DREADFUL FIRES IN NEW YORK, DESTRUCTION OF 154 HORSES.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 310, 19 May 1849, Page 2 (Supplement)

DREADFUL FIRES IN NEW YORK, DESTRUCTION OF 154 HORSES.

1 On Sunday morning, the 19th ultimo, four different fires (three of them stated to be the work of incendia* ries), broke out in the city of New York. The first was at the extensive stage stables of Messrs, Murphy, ; corner of Fourth Avenue and Twenty seventh street, and it extended to several houses in the rear, destroy* ing also St. Barnabrs's Protestant Episcopal Church. ; The seoond began at the shoe store of Mr. Fust, corner of Bowery and Brome-streets, and extended along the line of street, doing considerable injury to tbe Baptist Chapel. The third originated in a stable at 1 the corner of Twenty-fifth street and Eight Avenue j ' and the fourth was at a stable in the rear of West 1 Seventeenth street. In the whole 22 houset, 154 horses, and ,22 omnibuses have been destioyed, the total loss being estimated at 200,000 dollars. The New York Herald says — " from a little after the hour • of midnight the bells rang incessantly, until nearly the ■ dawn of morning, and from the reflection of the fires every house in the city was filled with lurid light. ; Looking around the heart sickened at the sight of the whole city wrapped in the light of conflagration, with 1 (he wiud high, and every prospect of a greater deva»-« taiion than the citizens had ever been called upon to 1 wlfxe&s." The «aine paper, in noticing the destruction 1 ot the itables, snys— " The scene beggars description. ; A rush was made to release the horses, about 175 of which were standing to their halters and the flames ; gathering round them. About twenty five of ! ihem were rescued, when portions of the roof began to fall. This of course prevented all further efforts, and in a few moments the whole portion of the stable was enveloped in flame. The horses reared, but they were firmly held by their halters, while the flame rushed upon them. The sides of the stables were burned, and the picture was awful to look upon. The mosUerrih'c shrieki and groans issued from the burning animals, as t ey were seen to fall and perish in the flimei. There was one of the horsei which broke its halter, and rushed out of the burning building to the tidewalk— but before it could be taken, neighed and again ran into the flames. The terrible groaning of 150 hones sounded upon the ear at one and the same time, and their agony wai witnessed without the possibility of affording relief. The dunes communicated to several ■mall wooden buildings adjoining, in the rear of T.venty-eighth-street, occupied by poor families, all of which were destroyed. Women were running in every direction looking for their children, and cliilren seeking their parents. One woman supposing that her child was in her burning house, with the frenzy almo t of despair, rushed into the house and aicended to the second story, but the heat was so great that ihe was obliged to retreat; The child had been left, but one of those noble spirits, with heavy coat and leathern cap, appeared at the window, and with one bound i ifeiy reached the ground, bearing iv his arms the object of that distracted mother's love. In a raoirent more the babe was in iti mother's arms. She shrieked with joy, and in an ecstacy of wild delight, 'fell upon her knses and called down the blessing qf heaven on the deliverer of jier babe.