Destructive Fire
New York, Feb. 20 -- This morning at 1 o'clock a calamitous fire broke out in a three story frame building in Fletcher street, near South Street, occupied by Bachelor and French, as a Blacksmith's shop. The street being very narrow and the buildings of wood, the flames spread with the rapidity of lightning. We regret to state that, Mr. John M'Gowan, a fireman belonging to No. 12, fell from the third (..?..) of a store in South street and had his arm so much injured, that it is thought amputation will be necessary. He was carried to the hospital. We have heard of no other accident. The fire was not extinguished until a late hour. It was necessary to use the engines as late as half past 11 this forenoon. Present estimate of damages $200,000. - Commercial Advertiser. [Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA, March 12, 1828 - Sub. by Nancy Piper]

---

The Fire
New York, Feb. 21
We stated in our last that the loss of property by the destructive fire on Wednesday morning was estimated at two hundred thousand dollars. We have since been informed that one hundred and fifty thousand were insured on the property at the several offices in this city. The four story store on Front Street, No. 163, occupied by Messrs. Jackson and M'Jimsey, with its contents valued at sixty thousand dollars, was insured, the Store was owned by Joseph B. Munn. Very many buildings, which are denominated "fire proof", are not much more secure from fire than ordinary frame buildings and are worse to extinguish when on fire, than wooden buildings. The extensive store of Mr. Jacob Barker, which is built as all stores should be and which was in the centre of the block, received no injury and has more than once arrested the progress of fires. This is literally a fire proof building, not having an inch of wood exposed. It has no chimneys or stoves. The window sashes, frames and shutters and the doors are of iron. The skylights are covered with perforated copper. The rafters rest on the centre of the wall and are covered with mason work to the gutters to protect them from fire.
In a postscript to our paper, at six o'clock last evening we stated that several engine companies were still at work on the burning ruins. At 1 o'clock this morning the alarm bells were again sounded and additional help was called out and when our paper was ready for the press, some half dozen engines were at work. Two companies came over yesterday from Brooklyn to assist their fatigued New York brethren.
Some cotton, which had been removed from the fire in hogsheads to the Coffee House Slip, was discovered to be on fire early this morning, but was soon extinguished. - Commercial Advertiser.
[Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA, March 12, 1828 - Sub. by Nancy Piper]

---

Fires in New York
About a quarter after 5 o'clock on the evening of the 26th ult., a fire commenced in a livery stable, which destroyed houses and property to the amount of $150,000 to 200,000. Among the buildings consumed was the Bowery Theatre and several carriages and horses in the stables were burnt.
A fire also commenced in a Carpenter's shop about 2 o'clock on the morning of the 28th ult. which destroyed six two-story brick houses and damaged a number of others. Several stables were also consumed in which seven horses perished. There appears to be no doubt entertained that these fires were the work of incendiaries. [Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA, June 4, 1828 - Sub. by Nancy Piper]

---

Melancholy Accident
The brick front building, No. 21, Henry street, fell in with a heavy crash and buried beneath the ruins one of the workmen, Mr. G. Eldridge. The following particulars have been given to us by persons present. The building had been moved, some days since, back from the street about ten feet. Mr. Eldridge (the person who was killed,) contrary to the express direction of Mr. Darling, contractor for the moving of the buildings, proceeded to remove the supporters from under the chimney, when the cellar wall gave way and the entire stack of chimneys, with the front wall fell in. At the time the wall fell, there were three persons in addition to Mr. E. in the cellar. They received but trifling injury - one woman was also slightly injured. The lower part of the dwelling was occupied as a grocery. At the time of the removal there were four families in the house. The accident is entirely attributed to the removal of the supporters, before the cellar wall and chimney had been properly secured. - New York Advocate. [Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA, March 19, 1828 - Sub. by Nancy Piper]

---

Fire!
New York, Aug. 4 -- A fire broke out in Laurens Street, near Broome Street, at about 1 o'clock this morning and spread with great rapidity, extending into Broome and Wooster Streets and consuming or injuring in all upwards of twenty buildings - mostly valuable dwelling houses and many of them just completed having never been tenanted. [Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA, August 13, 1828 - Sub. by N. Piper]

---

About 5 o’clock on the morning of the 3d inst., a fire broke out in a cabinet maker’s shop, no. 94, Broad Street, New York, which resulted in the total destruction of several dwellings, and the injury of others. [Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA, March 11 1829]

---

KILLED BY FALLING WALLS
New York, July 22 – Two persons were killed and three injured by the falling in of the rear wall of a tenement house at One Hundred and Twenty-second street and Fourth avenue. The tumbling of the wall was caused by a premature blast. [Transcribed from The Quincy Morning Whig, July 23, 1893 by Debbie Lee.]

---

HARLEM SHAKEN BY DYNAMITE, TWO PERSONS KILLED OUTRIGHT AND SIX INJURED
Terrible Havoc Wrought by an Overloaded Blast - Masses of Rock Were Hurled High in Air and Through a Building, Carrying Death with Them - Heavy Charges in Twelve Holes Were Fired at One TIme - The Contractor in Charge Fled - Five Workmen Arrested.
A careless rock blast yesterday wrecked the house 61 East One Hundred and Twenty-second Street. Two persons were instantly killed. Six others were injured, and of these two will probably die. The entire neighborhood where the accident occurred was driven wild with panic.
KILLED
POSEY, MARIE F., colored, thirty-five years old.
POSEY, MARIE ADELE, colored, her daughter, eight years old.
INJURED
GRAHAM, ALBERT S., twenty-seven years old, 128 Easat One Hundred and Thirteenth Street, sprained ankle.
McADAMS, Mrs. MARY, twenty-six years old, skull fractured and injured about the spine and body.
POSEY, MARY, colored, sixty years old, head crushed and bruised.
POSEY, IRMA C., colored, thirteen years old, cut about the head and body.
POSEY, AUSTIN, colored, ten years old, bruised about the head and body.
POSEY, REGINALD, colored, nine years old; leg broken .

All the persons except Albert Graham lived in the wrecked house.
[Transcribed from the "New York Times", July 23, 1893 by Melissa Rodriguez.]

---

Killed by Building's Collapse
New York, Dec. 15. - Martin Gaulcher, an architect, connected with the Academy of Design and Columbia University, had his collar bone broken, and an unknown man was fatally injured this, afternoon by the collapse of an old building at Broadway and last street. The old man's skull was fractured by a falling beam, and he died a short time after the accident. [The Washington Post, (Wash., D.C.) December 16, 1904]

---

BACK -- HOME

Copyright © Genealogy Trails