New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-17

from, Avenue A 10 the river A bridge over Sixty
ninthst connected the two portions Of the grounds
which were inc.osed. Even the name Of Joness
Wood was being forgotten The northern part
of the grounds known as Washington PARK
while the southern part called the Empire City
Colosseum Both parts were under the manage
ment OF John r. Schultheis who had built all OF
the buildings and planted the younger trees HIS
home was in the Old Jones mansion. fronting
the north side of Sixty-nnth-st., near the middle
OF the grounds The large pavions. built OF WOOD
with many verandas and outbuidings, extended
over large portions OF two blocks The grounds
were inc,osed by high wooden fences, and at each
a high wooden tower
Flames were discovered in of the towers, In
Sixty-eghth-st, near the river, few minutes pc
fore a. m. There had been picnic OF the l. :,
Meyers Association the grounds. but the crowd
went away about ! a. m. and the cause OF the nre
is a mystery The flames were seen by Policeman
Nash, OF the East Sixty-seventh-st. station. as he
was patroling Sixty eighth-st., between First-aVe
and Avenue A, and he hastily sent an a'arm'
which in a few minutes brought Chief Duane ana
Engine Company No. 80 to the spot When they
arrived the fire had spread along the river edge
the length OF the two blocks and was steadily
creeping up as the wind blew the sparks through
the
ADDITIONAL ALARMS SENT OUT.
Chief Duane rang a third alarm. which brought
Chief Bonner fifteen engines and over a hundred
fremen to the scene and almost Immediately after
ward. as the extent of the danger was more fuiiy
realized. fourth alarm brought further reinforce
ments.
In the time engine NO. 30. the old silver
King" built twenty-four years ago. was anchored
in Sixty-ninth-st half way between the grounds
and got to work the flames. 1t did excellent
service and the fire seemed almost manageable
when suddenly there a change. In an instant
the wind veered around TO the southeast ana blew
gale which swept the flames down with a resist
less rush in the direction Of Avenue A. In
moment everything seemed to go down before the
flying sheet of flame
magazine in which were kept a number OF
cartridges for the cannon fired on festive occasions
took fire and the cartridges exploded with a report
like the firing OF a Calling gun. sending the fremen
flying in all directions. When they heard the cause
OF the explosion they returned TO their posts.
THE WHOLE PARK AFLAME.
The park was covered by the flames. The
water OF the East River caught the reflection Of the
glowing flames and shone a deep crimson.
Reserves OF police hastily summoned from their
beds in the station houses of the Twenty-frst
Twenty-third mad Twenty-seventh precincts.
ported 10 Captain Strauss, OF the East Sixty-sev>
enth-st. station. and were stationed TO keep the
ground clear for the fremen. They had their work
cut out In holding the spectators behind the fire
lines.
j. r. ScnultnelS dilN MS VIE anu Cullu III tiie
old Jones mansion had been awakened as the win
dow sashes OF their bedroom burst into fame and
bundng their clothes together they had rushed out
of the park into the street. moment afterward
the house was blazing. Five men who slept in the
Offices had a similarly narrow escape.
OTHER BUILDINGS CATCH FIRE
While the fire spread through the dancing halls
and trees in the gardens 1t also passed over Sixty
eighth and Seventeen SITS. TO the buildings the
other side On the south side Of SiXty-eghth-st
nearest 10 Avenue A. the stonecuttng works
OF b. A. G. L. r. Williams This firm has the
tract for erecting Arnold & Co.'S new twelve-sory
building, at Eighteenth-st and Fifth-avc. and at
present employs some $40 men On the premises
was a large quantity Of fine German limestone cut
and prepared for The flames ruined the
pensive cutting and rubbing machinery, destroyed
100 trucks and cracked large quantities of pre-
pared stone. In the rear OF this one-story
house occupied by Mrs. Kate Duffy and further
back the blacksmith shop Of Schultz & Seiderwitz