National Republican., 1888-04-11
ANIIp rEANEcK,s HUNS.
Scenes at the burning of william wal
ter Phelps's Famous Mansion.
tN. Y. Herald


ter Phelps's Famous Mansion.
[N. " IIcraldl
Seated beneath lcalcss tree yesterday
afternoon Mrs. William Walter Phelps and
Miss Marion Phelps, the wife and daughter
of the popular congressman from the fifth
district of New Jersey gaZcd sorrowfully at
the still smoking ruins of Tcaneck Grange.
As published in the Herdid the Phelps
mansion was totally destroyed by fire on
Sunday evening, many valuable paintings
which adorned the walls of the famous pic
ture gallery falling prey to the flames.
From careful investigation made since
the fire burned itself out 1t would seem to
be definitely established that shortly after q
O'Clock on Sunday evening Manager VIM.
Bennett was notified by one of the servants
that gas was escaping, apparently from
tnder the picture gallery. Mr. Bennett II
appears, hurried to the scene, aud about 6:30
entered the picture gallery, and what ac-
tually took place upon his arrival does not
seem TO be well established. In any case,
loud explosion followed, the roof was blown
upward off the picture gallery. and then
fell crushing inward upon Mr.. Bennett, who
had some difficulty in escaping with his life.
Then suddenly and swiftly the building
caught fire. The alarm was Immediately
spread, and Mrs. Phelps and Miss Marion,
f. the only members of the family then at the
mansion, did their utmost to show the
servants an example In trying to save the
valuable property contained In the building.
Acting upon Mr.. Phelps's instructions that
In case Of fire the main efforts were to be di-
rected toward saving his valuable collection
of pictures, the servants and farm hands
tried hard to rescue the precious paintings,
anu In this endeavOr were most herOcally
led by Miss Phelps, who, upon two or three
occasions, ut the risk of her life, rushed into
the gallery and assisted in the rescue of
some of her fathers treasures.
In the meanwhile Mrs. Phelps gallantly
superintended the saving of everything pos
siblc in the shape Of furniture, carpets, bric-
a-brac. Luckily the wind blew the smoke
and ilames away from the main entrance OF
the mansion, thus enabling much valuable
property TO be saved which would otherwise
have been burned.
The tiremcn upon arrival did their best to
assist In saving property, but with the com
panies came number of young men aud
others who, 1t is alleged, prohted by the cx-
citcment to carry off anything they could
safely get away with. III any case, the
greater part Of the furniture, bric-a-brac,
and carpets were saved aud stored IN the
stables, barns, and managers house, hut the
loss is still estimated at from 100000 to
$500, 600, said to be insured.
The valuable picture collection was almost
entirely destroyed, including Il picture of
James q. Blaine, valued at 5000; % pOr-
trait Of Mrs. Ellen Stewart Dodge, Mr..
Phelps's sister, highly valued by the con-
gresham, and II crayon portrait of Mr..
Phclps's friend, the late President Garfield,
the last one taken of the murdered Chief
Magistrate, and which hung in his room at
Elberon. There 1t remained until after
President Garleld's death, when II was sent
to Mr.. Phelps by Mrs Garfield.
One of the pictures which Mr.. Phelps val
ued above all othcr-that of his father, John
j. Phelps-was happily saved, rs was
large and valuable landscape, rescued from
man who was carting 1t away through the
trees after snatching II from the flames.
1t would seem that Miss Phclps's icwelry
was stolen during the progress Of the fire,
for an empty black satchel in which she
placed her valuables was found in bureau
drawer Among her jewels which have dis
appeared was costly pearl necklace, very
precious to Miss Phelps for reasons other
than those of its mere commercial value
Mrs. Phelps's jewellery 1t supposed to be
safe, as the small safe in which IL was
placed was taken from the ruins yesterday
afternoon and allowed 10 cool Off in the
stable. The pantry safe, containing the
family plate, was opened, and its contents
saved by the servants before the flames
had reached that part of the building. This
their part, for the pantry safe was In n
badly demoralized condition when discov-
cred after the fire.
Owing to Congressman Phclpss absence
1t was impossible to get q list of the paint
ings destroyed, but from other sources IL
was learned that among the collection were
in addition to the pictures already referred
to, the famous "Jim Bludsoe" painting;
"Damascus," by Church, valued at $4,000
ordered by Mr.. Phelps's father, who died
before 1t was completed; a companion pic
ture, representing lake scene with three
hunters in the background; New England
landscape, also valued at $4,000. The
"Damascus'' and New England landscape
were formerly in Mr. Phclps's fathers see
| tion of the Corcoran Gallery.
In addition to the pictures in the gallery
| proper the hall was lined with family poi-
| traits, including that Of John j. Phelps, by
| Huntingdon (saved), Il copy of which is in
| the New York chamber Of commerce, and n
| portrait Of Mrs. Phelps's father, Joseph +.
| Sheffield.
Teaneck Grange stood in the midst of
lawns, drives, and shrubbery in park of
about 500 acres, forming part of the Phelps
| estate of 1900 acres, reaching from the
| Hudson to the llackensack river. The
| grange was unique, rambling building.
much gabled and chmneyed, and OF more
Dutch than any other design. Originally Il
liiul uOuSc kll WHICH IhlSS llclpS WIS DOTllD,
| known as the sold Fink Homestead 1t has
been built upon and added to until 1t formed
| a most picturesque mansion.
The library, Mr.. Phelps's favoritc room,
was full of valuable books and graced with
an immense old-fashioned fireplace rs large
as n small apartment. There Mr.. Phelps
| spent much Of his leisure time. The entire
house was handsomely and artistically fur
nished and decorated and was constantly
being improved upon from the time Mr.
Phelps first occupied it, twenty-one years
ago. In fact, on the day Of the fire five
frescO painters were at work on Mr.. Phclps's
bedroom and library.
Sixteen miles Of tree-lined, well-kept
drives led to the Grange from every part of
the estate, one road alone, that from Hack
ensack to English neighborhood, being five
miles long But the great feature of the
estate is the forest of small trees, of which
there are over two hundred thousand
| planted all over the grounds
II is expected that Mr.. Phelps will com
mence rebuilding the Grange as soon as pos
| siblc, but may choose site on higher
| ground and nearer to the railway station.
|
| Charity Snciaty