On the sweltering night of June 5, 1858, a blaze broke out in the basement of a Manhattan building, sending shockwaves through the city. The inferno, which engulfed a basement at 86th Man of the Range, a storage facility owned by Messrs. Cornwell & Budd, was swiftly extinguished, but not before leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Miraculously, the damage was minimal, with only a trifling amount of damage reported.
However, a more damaging fire erupted the following morning at 8 o’clock in the frame building at No. 147 Christie Street. The blaze, which ravaged the structure owned by Mr. Van Wart, left a trail of devastation in its path. The first floor, which housed a milk store, suffered only slight damage, but the furniture and contents of the building were severely affected. The estimated damage was a staggering $300, with the owners forced to file a claim with the Astor Insurance Company.
As the city struggled to come to terms with the devastating fires, the usually tranquil waters of the Hudson River were a hive of activity. The USS Mississippi, which was docked at the Gosport Navy Yard and preparing for its journey to the Gulf of Mexico, was undergoing a major overhaul. The warship was being fitted out with four eight-inch guns, a significant upgrade to its existing armament. Meanwhile, Lieutenant A.M. DeBree, a seasoned naval officer, had been detached from the USS Pennsylvania and ordered to the Hudson River mouth.
The sweltering summer heat that had been building over the weekend finally broke on Sunday, June 6, 1858, with a refreshing breeze that brought much-needed relief to the city’s residents. However, the respite was short-lived, as a light sprinkle of rain fell in the evening, leaving the city’s residents wondering if the summer of 1858 would be one of heat and drought or relief and renewal.
In the midst of the chaos and destruction, the people of New York City remained steadfast, their spirits unwavering in the face of adversity. As the city continued to rebuild and recover, one thing was certain – the summer of 1858 would be one to remember.
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Key Facts
- State: National
- Category: Violent Crime
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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