ls planned arson. Midnight Ignition and Multiple Points of Fire Suggest Design in the Great New York Fire Professor Benjamin L. Carp, Professor of History at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center | The Great New York Fire of 1776: A Lost Story of
Oct 05, 04:31 AM
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ls planned arson.
- Midnight Ignition and Multiple Points of Fire Suggest Design in the Great New York Fire Professor Benjamin L. Carp, Professor of History at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center | The Great New York Fire of 1776: A Lost Story of the American Revolution
The fire started between midnight and 1:00 a.m. on September 21, 1776, near Whitehall Slip. One version suggests an accidental fire started by "careless drunkards" in a tavern. However, British observers on warships reported multiple, relatively simultaneous points of ignition (up to 20 points), strongly suggesting rebel saboteurs. Civilian governance had deteriorated; the fire chief feared rebel arson. Firefighting efforts were hindered because the city's bells had been removed for cannons, and equipment was in disarray.