New-York tribune., 1881-12-27
INVITING DESTRUCTION By FIRE.

THE CONFLAGRATION ~ SOUTH STREET.
Az ELEVATOR SHAFT CONNiCuNG VIII SEVERAL
nrupISGs WHICH CAUSED THE FLAMES TO
srrrAp-TIE LOSSES ESTIMATED At $500 600.
Tho fire In the South-,t. warehouses was stlll
smouldcring yesterday. although throo streams Of
water were pouring upon the ruins HE granite
stores al Sou,n and De Pcystrr--ts. were completely
" emitted but neither the walls of this nor those Of
fine odioiuipr buildings, which were partly burned,
had fallen The officers OF tie luc Department
took great credit To themselves that the Ire had not
extended to other buildings in the block
,n account Of the intricate network ot
connection, between them. No ittlo criticism OF
MANAGEMENT Of the fire is likely to bo made by the
underwriters, principally because the losses "l inc
insurance companies are very heavy. Tho exact
details Of the losses Of these companies could not be
learned Yesterday II had been announced that a
meeting Of the underwriters would be held at thoir
rooms in the Borcol Building yesterday, but some
mistake in giving the notice was made, for no meet
in, vasb held. The rooms were deserted all day and
tbe offices of the insurance companies werc closed
The losses Incurred by tho fire will be very heavy,
and by some persons arc estimated TO exceed
go. 500 OOO The goods destroyed or seriously IN
iurcd were Of great value, AMI were PACKED IN the
buildings very closely. In some oi lhe ADJOINING
warehouses which were IN danger by inc hTe' IL
was almost impossible yesterday to make ones
wav. because every available inch of space was oc-
cunied In ono building visited by a TRIBUNE re-
porter. which was separated from danger by only a
short distance, bales Of leaf tobacco were
piIed 30 closely that even in broad day
LIGHT the stairway could not be followed
bv = stranger TO the premises. The stairway was
exceedingly marrow and absolutely dark. Had the
fire extended to this building the contents must
inevitably have been injured to such an extent as
to rcDder them vaueless.
the exact situation of the fire which caused so
much damage was unknown. Tho manner III
which il gained access to the several stores after
having once started was perfectly plain Almost
in the centre of the block was an elevator shaft,
which was seven feet 10y seventeen feet
in dimensions. 1t was surmounted by glass
roof Opening on this narrow space were
seven doors and windows, through which the lire IS
supposed To have communicated WIN tuo ScN'I"i
buildings. Ii WAS the only elevator u, tl9 Durci
buildings and the shaft served TO give lBhI 10 an OF
them A window opened on the shalt IIOm each
floor of the granite building NJ SCUM anu 10
peVster-sts where the fire was discovered orlgl-
nally and through ese windows the ilre oNtelued'
This elevator shaft was undoubtedly luo hcJ 70 eIi
whole fire. Heavy st cams Of water were poured
INTO IL Saturday night, but with lttle cHect De-
youd checking the further progress OF tho llain's
'Che goods stored in the buildings burned Ohsu-
nntely in spite OF the iioods OIL water poul1u o ~
And Yesterday volumes OF smoke poured out OF The
ruIus which apparently had been completely satu-
rated with water. The side wall OF the granite
building at South and DE Peystersts- ~ 80 seriously
injured that il must be taken down. Even Satur-
dav nght it wascOnsiderod dangerous ana an engine,
stationed at the corner hydrant was removed 10
tho head of the DICK opposite. Inc wall nad not
fallAn Esst4rdaY. but it showed PLAINLY the