The sun., 1880-12-12
JAY GOULD'S GREAT LOSS.
HIS T1sT CONSERVATORY ON THE
HUDSON BURNED TO THE GROUND.
A Fire TINT swept Away One Of the rrinci-
pnl Attractions OF Lindeuhurst and the
Finest Botanical Collection In An, erica.

On Friday night, Lindenhurst, Mr.. Jay
Goulds summer residence at Irvington. on the
Hudson. boasted OF the largest and best ap-
pointed Conservatory. contanins th55 t.h5 rarest and
most expensive collection OF flowers. in the
United States. When the sun rose yesterday
morning little remained OF the vast glass build
ings beyond mass OF smoking ruins. sending
out volumes OF sitting smoke redolent with the
odor OF smoulderlng vegetable matter; and
5000 900 worth Of property had been destroyed
by fire In the night.
The greenhouses were situated about two
hundred yards from the house. and being on
very high ground, could be seen from the Hud-
son. not mile distant. In the warm summer
days passengers on the Hudson River steam
boats looked with astonshment at mass OF
gittering matter. which, when the sun shone
brightly. threw out so dazzling reflection that
the eye could not long bear to look upon 1t.
and 1t was not always easy to see that the brill
liant reflected light came from the roof and
sides Of a conservatory. The buildings. which
were all connected ran from east to west with
wing 85 feet long at each end The main building
was 400 feet long. and about 40 feet wide. and
the wings were each 40 feet wide. The main
entrance TO the conservatory was between the
two wings. and was situated In the central
house." which jutted out to distance OF about
80 feet. making the whole structure take some-
thing OF the formation OF the letter E In its
ground line. This central house was circular,
flowers. In the middle was n fountain. Around
1t were stagings." or stands. OF flowers. one
o the central house an
octagonal tower 80 feet high and 40 feet in
diameter, 1t bore gigantic gilt ball at the top.
and was the most conspicuous object for many
miles along the Hudson. On one side Of the
building were Eraperies. storeroom, and bowl
the wing at that side. TO the central room. On
the other side OF the central room were bill
Hard room. seed room. rose house. tool
house. reception room. a bedroom. and sew
eral greenhouses.
At q o'clock the employees arose and made the
rounds with tho same result. 1t was terribly
cold at this time. the thermometer outside
showing %. but In the conservatory the usual
ths .vo w@s s Hen up Saof ny Pc 1
barking and growing of Mr. Gould's two i'm
mense mastiff dogs. Russo and Steerforth. who
were running uneasilv about the conservatory,
A rcd. filckering light was dancing on the wall
OF the bedroom, and evidently coming from
rule with all who have charge of the, conserva-
tory at night. were entirely dressed. and they
say they did not lose an instant IN sprlnging
from their beds. hasty glance through the
adjoining compartments showed them that
there was no fire inside: but the red light
OF the dogs continued. Then. Just as the alarm
clock sounded its o'clock signal Hams looked
through the glass and saw that the tower was on
The cottage OF Ferdinand Mangold tho head
gardener, is but short distance from the con,
servatory One OF the men ran to 1t and called
him at once. and in less than five minutes after
the fire had been discovered he was on the
ground. But those five minutes had effected a
marked difference Dense clouds OF smoke were
rolling up, into the clear winter ar. and the
heat. and the clatter of its fragments falling on
the floor we're plainly heard "
The e. water water apparatus In M the central house;
his face and almost ehoked him.. The three
men ran to tho central house and burst in the
door. but the torrent of smoke that swept out
and warned them that no entrance was possible
thSre Reeoyerng himself as quickly I is hsh n3ssl,
summons the men to work and to meals. and
seizng the rope rang It furiously, But though
upon the frosty air. many minutes elapsed be-
fore It elected s any any respppnse. ppn Then Then the
quarter OF a mile away, began to ring, and,
satisfied that he had at last made somebody hear
him. the head gardener hastened back to his
tnguish such portions OF tho fire as they
could now reach. But they could do nothing.
bat the flames. and the water apparatus with
which the building was furnished was in the
central house. hopeess!y beyond reach. Nor
had 1t been at hand. for the sharp frost had
frozen up oil the pipes and no water was avail
able.
In a quarter of an hour the FIVE gardeners
who slept Off the promises were at the fire. and
a
gers. arrived; and beyond these six it does not
appear that anybody from lryngton or the
n was ov ad Ss
total absence of every appliance. have saved
any considerable part of tho conservatory. The
and succeeded in saving a portion of the tools.
This had to be d? done ooNer very rapidly: for
ef the great ' cellar Under ~ the SAS nj
caught hre. and the heat soon became SO
intense that it was impossible t9 nppr9%Hssh %s
glass cracked like pistol shots. or melted and
dropped from its framework; the pam trees
ing things under the flames and as their sap
dried up and the fire seized them. they looked
IN o 6eyand he m
the cellar. and tho slender framework of the
glass roofs and sides. there was nothing really
that could burn hercely. Plants worth hundreds
OF dollars were dried M, and had Disappeared
before the flames reached them; the costly fur
billiard room were licked up without any appa-
rent additional flame showing that they were
being destroyed. and the bowling alley and its
appurtoncnces were reduced to charcoal.
AT o'clock the tower fell and with its fall there
rose for tho first time, great red torrent OF
fame 1t was seen from the other side of tho
Hudson. and for mi les up and down the river.
Then the fire. having spent its fury, began
slowly to die out, ana al o'clock the men were
able to approach near enough, with sticks and
buckets OF water. to save small portion OF the
west wing. The wind had not been blowing in
such direction as to bring the full force Of the
flames upon this wing.and the small greenhouse
at the end still stands. II contains the least
valuable portion OF the plants. and is called the
"Propngating Room" Here the young shrubs
were brought and received extra attention. and
here. too. sickly plants were taken. rs to a hos
pital. This is nj that remains Of what was the
finest botanical collection in the United States.
The head gardener estimates the value OF the
plants destroyed at upward OF 100000, and 1t is
very doubtful il they could be duplicated for
any sum. In tho central house were numerous
varieties Of the rarest kind OF palm trees. from
ten To fifteen feet nigh; tropical oiaGe plants
for which South America India, Australia, and
Africa had been searched, and tree ferns that
took prizes in all parts Of Europe. and especially
in England and France Mr.. Gould had thirty
varieties OF these tree ferns, Il plant whose
trunk is like that of tree up 10 certain height,
when IL branches out into leaves, or poln;s,
as they are called. some fifteen feet long. In
front Of tho central house were many very rare
tropical plants and ferns from Europe.
The house on the west side was devoted
chiefly to Graperies. and was furnish with a
class OF fruit not TO be found in the market.
Among the grapes were the rnrest varieties OF
the Black Hamburg, Royal Ascot, Champion
OF England. Buckland SweCtwater, BarOarOssa,
Black. Damascus Syrian, Emperor. st. Peter,
and West st. Peter.
In the east side house were more tropical
plants. palms, and tree ferns, together with
two large and valuable collections of plants
sent to Mr.. Gould 10y the Emperor Of Brazil last
hpr Auln