New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-11
THE SCENE AT THE CONFEDERATION.

THE SCENE AT THE CONFEDERATION.
ORIGIN OF THE FLANES-BUILDINGS IN THE NEi"h-
nopuooD-A GREAT MULTITUDE QUICKLY
cATUFRs-TRYING TO SAVE THE GREAT WAKE
HoUsE-swxEP OF THE FIERY WAVES.
The fire which destroyed the immense stables OF
ihe Fourth Avenue Railroad Company and great
part of the extensive Morrell storage warehouse,
had it's origin on the upper side OF the railroad
building in the second story. As to the way IN
which II began there are conflicting stories. What
is certain is that once started 1T spread with over
wbel. .Aing rapidity. The flames rushed through
the great building as if borne on the wings OF
whirlwipd The structure was familiar to all New
Workers.. With nothing pretentious or ornate about
II it was conspicuous aud almost impressive from
its size The only ediiice the block between
Fourth and Lexington-aves. and between lnlr1y-
second and Thirty y-third-sts., with the exception OF
three small tenementhouses at the southeast corner
IL was big enough to be the business centre, the
stable. the car-shop the repair-shop and work
rooms of one of the most important lines OF street.
cars 1t contained cars and horses in great numbers
il was stored with bales Of hay and other food for the
horses; il gave employment IN various ways 10 many
workmen. On the west of it towers the lofty Park
Avenue Hotel built by Mr.. Stewart for the working
women of New-York, but afterward given to other
uses: ON the northwest is the handsome Church OF
the Messiah, where Robert Collyer breaches: on
the north are the fine dwellings of Thirtyfourth-
St on the east the less costly buildings of Lexlng-
ton-ave. On the south the Morrell storage
warehouse, crammed with furniture, books, OBJECTS
of art and other property of wealthy New-Yorkers,
put there for safe-keeping.
In snch a place. and with such surroundings
great fire would be sure TO stir New-York from one
end to the other; and this fire began at time when
the city was at leisure. Starting at o'clock
and almost instantly assuming enormous
proportions, it forced itself upon the at
tention of almost everyone. In very
few minutes after the hrst flash appeared the
sky was glowing, and great waves of fire were
sweeping upward. People riding on the elevated
trains or on the street-cars, those walking home
ward and even those already in their homes at din
ner, knew speedily that great fire was raging.
1t was a time when the work of the day over,
and the occupations or amusements OF the evening
had not vet begun-the most favorable hour possi-
BILE for attracting tens of thousands of people. And
they came Such throng has not gathered about
q fire in New York for many years. The Oldest po-
1cemen and fremen said they had never seen any
thing like it. The confagration was in place
peculiarly fitted for the assembling of an
enormous multitude. In very few places in New
York could fire be seen better. The Park-ave hill
with its broad spaces the extensive of Thirty
fourth-st Fourth-ave., Lexington-ave. and every
street from which glimpse of the masses OF flame
could be obtained were packed with people. 1t
was q wonderful outpouring of people.
Ii was wonderful fire, too. strong northwest
wind was blowing, and the flames ran through
the bales of hay and the stores of other nammable
material and burst through the roof the wind
caught them up and tossed them, whirling them
over and over and upward. As it spread through
the building gathering force from what it fed on
the resistless tide of fire rose carrying clouds
of sparks. fakes Of burning wood and wisps OF
hay and spreading them broadcast. When the FIRE
had full headway and the wind was at its height
the sparks and Goals carried over to Third-ave
In such fiery storm that the gatemen on the ele-
waited trains had to seek shelter in the cars.
Rushing through the second story, in which the
hay was stored, with marvellous speed the fire de-
voured one part of the building after another. Az
soon as the first alarm was gwen the effort TO save
the horses was begun while the firemen weregather
ing to fight the flames. Engine after engine came
laundering up and took it's station and water
was pouring on the building from every point of the
compass But the fire was well fed and spread too
fast in the railroad building to render any attempt
t. check il feasible. The whole block was In flames
before the last engine had come. 1t was plain
that no part Of il could be saved, and the fremeu
gave tneu atteHtlOn 10 Jne
Tie Park Avenue Hotel was safe enough. It's im-
mcnse iron front was in no danger, though it was
well heated. The hotel had many guests who, Of
course, were full Of interest and excitement but
among whom there alarm. Judge Hilton
was present ready to any tnid persons, if
any were TO be found. Another conspicuous figure
was that Of William ii. Vanderbilt, who gazed
philosophically for time at the destruction of his
property, and tlen went home. Tho hose of the
hotel was used TO dreDch and cool the front, but
there was no real need of the precautiOn.
The danger was ON the south side of
Thirty-sec midst. The railroad building would
be utterly destroyed. Nothing could be
done for that But could the fire be con-
fined to that block The wind was carrying q tire
mendous tide Of fame across Thirty y-second-st.. and
this beating against the Morrell warehouse.
The hremen swarned about the warehouse, reached
the roof with their hose. and had a great vol
ume of water turned upon it. But the fire had now
reached its utmost intensity. The roof of the rail-
road building had fallen IN the walls had fallen here
and there, and all the space within was q of fire.
Surge after surge Of flame rolled over the street
against the warehouse and in spite of all the fire
men could do the fire took hold and ragged furiously
among the furniture aud othcr valuable property
stored In the building. The Fonrth-ave.