The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-22

THE BURNED BLOCK.
This block nearly the sire OF OF the all blocks
eetween Tnird ana Lexington avenues in this city.
ne cross shows where the IRE started.
headed by ex. Mayor Patrick J. Gleason and
Mayor Horatto S. Sanford is responsible for
the wateriess condition OF their city. The
average citizen has forgotten his partisanship
in the presence OF the calamity. and is Impair
tally damning all political fights, for. he says.
the Sanfordites have for years defeated Glea-
sons water schemes in tho Legislature. and
the Gleasonites went 70 Albany last winter and
defeated Sanford's scheme to give the city o
water supply. SO to-day the most valuable
block OF buildings in the city is ass OF I'm.
slightly. bIackened ruins. the insurance COM
panies threaten to withdraw altogether from
the civ. and there is woe. tribulation. and
hard language all around
The block that burned until only one corner
store remains habitable is the irregularly
shaped one bounded by Fourth and Fifth
streets and Vernon and jackson avenues.
There was some loss. too. as the accompany
ing diagram shows. across the street from
the block.
To get to the burnt district you must walk
up Borden avenue from the Long Island fer
n landing two blocks east. and then one block
northeast out Jackson avenue. The East
River is four short blocks west from the dis
triet. and Newtown Creek is not quite SO far
south. The block was built up on all Sides
the big buildings in it being the handsome new
St. Mary,s Church at the corner OF Vernon ave-
nue. and fth street. fronting the avenue: the
PASTORAL residence. Just back Of that. on FIFTH
n to snd the asrys fsaSS
ard; public hall 90 the fat-iron lots. where
Filth street and Jack SON avenue let at a sharp
and was not complete. On Verona avenue
there were several three and four story brick
Soor and as family apsrtmsnts ab abe '0 Tbs
same class of buildings :ronted jackson ave.
nue. the upper two and three floors being oc-
lumber. about seventy-ave. who are burned
out.
ish and the misfortune OF the Rev: John
dressuI For Twelve YEAR she R has la5o sed
and ' the reaasnes WITCH Msrs a h"
stroyed Yesterday. The church had been
S bn assenty aa nt tn" Bsrss
and the school was but Just nished. and had
MT yet teen accented or occupied; When the
secured s5U.VUO by mortgage to build the
school. and that debt was further secured by
i9sgrfnce That was the only Insurance the
aloss OF $4,000 on the parish.
about a month ago DR.. Mcclure took his
t srst vacation in twelve years, and is now on
the ocean returning from Ireland. He is ex-
ppset-d 10 arrive to-day 90 the Alaska All Of
ihts pers1na! property. including his valuable
n0tary. was IL the new residence. and these
eHtcts rather Doherty. DR.. McGUire's assist
ant aided oy volunteers. removed to a place
the opposite side u Fifth street. Those flats
we're burned. too. and with them Dr.. McGuire's
Persona! property.
The IRE started little after midnight In the
building AZ the corner OF Fourth street and
SS2aekson aTHnue. marked with a cross in the
Pied - shop for the manufacture OF re-
itnGsrators. and there and in the yard back OF
~ iot OF seasoned lumter was stored. That
TTss"ihg when the irst fire engine arrived
ine spread Of the flames toward the north and
sfc .gens were at work help was asked from
v1 The a a and grea. difficulty was with the
aM .sg rapidly Spreading fire. hut with hy-
s-sa !acking pressure and quantity. Until the
Was actually NOT enough water Tor even the
t t,1 engines To draw on. and for a time while
IN nbi,l eS alter building WAS being added to
de 0hlasFa''on' one of the engines had to lie
vsls arst buildings to take re after the start
aes5h syeaa , On fonrth street and
were carried by the strong wind directly
DIe .ss noa Of st Mafy school and
sspsrtmept houses fronting on Vernon
fy IT, On began sRo to .,5 blaze and tina. made
dhe church was solidly built OF brick ND 10 tho
rs. o over; which was OF wood. Blazing shin
thst tower, and the church was doamsd. Ad.
e e,,iG,hal water had not yet come up from the |
ss As so ,he s, sssRy on hand was 50 small
could Snt ne e.. eneines aHd SO the church tower
,s Az That time there was practically no de-
tttnoe against the flames. as the engines were |
H.. Wing streams OF water SO mixed with air |
p :4u male Letter 25 their
pen as u the FIRE would certainly cross YER
FPys arspue and burn unfcught to the East |
. ns Of hose along Vernon avenue. and they |
S Ss.ha surply to the Long Island encines
eSss a sss% to Ba %a 70
IsSty !eaped Fifth street. and the row Of f four
= Hs block. owned Gy Dr. ]. D. KennsdY and the
.aitse res dencs Of Joseph MCGEE or the same |
u ,, at ne street but nearer Fifth street wero
~ ne same side Of Fifth street, tina. il
On f1s me street from the burning block and
o,T large kearney block OF stores and fats |
t'Esrd Coy; Flo.er The end OF this block
o. sSi Just then the IRE boat Body had got to
n y, aG sixth street triple eouplins was
s; ,n,II II tie three engines which had arrived
vi Sc h.9okYn were able to check the IRE
10 10 with the local engines supplied with water
~ q NE tugs in the creek and the Brooklyn en-
The ey 4, supplied by the FIRE boat the spread Of
tbs " mes was checked. II was after daylight |
sliar Sn II, ~ am hre was sufficiently subdued to
i...ie tfooklyn engines TO return home
sHlohg the losers by the hre are:
s,. yer GRAY shop and frame houses Fourth
on - a. t4nr hriek houses on Vernon avenue. s5o-
"a o. Kennedy; forr hst houses on Fifth street.
49, as-sanee slTOOO
90 7irs. brick house on Fifth street IS COO
SEQ 49, arH, one oEirk ant one frame house Jack
e., p, AosdrsE, the butitnE being constructed for