FIRES IN AMERICA.

Evening Star, Issue 3117, 14 February 1873, Page 2

FIRES IN AMERICA.

Fires have been very numerous in all parts of the United estates, the losses iu some instances amounting to several thousands of dollars. Two of these catastrophes are thus described About 4.15 on the morning of Dec-mber 25th, at Mew York, a policeman noticed a fir - bursting through the roof of Barnum’s Circus, directly over the spot where the giraffes were kept, and immediately after, the animals aud birds commenced howling and screeching. The alarm was sounded, but tbe fl .mes spread with such rapidity that almost before the firemen got water Barnum’s Circus was past the firemen’s aid. The roars of the animals were frightful during the short time they lasted. The front of the building was two storeys, and composed of neany altogether corrugated iron and wood. The structure bm ned, however, as though it was a tinderbox, The firaneu aud others were unable to stand within one hundred feet of the burning building, the heat was so intense. The windows of the Academy of Music were cracked and broken with the heat. Doors were blistered, and the billboards in front of the Academy were burned on the side towards the circus. There were great fears of the Academy’s safety. Various buildings were wholly destroyed. Barnum’s loss is yarjpusly estimated at from 200,000d01s to 30U,OOOdols.’ Barpurp is said to be in 'ew Orleans. The loss to the Lawrence estate is 20, OOOdols ; insured, Crete’s, 30;), 0 Odols ; insured for 120,000d015, Reid and Co., varnish dealers, lost all the stock. Remworfch, dealer in piano strings, lost all bis stock Thousands of people visited the ruins during the day, and a large force of police we? e on duty to keep the firemen from being impeded ip their dpty. Men who slept in the building threw ‘open the doors opening on Fourteenth street, and the two performing elephants, Jeanette and Betsy, and a camel, walked out. These were the only animals which escaped. It is reported that Barnum’s insurance on animals was only 25 OOOdols. It is reported that six girls perished in the flames, but the report is not confirmed. The total loss it estimated at 5 0, OOOdols Later ; On December ?7 the snow prevented the search for the girls burped. The Spperintende t of Buildings, in a card, says there are thousands of buiidipgs m the city more dangerous than the ope burned in Centre street, dhe report of loss of life by the fire in Centre street is confirmed, Six girls and one boy were known to bo in the Jp’Ming at tfee time of the fire, and have not since been hearu were employed by Dun and Barlow, and could have .. MftU ES4 ' ecl

had there been proper fire-escapes. The ruins are covered with a mass of ice, which renders th • search for bodies impossible. Fire Marshall M ‘Speden says, in regard to the burning of Barnum’s museum and menagerie, that the fire originated under the floor immediately over the boiler from snperhea'tcd steam, which in its effects is as destructive as burning gas or flame, and where allowed to gain strength is as sure to be productive of heat. He adds that the attention of the managers had been twice called to its condition, but no attention was paid to the warning. On the 11th of "December a fire in the Fifth Avenue Hotel, broke out shortly after even o’clock, on the second floor, but was kept a secret by the proprietors and clerks even from the gue*ts, who, when aroused by a male servant, who was burned out ot her dormitory, and ran shrieking ** Fire!” through the halls, were quieted by the statement that it was only a small tire in the laundry, and it was nearly twelve o’clock before a passing policeman discovered the fire and oa led the engines. The staircase upon which the fire started was at the back of the house, leading from the laundry in the basement to-the servants’ room in the attic. It had no openings except at the bottom and top, and flames rushed up as in a chimney destroying the staircase, but doing little damage until it reached the open space at the top, into which the rooms of the servants opened. Here it burst into the fullest strength, rushing through the narrow passage-way, and spreading rapidly over the entire extent of the west wing woodwork. : The servants’ rooms immediately caught fire, and soon the entire wing was a mass of flame. The servants, asleep in the roems at the top of the staircase, were overtaken before assistance coulcjl reach them, and were < completely phut off from ttye main budding. The firemen, who had meantime arrived, were too late to be of any-assistance, as by this time the apartments of the poor creatures were enveloped in flames. Shortly after one o’clock, when it was found a number of persons were missing, a police officer and I the chief of the t’lre Department effected an entrance by means of an iron ladder to the room where the people were supposed to be. I here were found there the charred burned bodies of sixteen persons. The bedding and furniture were strewn about the, rooms, and confused with human rem tins.The bodice of the victims lay in different plages from

which they bad tried to find egress, Som« had endeavored to escape through the windows, and others had fallen at the head of the staircase The bodiei of two men were ha-.f concealed under a bed in an outer room, where evidently they had tried to shelter themselves from suffocation, smoke, and. scathing flames. When the firemen and police got into the wing, the floors of this l oom were sound, but the roof-timbsrs were burned, and had fallen upon the floors in ft confused mass upon the bodies, severing the limbs and mutilating the remains horribly. In another room six bodies were found, making, tip to 2.30 this morning, twentytwo, which are believed to be all the victims. There were about 600 guests, who, when finally aware of their danger, were greatly excited. It is said gross carelessness was apparent in the condition of the warming apparatus. The attaches of the hotel are blamed for their efforts to keep the fire secret, and making so little effort to save the unfortunate girls. The loss is estimated ftt from 130,000d01. to 150,000d01, about onefourth of the furniture of the Inuse being ruined by water. By a later despatch it is stated from the hotel that only eleven persons were burned—all female servants.