The New York herald., 1921-08-24
KANE 9TH AVE. HOME
HAS 100000 FIRE
Library Containing Rare Books
and Objects Of Art Is
Destroyed.

A fire OF unknown origin destroyed the
contents of the second floor of the resi-
dence of Mrs. John Innes Kane at
West F'orty-ninth street yesterday fore
noon, causing damage estimated at be-
tween 100000 and 100000, and tied up
traffic in Fifth avenue for a half hour
The rooms destroyed were the library,
filled with rare books. family portraits,
tapestries and various objects OF art.
and the dining room adjoining. Among
the paintings lost was portrait of Gen.
de Lafayette, painted by Ingres. 1t was
fully insured
So well built is the home. one OF the
most imposing In the older residential
part OF Fifth avenue. that the floods
OF water poured on the floors through
the windows flowed down an enclosed
marble staircase and out through the
main entrans without seeping through
into the main floor. Neither did the
flames eat their way through into the
floor above.
Mrs. Kane Is at her summer home in
Bar Harbor, Me. The first member of
Mrs. kane's family to reach the house
was Alfred e. Schermerhorn, her cousin.
lie said that the original estimate Of
100000 as the amount OF damage done
was excessive. The paintings. all of
which were burned. were, he said, chiefly
family portraits. of more sentimental
tpft nal Ina Tha n
he thought, nearer 100000. than
$500 900.
When flames poured from the second
story windows OF the mansion. which is
OF four stories In italian renaissance,
q thousand in the avenue gathered at
the corner of Forty ninth street. The
city home OF Mrs. Ogden Goelet Is on
the opposite corner.
Michael Ruddy, battalion chief. and
John F. King, deputy chief. responded
t. the first alarm. They were on the
point OF sending in second alarm when
they found they were getting me fire
under control. Traffic policemen cleared
the vicinity Of pedestrians and vehicles,
| leaving the flremen a free field. The
clouds OF smoke that swirled through the
avenue and side streets gave the impress
sion that the fire was much worse than
the tiremen actually found IL to be.
The fire was discovered by Henry
Rampler. foreman for John c. Blem-
rer. an interior decorator at 6S5 Maii-
son avenue. He was repainting parts of
the woodwork. He heard a muffied re-
port In the library. Upon opening the
door he was met by an onrush OF smol,e.
Slamming the door. he rushed to the
street and notified Patrolman Craven of
| Traffic c. who turned in the alarm. The
| only other persons in the house aside
| from Rempler were a maid and Il care
taker. None was injured.
Mrs. Kane Is a daughter of the late
Mr.. and Mrs. William c. Schermerhorn
end cousin OF the late Mrs. William
Astor For many years previous to the
| death OF her husband, eight years ago,
her house adjoined the former home Of
her parents on the north side OF Twenty
third street, between Fifth and Sixth
\ avenues. Her new home was ssigned
\ BY Charles McKim of McKim, Mead &
4 White MIR. McKim's partner, the late
1 Stanford White, obtained many OF the
/ furnishings in Europe. An architectural
| feature OF the interior is the enclosed
i marble staircase. Until recent years
/ Mrs. Kane's entertainments in the house
we're among the most brilliant Incidents
| or fashionable New York winter.
| Special Despatch 20 THE NEW YoaK HEsAtp
| BAR HARBoR, Me-, Aug. 23.-Mrs. John
Inncs Kane, who Is III at her country
Eome here. has been kept In ignorance
| OF her loss by members OF her family
| who are with her.
| The chief losses through hre in the
| New York house. Il was stated by a
i1ember OF the family. are two large and
ancient tapestries that hung In the H.
brary twenty family portraits in the
dining room; the large library. including
many first and rare editions or cele-
hTated works, and many pieces Of furni-
ture which were historic and cannot be
replaced. The loss most regretted IS the
4 family portraits.
j xra - nr~>vrrDr rr.r