Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Partial Destruction Of The New York Masonic Temple.
PARTIAL DESTRUCTION OF THE NEW YORK MASONIC TEMPLE .
FROM THE KEYSTONE . f ~ \ N Saturday morning , 1 st inat ., when the Freemasons of Philadel-^ - ' phia read the telegraphic announcement on the bulletin boards of the newspapers that the New York Masonic Temple was on fire , the deepest sympathy -was expressed for the loss of their brethren of the jurisdiction of New York , and the most earnest and anxious hope was voiced that the fire might be suppressed , and the
Temple as a whole saved . Most fortunately this hope was realised , and although the moneyed loss is large , the main portions of the Temple are only damaged , not destroyed . The corner-stone of the New York Masonic Temple was laid in 1870 , and the edifice was dedicated in 1875 . It cost , with tbe ground on which it stands
about a million and a half dollars . The total damnge is estimated at 140 , 000 dolls ., whioh is covered by insurance , so far as the building is concerned , although it is said the loss on furnitnre may not be fully covered . Bro . James A . Rich has sent us the following letter with regard to the fire , which , with the accompanying description , we lay before our readers :
NEW YORK , 1 st DEO . 1883 . EDITOR KEYSTONE , —DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I enclose you the best account which I find of the fire this morning , at our Masonic Temple , as I know you feel interested . The ruins are a sad sight . Tho whole of the Commandery Asylum , which was handsomely fitted up , and the adjoining closets for the uniforms of the Sir Knights ; also
the " Austin Room , " which was the handsomest room in the Temple , are destroyed . The entire building is water-soaked , and the damage by water will bo very great . Fortunately , Palestine Commandery has saved its banners and the greater part of the uniforms and equipments of its members , and the loss will be very mnch less for No . 18
than the other Commanderies meeting there . Our Conclave was to have been held on Monday evening " next , but we have engaged rooms over the Grand Opera House , where our members will meet . It will be a long while before we can again meet in the Temple . Yours fraternally , JAS . A . RICH .
Shortly after 8 o ' clock Saturday morning , 1 st Dec . 1883 , a dense volume of smoke was seen issuing from the dome of the Masonio Temple , oorner of sixth avenue and Twenty . third street . Policeman Philips , of the Broadway squad , was standing on the corner of Twenty-third street and Broadway at the time , and seeing the smoke , he ran down Twenty-third street for the purpose of sending
out an alarm , but found that a citizen had anticipated him . The first alarm brought three eDgine companies and a hook and ladder company to the scene . Immediatel y on the arrival of Chief Gicquel with Engine Company No . 18 , he sent out two other alarms , which speedily brought eight more companies . A number of firemen and policemen made their way to the top floor at once and found that the
fire was making its way through the halls surrounding the large room at the eastern end of the building , known as the Commandery Room . The firemen and policemen , beside assisting in stretching a pipe line across this room , also went to work to remove the valuable paintings and furniture which it contained . Captain Williams was also at work directing the police in their operations .
While this was going on the fire was gaining arid creeping along the roof . The smoke was so dense that tbe firemen had great difficult y in maintaining their positions . Suddenly there was a fearful noise , as of an explosion , and it was soon known that the glass in the dome had fallen in . With the falling in of the glass came a fierce gust of wind loaded with dust , smoke and cinders , that drove back firemen
and policemen . The cry arose that there must be some persons buried under the debris , for three or four loud shrieks were heard . Bravely the police and firemen re-entered the scene of the disaster to rescue the injured persons . In spite of the heat and suffocating smoke they succeeded in carrying out four men , the only ones that were badly injured . They were Patrick Tyrrell and Samuel Warren ,
of Engine Company No . 18 , and James McManus and Patrick Carr , of Hook and Ladder Company No . 3 . They were all injured about the head , shoulders and arms , besides being almost suffocated with smoke . They were removed to one of the Lodge Rooms on the northern side of the building , where every attention possible was paid to them . An ambulance was sent for , but the men preferred to be
taken to their homes , which was done as soon as they had recovered snfliciently from the effect of the smoke . Fireman McGinn , of Engine No . 1 , was struck by the pole of Engine No . 14 , at the corner of Twenty-third street and Sixth avenue , during tho progressjof the fire , and was severely injured . He was taken home . During all this timo tho firemen were stretching up lines
of hose through both the principal stairways on the Twentythird Street side and the rear stairway on the Sixth avenue side . The water tower was placed on Twenty-third Street , directly opposite the main entrance , and it poured a steady stream through one of the top windows , which had a wonderful effect upon the flame ? . Considering the time which the
fire was burning before an alarm was sent out or the engines arrived , it was soon got under control . The damago will be principally by water , with which the whole building , it might be said , was flooded . The Assistant Grand Secretary , Bro . William H . Corsn , estimates the damage to fnrnituro alone at about 40 , 000 dollars . The damage to the building will amount to 100 , 000 dollars , making tho total damage probably not less than 140 , 000 dollars . The furniture and
decorations in the Commandery Room were completely destroyed . They were valued at 20 , 000 dollars . The furniture in the Chapter Room was also greatly damaged by water principally . The firo itself was confined to the north-eastern part of tho building , on the top floor , but the water thrown on it soaked through the ceilings as far down as the large hall on the second floor . The news of the fire soemed to have spread through the city in a very short time , for
Partial Destruction Of The New York Masonic Temple.
within an hour after it broke out numbers of members of tho diffurnnt Lodges , Chapters , and Commanderies who occupy tho building were at hand , and were working industriously removing valuable paintings , precious documents , and other articles to places of safety . It seemed to be a matter of surprise to many of them that a fire could hnve gained such headway in the Temple , as they considered it
fireproof . Among the articles removed was a picture of tho Into Dr . Kane , whioh one of the members of Kane Lodge said could not be re . placed at any price . John W . Kelsey , tho janitor of tho building , said to a Telegram reporter : " I was in one of the stores on the ground floor when the firo broke out . It was first discovered by Mrs . Knight , who went np
to the Commandery banquet rooms , on the top floor , to clean up the place , it having been used last night by tho Mystic Shrine , who had a banquet there . On opening the door of the room sho smelled smoke , and immediately hurried to our apartments , which are on the same floor , and notified my wife that the building was on firo . The latter called mo up stairs , and I hurried to tho passage-way outside
of the banquet room , on the north-east corner of tho floor . Here I saw fire in a portion of the wall , and immediately threw several buckets of water on it , putting it out . I noticed , however , the fire was also eating its way along another wall , toward tho banquet room . I then sent a young man down into the street to send out an alarm . At the same time I called down to the man in chargo of the boiler-rooms to
fire up and to set the force-pumps at work . I then took the fire-hose , and as soon as I got tho water I directed a stream on the burning wall . When the firemen arrived I yielded my post to them . As to the origin of the fire , I think it was caused by a defective flue . I am certain that it was not caused by the fire in the kitchen , as that is in the north-west corner of the floor and one hundred and forty feet
from where the fire broke out . Fire Marshal Sheldon , who was at the scene of the fire , said : " From the hasty investigation that I have so far been able to make , I am certain that the fire was caused by a steam radiator , as it broke out in the wall immediately back of one of them . The building itself is only fireproof up to where the Mansard roof begins—that is ,
up to the top floor , on which the fire originated . That floor , as well as the dome , is only a shell , though it i 3 claimed that the walls are filled with fireproof brick . " Professor Van Cott , of the Fire Commissioners , said : " The fire was a very hard one to fight , though the men succeeded in keeping it at one end of the building . They met with great difficulty in getting
to the spot where the fire was . They were compelled to carry up their lines of hose over the winding stairs , which was very difficult work . After they had got them up they could barely work , owing to the blinding and suffocating smoke . On the outside of tho building , the same enormous difficulties had to be overcome . The only stream that could be thrown into the windows was from the new fire
tower , and that barely reached them . The firemen were compelled to run hose np through the St . Omer Hotel , on Sixth avenue , aud through No . 69 West Twenty-third street to the roof of those build , ings . From there they had to use ladders to get to the roof of tbe Temple . In this roof they had to cut boles , through which they fought the flames . All this trouble would have been obviated if the
owners of the building had complied with the department ' s saggestions in regard to having ladders on the outside of high buildings . If this had been done the firemen could have reached the fire easily , and there would have been very little loss . " The following is the official report of the fire : At 8 a . m . fire was discovered on the fifth floor of the Masonio Temple , in a hallway in
the rear of Palestine Commandery room , also Austin Lodge Room , causing damage to the building and Lodge Room properties of 60 , 000 dollars . Tho loss to individual members will amount to 5 , 000 dollars . There is 200 , 000 dollars insurance on the building in ten companies , the names of which are unknown . During the fire James McManus , of Hook and Ladder Co ., No . 3 , and . Samuel
Warren and Patrick Lynch , of Engine Company , No . 18 , were slightly injured by falling plaster . The parlour of the Grand Master , the office of the Grand Secretary , and the fireproof archive rooms , which were damaged by to-day ' s fire , were handsomely furnished aud decorated . The adornment of the Grand Master ' s Room was particularly choice . Heavy lambrequins
depended from its windows . The bases of the walls were sheathed with black walnut in panels and their upper parts were painted a handsome dark shade of blue . The ceiling of the room was beautifully frescoed . On the eastern side of the corridor is the Grand Lodge Room , where the water from the fire tower played sad havoc . Over the central entrance to this apartment , imbedded in the wall ,
is a piece of an ashlar , or pedestal , said to have beeu a part of the substructure of the Temple of Solomon . In a panel surmounting this relic is tho coat-of-arms of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York . In a similar panel opposite is the coat-of-arms of the State of New York . Tho room is 92 by 85 feet and 28 feet high . It has seats for 1000 persons . Its architecture is of the Romanic-Ionic
order , festoons being a prominent feature . A double row of columns adds largely to the beauty of the room . They support the enormous weight of the upper stories . In the eastern side of the room is a recess containing the Grand Master ' s throne . At the right of the throne are entrances to commitlee rooms , and on tha left is the organ chamber . The ceiling and walls of tho room were painted a lacklustre
white and decorated in polychrome . At the northern end of the main corridor , beyond a light gate of bronze , is the main staircase . At the first half-ascent of the stairs is a nicho whero the marble statue of "Silence " is placed . In the mezzanine floor , over the Grand Master ' s Room , is the library of tho Grand Lodge . The valuable books on Masonry- and tho paintings on its walls were seriously damaged by
water . The entire fifth floor was devoted to tho use of the Commandcries of Kni ghts Templar and the A . A . Rite . It was considered the moat completely avrauged set of rooms in the world . A tiled corridor in white and black mosaic , six feet wide and eighteen feet long , loads directly from tho main stairway to an octagonal room twenty feet in diameter and vaulted in a tent-like manner . The sides of this
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Partial Destruction Of The New York Masonic Temple.
PARTIAL DESTRUCTION OF THE NEW YORK MASONIC TEMPLE .
FROM THE KEYSTONE . f ~ \ N Saturday morning , 1 st inat ., when the Freemasons of Philadel-^ - ' phia read the telegraphic announcement on the bulletin boards of the newspapers that the New York Masonic Temple was on fire , the deepest sympathy -was expressed for the loss of their brethren of the jurisdiction of New York , and the most earnest and anxious hope was voiced that the fire might be suppressed , and the
Temple as a whole saved . Most fortunately this hope was realised , and although the moneyed loss is large , the main portions of the Temple are only damaged , not destroyed . The corner-stone of the New York Masonic Temple was laid in 1870 , and the edifice was dedicated in 1875 . It cost , with tbe ground on which it stands
about a million and a half dollars . The total damnge is estimated at 140 , 000 dolls ., whioh is covered by insurance , so far as the building is concerned , although it is said the loss on furnitnre may not be fully covered . Bro . James A . Rich has sent us the following letter with regard to the fire , which , with the accompanying description , we lay before our readers :
NEW YORK , 1 st DEO . 1883 . EDITOR KEYSTONE , —DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I enclose you the best account which I find of the fire this morning , at our Masonic Temple , as I know you feel interested . The ruins are a sad sight . Tho whole of the Commandery Asylum , which was handsomely fitted up , and the adjoining closets for the uniforms of the Sir Knights ; also
the " Austin Room , " which was the handsomest room in the Temple , are destroyed . The entire building is water-soaked , and the damage by water will bo very great . Fortunately , Palestine Commandery has saved its banners and the greater part of the uniforms and equipments of its members , and the loss will be very mnch less for No . 18
than the other Commanderies meeting there . Our Conclave was to have been held on Monday evening " next , but we have engaged rooms over the Grand Opera House , where our members will meet . It will be a long while before we can again meet in the Temple . Yours fraternally , JAS . A . RICH .
Shortly after 8 o ' clock Saturday morning , 1 st Dec . 1883 , a dense volume of smoke was seen issuing from the dome of the Masonio Temple , oorner of sixth avenue and Twenty . third street . Policeman Philips , of the Broadway squad , was standing on the corner of Twenty-third street and Broadway at the time , and seeing the smoke , he ran down Twenty-third street for the purpose of sending
out an alarm , but found that a citizen had anticipated him . The first alarm brought three eDgine companies and a hook and ladder company to the scene . Immediatel y on the arrival of Chief Gicquel with Engine Company No . 18 , he sent out two other alarms , which speedily brought eight more companies . A number of firemen and policemen made their way to the top floor at once and found that the
fire was making its way through the halls surrounding the large room at the eastern end of the building , known as the Commandery Room . The firemen and policemen , beside assisting in stretching a pipe line across this room , also went to work to remove the valuable paintings and furniture which it contained . Captain Williams was also at work directing the police in their operations .
While this was going on the fire was gaining arid creeping along the roof . The smoke was so dense that tbe firemen had great difficult y in maintaining their positions . Suddenly there was a fearful noise , as of an explosion , and it was soon known that the glass in the dome had fallen in . With the falling in of the glass came a fierce gust of wind loaded with dust , smoke and cinders , that drove back firemen
and policemen . The cry arose that there must be some persons buried under the debris , for three or four loud shrieks were heard . Bravely the police and firemen re-entered the scene of the disaster to rescue the injured persons . In spite of the heat and suffocating smoke they succeeded in carrying out four men , the only ones that were badly injured . They were Patrick Tyrrell and Samuel Warren ,
of Engine Company No . 18 , and James McManus and Patrick Carr , of Hook and Ladder Company No . 3 . They were all injured about the head , shoulders and arms , besides being almost suffocated with smoke . They were removed to one of the Lodge Rooms on the northern side of the building , where every attention possible was paid to them . An ambulance was sent for , but the men preferred to be
taken to their homes , which was done as soon as they had recovered snfliciently from the effect of the smoke . Fireman McGinn , of Engine No . 1 , was struck by the pole of Engine No . 14 , at the corner of Twenty-third street and Sixth avenue , during tho progressjof the fire , and was severely injured . He was taken home . During all this timo tho firemen were stretching up lines
of hose through both the principal stairways on the Twentythird Street side and the rear stairway on the Sixth avenue side . The water tower was placed on Twenty-third Street , directly opposite the main entrance , and it poured a steady stream through one of the top windows , which had a wonderful effect upon the flame ? . Considering the time which the
fire was burning before an alarm was sent out or the engines arrived , it was soon got under control . The damago will be principally by water , with which the whole building , it might be said , was flooded . The Assistant Grand Secretary , Bro . William H . Corsn , estimates the damage to fnrnituro alone at about 40 , 000 dollars . The damage to the building will amount to 100 , 000 dollars , making tho total damage probably not less than 140 , 000 dollars . The furniture and
decorations in the Commandery Room were completely destroyed . They were valued at 20 , 000 dollars . The furniture in the Chapter Room was also greatly damaged by water principally . The firo itself was confined to the north-eastern part of tho building , on the top floor , but the water thrown on it soaked through the ceilings as far down as the large hall on the second floor . The news of the fire soemed to have spread through the city in a very short time , for
Partial Destruction Of The New York Masonic Temple.
within an hour after it broke out numbers of members of tho diffurnnt Lodges , Chapters , and Commanderies who occupy tho building were at hand , and were working industriously removing valuable paintings , precious documents , and other articles to places of safety . It seemed to be a matter of surprise to many of them that a fire could hnve gained such headway in the Temple , as they considered it
fireproof . Among the articles removed was a picture of tho Into Dr . Kane , whioh one of the members of Kane Lodge said could not be re . placed at any price . John W . Kelsey , tho janitor of tho building , said to a Telegram reporter : " I was in one of the stores on the ground floor when the firo broke out . It was first discovered by Mrs . Knight , who went np
to the Commandery banquet rooms , on the top floor , to clean up the place , it having been used last night by tho Mystic Shrine , who had a banquet there . On opening the door of the room sho smelled smoke , and immediately hurried to our apartments , which are on the same floor , and notified my wife that the building was on firo . The latter called mo up stairs , and I hurried to tho passage-way outside
of the banquet room , on the north-east corner of tho floor . Here I saw fire in a portion of the wall , and immediately threw several buckets of water on it , putting it out . I noticed , however , the fire was also eating its way along another wall , toward tho banquet room . I then sent a young man down into the street to send out an alarm . At the same time I called down to the man in chargo of the boiler-rooms to
fire up and to set the force-pumps at work . I then took the fire-hose , and as soon as I got tho water I directed a stream on the burning wall . When the firemen arrived I yielded my post to them . As to the origin of the fire , I think it was caused by a defective flue . I am certain that it was not caused by the fire in the kitchen , as that is in the north-west corner of the floor and one hundred and forty feet
from where the fire broke out . Fire Marshal Sheldon , who was at the scene of the fire , said : " From the hasty investigation that I have so far been able to make , I am certain that the fire was caused by a steam radiator , as it broke out in the wall immediately back of one of them . The building itself is only fireproof up to where the Mansard roof begins—that is ,
up to the top floor , on which the fire originated . That floor , as well as the dome , is only a shell , though it i 3 claimed that the walls are filled with fireproof brick . " Professor Van Cott , of the Fire Commissioners , said : " The fire was a very hard one to fight , though the men succeeded in keeping it at one end of the building . They met with great difficulty in getting
to the spot where the fire was . They were compelled to carry up their lines of hose over the winding stairs , which was very difficult work . After they had got them up they could barely work , owing to the blinding and suffocating smoke . On the outside of tho building , the same enormous difficulties had to be overcome . The only stream that could be thrown into the windows was from the new fire
tower , and that barely reached them . The firemen were compelled to run hose np through the St . Omer Hotel , on Sixth avenue , aud through No . 69 West Twenty-third street to the roof of those build , ings . From there they had to use ladders to get to the roof of tbe Temple . In this roof they had to cut boles , through which they fought the flames . All this trouble would have been obviated if the
owners of the building had complied with the department ' s saggestions in regard to having ladders on the outside of high buildings . If this had been done the firemen could have reached the fire easily , and there would have been very little loss . " The following is the official report of the fire : At 8 a . m . fire was discovered on the fifth floor of the Masonio Temple , in a hallway in
the rear of Palestine Commandery room , also Austin Lodge Room , causing damage to the building and Lodge Room properties of 60 , 000 dollars . Tho loss to individual members will amount to 5 , 000 dollars . There is 200 , 000 dollars insurance on the building in ten companies , the names of which are unknown . During the fire James McManus , of Hook and Ladder Co ., No . 3 , and . Samuel
Warren and Patrick Lynch , of Engine Company , No . 18 , were slightly injured by falling plaster . The parlour of the Grand Master , the office of the Grand Secretary , and the fireproof archive rooms , which were damaged by to-day ' s fire , were handsomely furnished aud decorated . The adornment of the Grand Master ' s Room was particularly choice . Heavy lambrequins
depended from its windows . The bases of the walls were sheathed with black walnut in panels and their upper parts were painted a handsome dark shade of blue . The ceiling of the room was beautifully frescoed . On the eastern side of the corridor is the Grand Lodge Room , where the water from the fire tower played sad havoc . Over the central entrance to this apartment , imbedded in the wall ,
is a piece of an ashlar , or pedestal , said to have beeu a part of the substructure of the Temple of Solomon . In a panel surmounting this relic is tho coat-of-arms of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York . In a similar panel opposite is the coat-of-arms of the State of New York . Tho room is 92 by 85 feet and 28 feet high . It has seats for 1000 persons . Its architecture is of the Romanic-Ionic
order , festoons being a prominent feature . A double row of columns adds largely to the beauty of the room . They support the enormous weight of the upper stories . In the eastern side of the room is a recess containing the Grand Master ' s throne . At the right of the throne are entrances to commitlee rooms , and on tha left is the organ chamber . The ceiling and walls of tho room were painted a lacklustre
white and decorated in polychrome . At the northern end of the main corridor , beyond a light gate of bronze , is the main staircase . At the first half-ascent of the stairs is a nicho whero the marble statue of "Silence " is placed . In the mezzanine floor , over the Grand Master ' s Room , is the library of tho Grand Lodge . The valuable books on Masonry- and tho paintings on its walls were seriously damaged by
water . The entire fifth floor was devoted to tho use of the Commandcries of Kni ghts Templar and the A . A . Rite . It was considered the moat completely avrauged set of rooms in the world . A tiled corridor in white and black mosaic , six feet wide and eighteen feet long , loads directly from tho main stairway to an octagonal room twenty feet in diameter and vaulted in a tent-like manner . The sides of this