New-York tribune., 1881-10-11
TALK WITH MR.. MORRELL.

THE OWNER or THE GREAT WAREHOUSE MUCH OVER
CoME-rHE BUILDING AND ITS CoNTESTs-l5,O0O
NAMES ON HIS BOOKS.
John H. Morrell the owner of tho storehouse was
found by a TRIBUNE reporter leaning against the
steps of the Park Avenue Hotel He is a shcrt,
thick man, with heavy mustache, pleasant face
and soft voice. He was intensely excited "a he
eazed at the roaring flames that deyouring his
property and when approached upon the subject
exclaimed:
at is all going / can say nothing about it,"
Presently he caliner and gave the following
information in disjonted sentences:
81 began my business, which was the storing of
rich furniture jewelry, plate and yaluabes of all
kinds about ten years ago by building what was
tho best and most complete warehouse that could be
found in this country If not in the world. 1t cost
very large SUN of money and was well built
that always insured my customers against robbery
did not however, insure them against loss by fire
| because felt convinced that if tho building
was burnt, it wcull be under circumstances similar
to those of tonight 1t was proof against any or
dinary fire. so tonight may say that after years
of earnest labor what / had endeavored TO make
the safest and best building in the world for the
storing of the best class Of goods is swept away
In speaking Of the work of the freraen be said:
=" do not think that with the high wind and the
terrible heat across the street double the
number of men and engines could have
saved tho buildirc In fact think the department
has done all 1t could under the circumstances"
"What is your chief loss ~
"My greatest loss, after the rum Of my business,
is Of course the building 1t occupied fifteen full
city lots covering nearly acre OF grouGd having
frontage of 100 feet on FourtI-aye and 325 feet
ON Thirty -thiId-st"
Ibid your own men do anything TO save 7"
Eyes; had twenty-four men working for an
hour but we could do nothing
"Can you estimate your loss !"
at is utterly Impossible for me to do 30. | had
l5.OOO names on my books, among whom were the
richest and best families in this city and State as
well as many Europeans Mr.. Vanderbilt
loses famous painting which ho had
Just brought from Europe, which he valued at
| IT. / don't know what IL was. Then Ex-Governor
| Hoffman loses all his rich furniture. The Halpin
family is also q heavy loser The wife Of Congress
| man Einstein had $40, 900 in wedding presents in
| the building. But cannot begin TO tell you who
my customers were. because, as L have said, had
| over fifteen thousand names on my books. The
| safe deposit vaults were in the middle of
| saved out of them. as they were built Of
| brick stone and steel. But have saved nothing
| J. H. Parsons remember. had curios bric-a-bfac
/ and trinkets valued at So 600"
"Can You recoiect anything 20 your in
| suranceiO
well, you can safely say that all Of the compa-
nies are Interested to greater leas extent al
reduced it about half year sgo because the build
ing was considered so tafe. The loss will be very
heavy-at least twice "a great rs the insurance.
"Wlil million cover your loss y"
"Outside OF the insurance. Well, / do not
know, but don't think it will"