The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-26
NEW YORK'S GREAT FIRE.
TIE DISASTER THAT OCCURRED nv
THE WINTER or 1885.

world-ObstacIes with which the Firemer
HAD TO Contond-tncidentn or tho Fire.
This generation is so used to having the pro
lection OF an efficient Fire department that l
seems strange TO consider tho fact that New
Workers stil live who sixty.two years age
como Chrlstmastidc saw and aided In lighting
n fire in and around Wall street which burned
steadily for nineteen hours and destroyed GA
buildings, beggarod scores, put fifteen fire in
surance companies upon the verge OF insol
yency. and covered twenty acres with ruins,
throughout Dec. 10, 1888, the mercury OF
the thermometer Of Mir. D%elatour, a Wall street
abamist. lowered In tho neiRhborhood OF zero,
Spd vhsn aunset cam the mercury foil lower
and lower until portions Of the East River
were frozen almost solid and tho streets DO.
came almost deserted. Society. little dream
ing:of.the arctic atmosphere at hand, had looked
forward TO that evening for tho wedding of
young DIR. Henry A. Dubois and Catherine,
daughter Of Peter A. Jay, the philanthropio
millionaire, and to its festivities everybody Of
social position had been hidden. When mid.
night arrived aud carriages were called tho
guests were astounded when looking down.
downward they saw the sky Illuminated with
flames. Tho Gre had begun in Merchants
street, q little lane, now built upon. which ran
from Broad street northeasterly to q point
where William street met Wall. behind what
is now the Custom House, but was then the site
Of the Merchants Exchange. At % Merchants
street Crawford & Adams used lofts for bust.
ness purposes. At 8 p. NJ. a Waterman saw
flames breaking from under the roof. Nova.
days we would say he turned in an alarm, but
then there was only tho slow process Of pass.
ing the word as to location of the fire from
watch to watch. until it reached the bellringor
at tho City Hall. Often engine companies fair
~ CROPPED in search Of the fire.
The Chief Engineer, James Gulick, saw at
once that something out OF the common was
progressing and formed q line Of machines
Town Wall street to the river to pump water
up to the scene Of the fire. There were then no
city water works worthy the name. and the
few hydrants in the vicinity were found to be
frozen. The water pumped along the line
seemed to. freeze as 1t ran, for o thermometer'at
half-past 9 marked five degrees below zero. and
was gradually falling. Thus tho fremen were
sadly crippled. The flames soon reached Wall
street and rushed downward from building to
building toward Pearl. then to Front, next to
Water. and into South street- They also soon
spread into full possession Of lower Exchange
place. The wind was blowing o gale. When
the nre laddies Of to-day think :of the condi-
lions and the puny hand fro engines of 1885,
they will realize at once the tremendous odds
against the fremen.
Gil NO" toih a bOOu VII h"dko. mor
chants and clerks were on the scene by hun
dreds. either watching their stores burn or Sec
ing the flames creep inevitably onward to their
goods. And It was well that they assembled,
because relays of willing arms were ready from
time to time to take the places Of the wearied
fire laddies. In those days citizens and espe.
cially youngsters deemed It q great honor to
work at the side arms of the engine or run
wild de machine Not o few of tho wedding
guests before referred to reached the scene,
and the sight was curious of o red-shirted fire.
man and q gentleman in dress suit and white
tie together working tho engine pumps and re-
spending to the uniform CRY. Put her down
hard, boysl" or Keep her lively. laddiesl" as
the brakes were pushed up or borne Town with
q heavy thud.
Down South street to Stone street the flames
few. Shipmasters along the river side anx.
iously watched masts and sails, which were
flooded with flying embers. Some Of them
kedged their craft into tho river and anchored
amid the crashing. crushing Ice cakes. But
even then the vessels were In danger, for the
air was thick with burning Goals. Indeed,
some Of these crossed the river into Brooklyn,
and fred some roofs. William, Pearl, Front,
and Water streets. between Wall and Coenties
slip. soon Kept q burning pace with South street.
Warehouses Of double walls. and protected by
stout iron shutters. succumbed one by one to
the flames. Narrow Exchange place was soon
afiame In all its length to Broad street. From
Stone street the flames made. their way into
Beaver, into Gouverneur lane. into Jones
lane. Cuyler's alley. and The Mill street, now
disappeared from the city map.
Stores and warehouses In the path Of tho fire
were visited, and their contents hauled into the
adjacent streets. At one time Hanover square
was thought safe from the flames, and accord
NrBlD nm tEa q
rescued merchandise, hogsheads of molasses
In contiguity to faces and velvets. 1t was q
vain precaution, for the relentless1iames pushed
their way throughout the expanse OF the square
and consumed what was supposed to be safe.
Every city official was on the scene OF action,
hurried consultation with Recorder Riker and
Chief Engineer Gulick. They decided upon
ready destroyed the Merehants' Exchange
cross Beaver and Broad streets into Broad way
and possibly sweep down to the North River.
the army ofiicers on Governors Island and
the naval authorities a. tho Brooklyn yard,
operating with the civil authorities, and pracs.
tically supplying, what the city lacked-a police
force; Governors Island was out Of powder.
the navy yard. But how to get III Fulton
ferryboats were laid up, and carriage OF gun.
HoWuCt wac w II dlHlOSDntTc Iull
Of flying embers. Charles King. editor of the
Erentn0 american and son OF the statesman.
itufl- King. had seen his newspaper estab.
lishI4 mt burned. together with that Of the Id
teIfi", r., and was consulting with the Mayor,
who had also seen his own mercantile estab,
ushmont burned. King volunteered to com-
mand two or three who should undertake the
Perilous task OF crossing in a yawl boat to the
havy yard through the floating Ice cakes. King
himself took an oar, and the perilous Journey
ensued. He had been an athlete, and when d
quarter of a century later he became President
OF Columbia College, his sympathies and coun'
hels did much to inruse into its students tho love
Of athletics. by dawn the party returned with
bags OF gunpowdor. which were carried by
marines to the warehouses selected. These
were at the southerly turn Of Pearl street, not
yet reached by the fire.
Notice was given to fremen and spectators,
and then, the mines were fired. The explosion
was heard far and wide. and to those at some
distance tho sound engendered fresh fears.
This action. however. stayed tho flames. Hero
n depression may be in order to say that the
owners OF the destroyed property sued the city
years with varying results. but In tho end tho
city won on the ground OF paramount neces-
bity:
The historic ,Tontlne Coffee House at the foot