The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-02-03
FIRE IN NEW YORK.
Loss S1.0O0. 000-A Number of Persons
Burned TO Death.

AuEAACU 10 DGtttns
A disastrous fire, entailing a loss of about
$1,000, 600 and the death of at least seven per
sons occurred at New York in the ive-story
building with two cellars owned by Orlando
Potter, and occupying the south
half of the triangular block bounded by
Park row and Nassau and Beekman streets
The building was almost exclusively occupied
by people engaged directly or indirectly in the
printing and publishing business. number
of weekly papers, among them the Observer the
Scientific american, the Turf, Field and Farm
the Scottish american and Others, had their
offices there, and there, too, several lead
ing advertising agencies were located,
Adjoining and separated by party
wall, was the Office of the New York
Times, which narrowly escaped complete de-
structlon, aud near by was the postol1ice build
ing, which was at one time thought to be in
great danger. In the rlekety old fre-trap in
which the flames originated, and which should
long ago have been remodeled or else pulled
down as dangerous structure, were employed
500 people, who were all at work when the fire
broke out in the hall on the lower floor. The rush
for safety through the narrow passage devel-
oped with terrible force the danger that had
long been known to exist. The means of egress
we're shamefnlly insufficient, and an awful hor-
ror filed the hearts Of the vast multitude which
assembledin the City Hall Park as spectators OF
the frightful drama. The scenes as described
in our dispatches were fearful almost beyond in-
agination-500 people penned up like rats Ill
a blazing trap leaping from the windows
to find death on the cruel pavement below, or
falling back into the flames through fear of
taking the appalling leap 100000 people
gathered to watch the issue of life and death,
powerless to save or succor. Six or seven per-
sons were taken from the building by fremen
or others on the Nassau street side, eight or
ten on Beekman street, and five or six on Park
Row. The number of deaths assured is five.
Ellen Buck, colored woman 81 years old, jan
itress of the building, who jumped from the
fifth story and had her skull fractured. Joseph
Cunningham, foreman of the Observer COM
posing-room, 30 years old, who used to set
type at the same stand with Horace Greeley,
and was an intimate friend of both he and
William Cullen Bryant, burned in the ruins.
Richard s. Davey, an Englishman, a COM
positor in the ScotiSt-Anlericdn Office, fell
from fourth-story window 40 years of age;
left leg, left arm and lower jaw fractured, and
severe internal injuries. Alfred w. Harris, 38
years old. The assistant foreman of the Oh
ser'Uer composing room burned in the building.
Mary Blount, New Jersey. Mary O'Con-
nor, city. Mary Smith, city. William Stubs,
photographer, Brooklyn. Three others.
-Four weekly newspapers were burned out.
The postofiice escaped ignition by closing its
iron shutters. Mum & Co., of the Scientific
American, lost a large amount of patent mod
els. A. M. Stewart, editor of the Scottish Amer
lean, was rescued by one of his compo5liors.