Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-12-06

Excitement in New York Over the
Fire AT Twenly-fhtrd anu Sixth
Avenue-Ftremen Hurt,

| SHNShuo-I u.
Nsw York, Dec l Shortly after s
O'Clock this morning., thr r0Ol Of tn,
Masonic Temple, at Twenty third stree
aud Sx Ia avenue, Was d;soov ar. d TO be-
on fii-, aud before the ugines reaohe a
ths spot great volumes OF smoke heloted
| from the windows ip The asylnm Of the
knigt ts Templar in thu naurard story
just bslnw the roof aud dou,4 Thick
volumes OF smoke Ado p nred rem the
roof followed by shots of flame which
darted high up in the air.
The fire engines came rushing to the
Scene few minutes after the alarms we're
sonBded, and the report, that the
Masonic Temple was on fire, spread
rapidly about the city, bringing hund reds
OF members OF the fraternity to the spot.
a large force of police was on hand and
Kept the crowd from encroachirg OIL the
firemen.
Patrick Lynch and Samuel Warren,
who were among the foremost Of tho fire.
men In the msnsard, were struck by
pieces OF heavy plastering falling from
the ceiling, and sank exhausted from the
heat and smoke. They were rescued BY
their comrades and removed to the hospi-
tai where, by the use of restoratives,
they recovered and were sent home.
The ground floor of the temple on tie
Twenty-third street side ia occupied by
the Central Safe Deposit company, T.
Aspinwall Il Son, importers and dealers
in illuminated glasses, and the Gar field
National bank, and the Sixth avonue
side by William H. Roome, real estate
agent, and D. H. Howell, manufacturer
of Knights Templar equipments and
Masonic jewels.
On the second floor are the offices of the
grand master and grand secretary, and
the hall Ct the grand lodge. The third
and fourth floors which are diviied up
into lodge and chapter rooms are occupied
nearly every night in the week by many
OF the prominent lodges of the city.
Above this is the mansard story with
the asylum of the Knights Templar and
the rooms of half dozen commando ries
The rooms we're handsomely fitted up.
Towering above the roof was a hand
soms dome.
At 1890 O'Clock great volumes of
smoke were still pouring from the roof,
but soon after it became evident that the
hremen had the flames under control.
As the building below the manssrd is
fire proof, they devoted their energies to
saving what portion they could Of the
msnsard roof.
The maiu part OF the structure is gran
ite and Ia of massive proportions The
flames were first discovered issuing
through the roof at the dome of the
Twenty third street entrance. The fire,
IS far as could be learned, had started in
in the wall near the commandery room,
and had crept unobserved to the ceiling
in the commandery room.
The Order of the Mystic Shrine, lar sely
composed of masons, met last night until
late hour, and it is supposed that
cigar or match carelessly dropped on the
carpet caused the outbreak.
The commandry room was expensively
fitted mp. In adjoining closets were
many of the costly equipments and uni
forms of the sir knights.
he Austin room, 80 named in honor
of the deceased grand secretary, was re-
Gently fitted up at an expease of $40, 600,
and it was regarded as the handsomesl
room In the Temple.
Iu the grand banqueting hall hung
valuable portraits of General Room, past
grand master OF New York, and Of Kane
the Arctic explorer. Kane, st. Nicholas,
Crescent and Prince Orange lodges met
in the Austin room and lose heavily on
furniture Palestine, Morton and New
York Communicates are heavy losers.
The entire bnildipg is water soaked
and much valuable property is destroyed
After two hours hard fighting further
spread of the flames was prevented in
the mansard root portion, but they we're
still raging in the roof. 1t ia difficult to
make q correct estimate of the losses,
but many persons think that they will
not fall short Of 100000, as the costly
trescoing and other decorations are de-
stroyed.