New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-04
FLAMES AT CHAPPAQUA
MISS GREELEY'S HOME DESTROYED WHILE
SHE WAS AT CHURCH.
THE REMAINS OF HORACE GREELEY's LIBRARY
AND LARGE COLLECTION OF UNPUB-
LIsHED LETTERS DESrROYED-ONLY
SMALL PORTION OF THE FrRNI-
TURE AND FEW PRECIOUS

LIsHED LETTERS DESrROYED-oNLY A
SMALL PORTION or THE FURYI.
TuRE AND FEW PRECIOUS
MEMEXTos SAVED.
Chappaqua, y. Y, April 3.-This little Westchcster
County town, situated thirty-ihrcc miles and five
hundredhs Of a mile. precisely from Newiork City,
according TO the schedule OF the Harlem Railroad. is
usually dull enough II IS much out OF the world
as If it was 800 miles from the metropolis, and that
probably had much to do with Horace Grcecys choice
Of it for family residence In fact, 1t may almost
be said to have been created by Mr. Greeley. "a no
reclaimed the little valley in which it is built from tho
swamps at an enormous cost. The inhabitants OF
Chppaqua yesterday, however, were convnlscd with
excitement and were provided with a topic OF con
versaton which will not be worn thrcadbarc for some
months.
AT IL O'Clock yesterday morning the home Of Miss
Gabrielle Greeley the only surviving member OF Horace
Greccy's family was burned TO the ground. Tho
fire originated in the cellar and before noon the
house in ashes only the carrcd foundation walls
remaining. Miss Cecilia Cleveland Miss Grcclcy's
ousin. who has lived at Hillside rs Tie homestead
US called, since the recent death Of her mother.
Hat detected the smell Of something burning IN tho
nose. and upon the servant making a search the
"h'e cellar. IN which tho furnace was located,
was discovered In blaze The elrVs mar
door. ut she escaped unhurt. and the two women
immcditcly left the house and gave an alarm. Miss
Greeley out at the time. attending divine service
III ~ jobs Protestant Episcopal Church, In Pleasant
VILE three miles from her home
An old uan. Amos Touplhns hearing the girls
cries of "trcl7 hurried down into the village and
told Henry Bischon who runs a large shoe factory
In Chappaqna Tomphns is very old man, and he
then sat dOwnon his doorstep and watched the pro
ffspIfT ito. Nh
after the burnntof the original Greeley home. Tho
House in the Noos7 until the time Of his DEATH ana
he has been an INITIATE friend Of the family for years
The simplicity OF " in Chappaqua ana the general
love and esteem In Nch Mis-, Greeley IS held 10y her
nclghbois could not b more strongly cxcmpiicd than
by Mr. Hischon's acton lie at once cut OH tho
steam in his factory an turned out all hands. men.
women and boys scvcntJGve In all 10 assist in saving
Miss Grcclcy's home. T. whole village was on the
scene in few minute but the flames made
short work Of the little frame dwelling.
The nclelbors fought the Ire a. best they could
without any cXtinguishlng apparatus, and 10 pals
and water. Several mch AT the risk 81 their
lives rushed into the burning nildnS to save what
they could from the flames. everybody ia A
fever If excitement aud anxious to do something for
Miss Greeley. for She is reeardcdas good angel IA
hundreds Of home, IN Wc,ichc,tcr Comfy and there
IS not a man. woman or child I'm he native place who
would not make almost any sacrifice for her. Alfred
Kelly and samuel !. statement. Frncman. az last
procured a ladder and attempted 10 some valuable
ewclry that Miss Cleveland said wa In trunk In
Of tile upper rooms. They en,ccd the room
twice. and CROPPED about Ia the dafncS, f. the missing
valuablcs but the smoke den-, that thcy
were Obliged - give up the search nd few
moment, after they lcf the building It became a
sheet Of fame. from cellar to roof However tls
salvage volunteers I'D manage 90 save . few thing
which, Of great intrinsic worth. are be- ond price 20
Miss Greeley In consequence Of the host Of ssoca-
tons which cling around them.
\ Tribune reporter visited the scene Of the dlaster
late IN the afternoon and found a number II tho work
Ing people Of the ncshhcFood eagerly digging sinns
the smouldcrng ruins for the Lost lcwcry and thru
was great delight when Two gold bracelets. set w,h
diamonds many 81 witch. however. missing
were discovered and carried In triumph 10 NiT
Greeley. a gold watch which belonged 20 Horace
Greeley wns also found ln the ruins. and scvcraf
other bits OF lcwelry. much dcfiocd. Tho watch viii
never tell the tine any more. il all melted
together.
The reporter fland Mis- Greeley a. The home ~
her Intimate friends: Ms Elizabeth Chamberlain yi
Mis-, Maria Glrl Nc,cn-er. who keep house together
At charming place on the heights above TIE town.
called Tile Orchard Sh" came down stair into
the hallway. which Uttered w.th trunks and frn
turc. and serene a, II nothing had happened
at ALL In fact %, seemed 10 Dee the least concerned
c.-c i, depressed Size came bach from church and
found her home 10 ruins. and smiln-y inquired Il
anybody Wa hurt That was beg only anxiety.
..lcs." she aid DOB answer q the reporters In
qurlc, "cycrythnf has gone almost, bar the people
round here acted very nobiy one or tuo Of the men
actually ri,hcd thor I've, 10 save the furniture and
things. Theg did save m} fathers dcsA and clnr
which If cOlr-c prize very highly. good many OF
Mr. Greeley bpoas haze ai-o been saved. aud some
every one in t-wu who had team scat II up to the
house, and there were m,rr volunteer. than there wa,
work to BE- done. What most regret j. III" dc,trnc
ton Of an my father, paper. | had a number y
trunks flI Of mnruicrIi- aud letter, he received from
prominent men all over tie world intended -
place this material In Tho hand Of some literary friend
compile memoir Of IN father but II cannot be dome
now. II is too bad. lie things ! have lost are not
such a. would sell for much Ia an auction room. bat
they arc not rcplaccabi. Every thing m the house
had some association with ny father. Fortunately.
bust Of my father BY Hart. of Florence and water
color Of my mother wcc saScd have not a single
autograph Of my father left. out ~ nearly roomful
u his correspondence. but hughingly my friend
Miss Messenger promises TO give me one she has II
was lucky that had some time ago sent some pie
lures my father Ia j. O. \. Ward for his statue or
probably they would al. have been lost. NV cousin
has been the greatest loser by the fire. She lost all
her gowns except that she is wearing. Every thing
In her Trunks was destroyed, and / am In about the
zane plight We shall have 10 80 to NcwN "rA ana
do some spring shopping 40 there was no great
history about the old hose although 1t Wa very coscy
and dear 10 me. II Was built original, for an over
seer but was never occupied When Mr. Greeley lost
his hoIso In the wood. IN 1870 II fitted up for
Mrs Greeley, and after their deaths 'Vcd thcrc
with INV sister and her husband. Since her drath
have lived here aud managed the estate alone en-
cent with short interval, Of travelling.
1T is strange. but II was on Good frid'S 'n"' OUT
old home the House in tie Woods was burned ana
,od,v j. MANDY THURSDAY Just one day before 'ooh
Friday on both occasions was IN chur'h nj inc
time of the occurrence which IS. PERHAPS S""'
sim one could not be in better place, yon KNOW.
The things now destroyed are only the rcmhf"'' "a
nv fathers belongings The bnlh Of the most Valuable
furniture and books stored In the MorrcH Sorc''
and was destroyed with the rest In that gT'a' III"
which caused 20 many New York houschou' "
,uonrn tbe loss Of their laFs and pcnaics IN l07-'