Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
December 29, 1804
The Enquirer
Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A devastating fire erupted early morning in New York City's Front Street at No. 104, spreading rapidly due to wind and cold weather delaying response. It destroyed around 40 buildings in Front, Water, and Wall Streets, including stores, the Morning Chronicle office, and Old Coffee House. Estimated building losses over $200,000, goods much more.
Merged-components note: Tables list damaged properties and values as part of the New-York fire story.
Clipping
OCR Quality
70%
Good
Full Text
AWFUL FIRE.
For many years past the citizens of New-York have not witnessed a fire so extensive and ruinous as that which yesterday morning dealt destruction to a very valuable portion of our city. At an early hour the inhabitants were alarmed with the cry of fire and the ringing of alarm bells, and upon obeying the painful call of duty they found the flames bursting with dreadful fury from the house No. 104, Front-street (where the fire originated) and the adjacent buildings.
The night was very cold, and perhaps to this must be ascribed the tardy motions of the citizens to the scene of action: at three o'clock very few comparatively had assembled, and at four the bucket ranks were very imperfectly formed. At this time, owing to the force of the wind, which blew fresh from the west, and the inflammable state of the houses and especially of their contents, the flames were spreading their ravages with frightful and fatal haste. So irresistible indeed was their rage, that in the lapse of an hour between twenty and thirty houses had become a prey to the devouring elements, and with regard to them the operation of the engines was altogether unavailing.
When the citizens had numerously collected, laudable exertions were made to supply the engines; but as the water in the harbor was at ebb, and as the pumps and cisterns furnished a very spare quantity, they were not served so amply as the awful occasion required. The floating engine, however, stationed at a convenient spot, proved of essential benefit, and plentifully supplied the small engines in its immediate neighborhood. The progress of the fire was in the direction of the gale; and as it commenced at 104 Front, it of course proceeded towards the Coffee-house Slip, involving in destruction almost every building situate in Front-street, and on the east side of Water street, between Gouverneur's alley and the slip.—
Meantime the coals and brands carried along by the wind, fell on the shipping in the wharf, and the houses on the opposite side, and thus the fire was communicated to a still greater extent. Fortunately however the vessels sustained no material damage, and the progress of the fire on this side of the wharf after it had consumed a few wooden houses was arrested.
About five o'clock in the morning, the conflagration was at its height, and the general scene at this moment, as seen from the roof of the Tontine, was dreadfully grand and impressive. Forty houses enveloped in wide wasting flames—columns of murky smoke ascending in thickening volumes, and weeping before the wind—showers of red hot embers scattering danger far and wide—the hiss of blazing timbers— the crash of falling walls—the busy stir of hundreds & hundreds carrying furniture, serving water, and working engines—the melancholy appearance of women and children driven from their homes, now involved in ruin—all conspired to impress the most painful sensations, and fill the mind with horror. The destruction of property on this occasion has been immense. A subsequent article gives a valuation of the buildings, but the value of the goods destroyed is much more—a million of dollars probably would not cover the loss— Among other buildings which fell a prey to the devouring element, we have to mention the excellent fire proof stores of Bailey and Bogert & Joshua Jones, the office of the Morning Chronicle, and old Coffee-House. The following statements from the evening papers are, we believe, pretty correct.
The following, says the Evening Post, is the list we have obtained of the particular houses, owners and occupants affected.
Seventeen buildings in Front-street.
One three story wood building, occupied by John Sullivan, wholesale and retail grocer.
One three story wood building, occupied by M. Blake as flaxseed store.
One four story fire proof building occupied by John D. Martin and William R. Wheaton, merchants.
One two story wood building occupied by Daniel Sullivan, as a flaxseed store.
One two story wood building, occupied by M. Ward.
Two four story fire proof stores occupied by Bailey and Bogert, commission merchants.
One three story wood store, occupied by James Forbes.
One three story brick building occupied by Mr. Shonnard, boarding house.
One three story brick building occupied by J. B. Krimmel, merchant.
One three story brick building occupied by John Sullivan as dwelling.
One small wood building occupied by Charles M. Carthy, grocer, where the fire is said to have originated.
One three story wood store, occupied by Hannah Russell, tobacconist.
One three story wood store occupied by Roche and Betts, grocers.
One three story wood store occupied by Alexander Ogilvie, grocer.
One three story wood store occupied by William Bradbury, grocer.
One three story wood store owned and occupied by James Brier, tobacconist.
Twelve houses in Wall street.
One wooden three story building, occupied by Steddiford and Marchalk, as an auction store, and by Mr. Gaviter as a retail grocery.
One small brick building. occupied by John Place as dwelling house and retail grocery.
One two story wooden building, occupied by Byrne and Smith as an auction store.
One two story brick building, owned and occupied by Mr. Post as an office.
One three story brick building, occupied by E. Backus and co. auctioneers.
One small brick building, occupied by Mr. Hyde, watch maker, and owned by the Widow Douglas.
One two story wooden building, occupied by Mr. Cavener, and owned by John Jones.
One two story wooden building, occupied by Fisher, and owned by John Jones.
One three story brick, occupied by Mr. Petit, and owned by John Rathbone.
One two story brick, occupied by Mrs. Berry and owned by the estate of W. Bruce:
One brick three story, occupied by Mrs. Wentworth, and owned by the estate of commodore Nicholson.
One two story wood, occupied by H. J. Hasey, hair dresser, and owned by W. Bingham.
Four buildings on Jones's Wharf.
One three story wooden building, occupied as a wholesale grocery store by Joshua Jones.
One three story wooden, occupied by N. Horton, commission merchant.
One three story wooden, occupied by gen. Gibbs and W. Seabury, commission merchants.
One three story Wooden, occupied by John A. Robinson, wholesale grocer.
Owned by John Jones.
Eight three story brick buildings in Water street.
Old Coffee House, occupied by Edward Barden, and owned by the widow of George Douglas.
One dwelling house owned and occupied by James Patterson.
One occupied by John H. Hutton as a grocery store, and by Benjamin Bailey as a dwelling, owned by capt. Maxwell.
One owned and occupied by Isaac Gomez, Jun. and Shay and Noah, auctioneers.
One occupied by Henry Wylie, as a wholesale dry good store, and owned by the widow
One occupied as a printing office, by the Morning Chronicle and by Mr. Wilkey, pilot, and owned by Michael Price.
One occupied by captain Storey, owned by widow Stocker.
One occupied by captain Curtis, and owned by the estate of Isaac Gouverneur.
For the following list of houses and stores which were consumed, including an estimate of their value, we are indebted to the politeness of a friend. It will be observed that this statement presents simply an estimate of the buildings, exclusive of the property they contained—Com. Adv.
FRONT STREET.
corner of Wall street, 2200
Brick and wood do, Joshua Jones, [opposite corner, 4500
Wood store, James Forbes, 1300
Brick do. Bailey and Bogart, 12000
Wood do. Wm. Ward, 1400
Do. do. Daniel Sullivan, 1800
Do. do. Joshua Jones, 1800
Brick store, owned by Joshua Jones, 5000
Wood do. occupied by V. Blake, 1800
Do. do. John Sullivan, 1800
dolls. 54300
WALL STREET.
Wood store occupied by I. A. Robertson, owned 1900
Do. do. Nath. Horton by Jn. 1800
Do. do. John Jones, Jones, 1800
Do. do. Steddiford and Marshalk, 1800
Small house, do John Place, 300
Brick and Wood do, 13200
WATER STREET
Old Coffee house (brick) occupied Total dolls. 107,200
For many years past the citizens of New-York have not witnessed a fire so extensive and ruinous as that which yesterday morning dealt destruction to a very valuable portion of our city. At an early hour the inhabitants were alarmed with the cry of fire and the ringing of alarm bells, and upon obeying the painful call of duty they found the flames bursting with dreadful fury from the house No. 104, Front-street (where the fire originated) and the adjacent buildings.
The night was very cold, and perhaps to this must be ascribed the tardy motions of the citizens to the scene of action: at three o'clock very few comparatively had assembled, and at four the bucket ranks were very imperfectly formed. At this time, owing to the force of the wind, which blew fresh from the west, and the inflammable state of the houses and especially of their contents, the flames were spreading their ravages with frightful and fatal haste. So irresistible indeed was their rage, that in the lapse of an hour between twenty and thirty houses had become a prey to the devouring elements, and with regard to them the operation of the engines was altogether unavailing.
When the citizens had numerously collected, laudable exertions were made to supply the engines; but as the water in the harbor was at ebb, and as the pumps and cisterns furnished a very spare quantity, they were not served so amply as the awful occasion required. The floating engine, however, stationed at a convenient spot, proved of essential benefit, and plentifully supplied the small engines in its immediate neighborhood. The progress of the fire was in the direction of the gale; and as it commenced at 104 Front, it of course proceeded towards the Coffee-house Slip, involving in destruction almost every building situate in Front-street, and on the east side of Water street, between Gouverneur's alley and the slip.—
Meantime the coals and brands carried along by the wind, fell on the shipping in the wharf, and the houses on the opposite side, and thus the fire was communicated to a still greater extent. Fortunately however the vessels sustained no material damage, and the progress of the fire on this side of the wharf after it had consumed a few wooden houses was arrested.
About five o'clock in the morning, the conflagration was at its height, and the general scene at this moment, as seen from the roof of the Tontine, was dreadfully grand and impressive. Forty houses enveloped in wide wasting flames—columns of murky smoke ascending in thickening volumes, and weeping before the wind—showers of red hot embers scattering danger far and wide—the hiss of blazing timbers— the crash of falling walls—the busy stir of hundreds & hundreds carrying furniture, serving water, and working engines—the melancholy appearance of women and children driven from their homes, now involved in ruin—all conspired to impress the most painful sensations, and fill the mind with horror. The destruction of property on this occasion has been immense. A subsequent article gives a valuation of the buildings, but the value of the goods destroyed is much more—a million of dollars probably would not cover the loss— Among other buildings which fell a prey to the devouring element, we have to mention the excellent fire proof stores of Bailey and Bogert & Joshua Jones, the office of the Morning Chronicle, and old Coffee-House. The following statements from the evening papers are, we believe, pretty correct.
The following, says the Evening Post, is the list we have obtained of the particular houses, owners and occupants affected.
Seventeen buildings in Front-street.
One three story wood building, occupied by John Sullivan, wholesale and retail grocer.
One three story wood building, occupied by M. Blake as flaxseed store.
One four story fire proof building occupied by John D. Martin and William R. Wheaton, merchants.
One two story wood building occupied by Daniel Sullivan, as a flaxseed store.
One two story wood building, occupied by M. Ward.
Two four story fire proof stores occupied by Bailey and Bogert, commission merchants.
One three story wood store, occupied by James Forbes.
One three story brick building occupied by Mr. Shonnard, boarding house.
One three story brick building occupied by J. B. Krimmel, merchant.
One three story brick building occupied by John Sullivan as dwelling.
One small wood building occupied by Charles M. Carthy, grocer, where the fire is said to have originated.
One three story wood store, occupied by Hannah Russell, tobacconist.
One three story wood store occupied by Roche and Betts, grocers.
One three story wood store occupied by Alexander Ogilvie, grocer.
One three story wood store occupied by William Bradbury, grocer.
One three story wood store owned and occupied by James Brier, tobacconist.
Twelve houses in Wall street.
One wooden three story building, occupied by Steddiford and Marchalk, as an auction store, and by Mr. Gaviter as a retail grocery.
One small brick building. occupied by John Place as dwelling house and retail grocery.
One two story wooden building, occupied by Byrne and Smith as an auction store.
One two story brick building, owned and occupied by Mr. Post as an office.
One three story brick building, occupied by E. Backus and co. auctioneers.
One small brick building, occupied by Mr. Hyde, watch maker, and owned by the Widow Douglas.
One two story wooden building, occupied by Mr. Cavener, and owned by John Jones.
One two story wooden building, occupied by Fisher, and owned by John Jones.
One three story brick, occupied by Mr. Petit, and owned by John Rathbone.
One two story brick, occupied by Mrs. Berry and owned by the estate of W. Bruce:
One brick three story, occupied by Mrs. Wentworth, and owned by the estate of commodore Nicholson.
One two story wood, occupied by H. J. Hasey, hair dresser, and owned by W. Bingham.
Four buildings on Jones's Wharf.
One three story wooden building, occupied as a wholesale grocery store by Joshua Jones.
One three story wooden, occupied by N. Horton, commission merchant.
One three story wooden, occupied by gen. Gibbs and W. Seabury, commission merchants.
One three story Wooden, occupied by John A. Robinson, wholesale grocer.
Owned by John Jones.
Eight three story brick buildings in Water street.
Old Coffee House, occupied by Edward Barden, and owned by the widow of George Douglas.
One dwelling house owned and occupied by James Patterson.
One occupied by John H. Hutton as a grocery store, and by Benjamin Bailey as a dwelling, owned by capt. Maxwell.
One owned and occupied by Isaac Gomez, Jun. and Shay and Noah, auctioneers.
One occupied by Henry Wylie, as a wholesale dry good store, and owned by the widow
One occupied as a printing office, by the Morning Chronicle and by Mr. Wilkey, pilot, and owned by Michael Price.
One occupied by captain Storey, owned by widow Stocker.
One occupied by captain Curtis, and owned by the estate of Isaac Gouverneur.
For the following list of houses and stores which were consumed, including an estimate of their value, we are indebted to the politeness of a friend. It will be observed that this statement presents simply an estimate of the buildings, exclusive of the property they contained—Com. Adv.
FRONT STREET.
corner of Wall street, 2200
Brick and wood do, Joshua Jones, [opposite corner, 4500
Wood store, James Forbes, 1300
Brick do. Bailey and Bogart, 12000
Wood do. Wm. Ward, 1400
Do. do. Daniel Sullivan, 1800
Do. do. Joshua Jones, 1800
Brick store, owned by Joshua Jones, 5000
Wood do. occupied by V. Blake, 1800
Do. do. John Sullivan, 1800
dolls. 54300
WALL STREET.
Wood store occupied by I. A. Robertson, owned 1900
Do. do. Nath. Horton by Jn. 1800
Do. do. John Jones, Jones, 1800
Do. do. Steddiford and Marshalk, 1800
Small house, do John Place, 300
Brick and Wood do, 13200
WATER STREET
Old Coffee house (brick) occupied Total dolls. 107,200
| Brick homes occupied by George | Value. |
| Shonnard, | Dlls. 3009 |
| Do. do. I. B. Kurfheedt, | 3500 |
| Do. do. John Sullivan, | 4000 |
| Wood flore, C. M'Carty, | 1800 |
| Do. do. Hannah Rufiel, | 1600 |
| Do. do. Roach and Betts, | 1800 |
| Do. do. Alexander Ogilvie, | 1300 |
| Do. do. William Bradbury, | 1400 |
| Do. do. James Bryar, | 1800 |
| Do. do. John M'Cavifton, |
| houfe | do Byrne and Smith, | 1600 |
| Do. do. do Hugh Maddin, | 1600 | |
| Do. do. do David I. Daniels, | 1800 | |
| Do. do. owned by Widow Douglas, | 600 |
| Edward Bardin, | 7500 |
| Brick houfe owned by J. B. Patterfon, | 5000 |
| Do. do. Benjamin Bailey, | 6000 |
| Do. do. owned and occupied by Ifaac Gomer Jr. | 4500 |
| Do. occupied by Henry Wylie, | 4500 |
| Do. do. Morning Chronicle, | 4000 |
| Do. do. owned by Widow Stocker, | 4000 |
| Do. occupied by Charles Curtis, | 2200 |
| Do. owned by J. I. Tuckher, very little injured | — |
| Water street, | 39,700 |
| Wall street, | 13,200 |
| Front street, | 54,300 |
What sub-type of article is it?
Disaster
What themes does it cover?
Catastrophe
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
New York Fire
Front Street
Building Destruction
Property Loss
Conflagration
What entities or persons were involved?
Joshua Jones
Bailey And Bogert
John Sullivan
Where did it happen?
New York City, Front Street, Water Street, Wall Street
Story Details
Key Persons
Joshua Jones
Bailey And Bogert
John Sullivan
Location
New York City, Front Street, Water Street, Wall Street
Event Date
Yesterday Morning
Story Details
Fire originated at No. 104 Front Street around 3 AM, spread rapidly due to wind and cold delaying aid, destroying about 40 buildings including stores, offices, and Old Coffee House; limited water supply hindered firefighting; property loss immense, over a million dollars including goods.