The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-21
Largo Fire in New York.


THE fIREMEN-THE FIRE A MYSTERY.
fJournal OF Commerce, yeSterday.l
A fire involving a loss OF over $500, 900
occurred last night in a large building on
First avenue between Twenty-ninth and
Thirtie,h streets. The building was owned
by Hermann Kohler. wealthy brewer,
and had frontage on the west side Of First
avenue Of the entire block that extended
back toward Second avenue distance OF
175 feet. The first 100 feet OF the building
was occupied by many firms The rest OF
the building was occupied by kohlers
brewery and the malt-house OF Arnold d
Bernbeimer.
The flames were discovered shortly before
10 O'Clock bursting from the thrd-story win
dows in the front Of the building near the
middle OF the block. The building was four
stories high, and divided into three parts Dy
three partition walls, so that the 1ames
could not easily spread into tue maIt'house
or the brewery. In very snort space OF
time the flames had reached the ROOF, ana 4
strong northwosterly wind helped their
progress. For more than an hour The burn
Ing building presented a striking spectacle.
The fismes shot up high above the roof. The
tjremen had great difficulty at first in getting
1
wind blew with sufficient strength TO make
the heat pesr the building intense. Long lad
ders were placed against the walls and the
bOldest OF the fremen aScended until they
were nearly wrapped in The flames. Others
made their Way into the lower stories OF the
burning builing and reached small court
ward i'm the rear. Lines OF hose were also
stretched to the tops Of dwellng-houses on
IT, CT
fire was at length put under control about
11t o'clock, before it had extended TO either
the malt.house or the brewery. The three
upper stories OF the front part OF the build
ing between TWenty-ninth and Thirtieth
streets were burned out. Another hour OF
hard work was required before the firemen
were able to relax their efforts.
The building was owned by Herman Koh-
Ter, the brewer, and was erected in 1864 at
cost OF 100000 1t was insured for $780,
600 in various companies. The machinery
in the building was valued at $1,000 more,
aud was insured for $4,000. Had the flames
reached the brewery they would have de-
stroyed about 100000 worth OF malt and
beer.
The following estimates OF losses in part
OF the building invaded by the flames were
made last night: Loss on the building owned
by Mr.. Kohlcr, $4,000; the Manhattan
Soap Company, represented BY l.. v
Strceter & Co., on the second floor of the
building, $4,000; Lebmer Schwartz
manufacturers OF tn-foil, on the same iloor,
$40. .OOO: William Munzer, engineer and
macbinist. on the first floor OF the build
ing. $4,000; the Lyon Sewing Machine
COMPANY, on the first floor, $4,000
the Cigar. Ribbon Company, third floor
S35. 600; the Castle Braid Company, on the
third floor, $4,000: Fes.ler d Co.. slk-iac
tory, second floor, $4,000; 5. Cox, carpet
cleaner, on the top floor, $4,000; +. o. Car
rington, proprietor OF the National Carpet
Cleaning establishment, on the top noor
500. 900. Most OF the losses were covered
by insurance. MIR. Darlington, however
had in his care about $4,000 worth OF car
pets which were not insured, and which
were burned up. Some OF these carpets
came from the Park-Aveuue Hotel aud
| from the Academy Of Music.
Tue cause Of the fire could not be learned
last night. There was a rumor that prcvi
Gus to the breaking out OF the flames an eX'
plosion was heard, and that several panes c'
| glass in the front OF the building were blown
| into the street. No one could be found
| however, who heard the explosion, and rs
no one was in that part OF the building wher
! the flames broke out it was supposed thai
the fire had originated from defect in some
OF the gas-pipes.
The following additional losses were
learned late last night: Wehlen Il Co., SILK
dyeiBg establishment, on the nrst n0or
Sl5. 600: American Standard Tin Company
first floor, $4,000; factory for surgical in
siruments, name OF firm not ascertained
third floor, S20,000.