght
m the Grand-,t. station. Many residents of the
middle wards Of the city sought the house tops. the
spectacle from hch was imposing. Persons cross
ing on the North River ferry boats attracted by
the first outburst. Many returned to New-York,
and tie Jersey CITY waterfront was soon lined
with spectators. In Brooklyn, also, much excite
mout prevailed, and crowds gathered on Columbia
Heights.
Captain Mcdonald, Of the Eighth Precinct, with
one hundred policemen, kept the quickly increasing
crowd away from thr scene of the fire TIE
crowd extended below Cana-st. On the
south. aud above Hou>ton-st. the
north. The side streets were packed for a good
distance from Broadway and Cro-3y-sts. Twenty
five eugIne- were quickly stationed at the different
corners. and IN the side streets. Engine companies
No 3d. No. .UAudNo. l. were the first SO getStreaus
Of water PLAYING On the flames At 10 O'Clock the
hamrs bursting with Increasing fury from the
upper story told of the iuhammables stored there.
4 Young man standing on the opposite corner of
Broadway said that he had been on that
floor two days before and saw hundreds
Of pine boxes some Of them filled with cloths and
lnmrs. others apparently filled with paper and
packiugruhb,h. He rem cmbered that at the Crosby
81 corner Of the same floor were the cuttng-rOom-.
WHERE he had seen stoves. The tire had evidently
originated here and spread among the pine box"S 10
the front part of the building with startling rapid
ity. Atten o'clock II seemed # the flames must
I
the opposite sides OF Grlnd-st. and Broadway
were SO hot a, to burn the naked hand. lhe
fourth floor window on the Broadway side next the
corner was shattered bY the pr, 7sure from within
with IN explosion that resemhled the firms ot a
heavy cannon The glass was scattered over the
street and simultaneously great gust ot
flame shot half way across the street. Another
and another window was transformed INTO heH
f!uucL ByII o'clock The entire building above
the first story was wrapped IN flames. The PacIhc
Bauk. at No. 40 Broadway, was threat
enel. but the efforts of the tremen saved
II from destruction. With great crash
the third floor fell in. The heat was intense. The
air was thick with sparks. Through it could De
dImly seen the dark forms If the hremen holding
their ground on the surrounding buildings and
brayipg many p~rlls. he falling corlce
threatened destruction To fremen on the pavement
Tie heated front # the crcdt marble building facing
the fire on the opposite SIDE Of Grand-st. warned
tie remen Of their danger and several streams were
directed mon H. ereat cloud of steam arose
shutting OF the view,
INSPECTOR Murray personally directed the increased
police force. Chief Bates and the four Fire Com
nissoners directing the work Of the tremen. Bum
;uy raCters and great sheets Of zinc from
t.e corGice crashed to the pavement an
showered sparks over the men who kept
FIRMLY at their posts. In the roar Of tue flames
were heard az intervals loud explosions as one hocr
after another fell The marble front on GrInd--t..
f.c.ng the burning block, was saved by graf
e,.rt. II is occupied by Weichman l Co., woaleu-,
AID Wormser y kIng-bury. clothing. Before the
Graud-st wall fell, the brown stone masonry, per-