The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-05-25
OLD MANSIONS IN RUINS.
TEN ACRES or DESOLATION on IHD
RAVENS WOOD SHORE

Ne water II che MssAs fsr the H1re0eANu
Asss. ssa Ne cssiass g Psop Asy-TAs
Lees 81 she Erie Pssssrviss Cs0pasy.
Ten acres Of smouldering ruins along the
river bank In Ravenswood mark the place
where Yesterday were some OF the nne old
mansions that have 50 long attracted the attsn.
tion Of passengers on the East River boats.
Tho broad green swards have been tramplsd
BY the wheels Of fro engines and the feet Of
many hrsnen and spectators. Vines. bushes.
and flowers lie In shapsless masses and black.
ened ohimneys tower among the stately trees.
The fire broke out few minutes after noon
III the packing box factory Of the Erie Pressrv.
ing Company. ono Of cluster Of buildings col.
lectod during the past eight years on the old
Fraser estate and the ground adjoining. b.
tween Ravenswood road and the river. The
company IL composed OF the Fenton brothers.
They have branch packing houses In Buffalo.
Brant N. Y. Black Rock. Canada. and else.
where. Tho main ONCE is at 1888 Maiden lane.
Among the Ravenswood buildings OF the COM
Riah two large warehouses 4oxe0 each, tSrss
stories high. an engine house. and . mum:
Der Of smaller buildings, 4 large quantity Of
91O feet Of lumber was landed on the wharf.
These buildings stood upon three acres. About
Iis %sss out q tie actos1
their noon meal. Some were In cottages ad-
joining, and nd some had arranged little picnic
The flre was first scen on the upper door OF
the box factory and ran rapidly, Through the
was no telegraph or telephone fire alarm. Tho
mile away and the alarm could only be spread
screams Of the steam whistles. ""1 " "'"'''
The place is within the precincts Of Long II.
tsm Of Watsr. but When the err rsm mel o.ms shsS
could get little or no water from the hydsAnt
Il. Strong and Brilliant came and lent the aid
be- BIZ Ms
nss q Gs ins,SEy SSa Is sad 5Srne
which was built by john Fraser. the iii, ssssss
esoaped M sna Ssy
the Are broke opt. The building yss dsstroysd.
Nsss a. dame: stIsstsd r he & Sss : ga %sn.
$1,000 This also S was burned to Tie sround.
Tho nremen and the tugboats. however. saved
shs sSs e.. 400 ;a
liver bank all the way up to Astoria would b
On The other side Of the factory stood con.
eealed in a cump Of beautiful trees. the Nelson
honest SomIestead butt forty y years ago BY William
The house was still owned BY Mr.. Nelson's son.
It was three story frame building. tenant
cd only d b ,yso kesGsr JOSEPH sShser With his
to move out their small effects whom the old
house was ablnze 1t was almost consumed.
Fears were entertained for the STANDARD OH
Works adjoining tho Nelson place. which have
been the scene Of several destructive free but.
BY yigilant watching OF the flying sparks. disas.
ter In that direction was Rverted.
The hot ruins OF the fire at the factory kept
IN for hours q constant tusil!ade OF exploding
cans One after another the bursting cans
sent their contents high and wide. and from 9
distance gave the impression Of widespread
disaster. The scene was viewed with interest
Institutions on Blackwell's Island, just across
the narrow channel OF the East River. For Q
In tho Charity Hospital and the asylum.