The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-03-25
Destructive Fire In Putssurg.

On thursday morning, nj ABOUT nan past
three O'Clock, il was discovered that the
Fort Pitt Iron Works, at the corner Of Etna
and Oliara streets; one Of the oldest rstub.
lished fcundries in the city, owned by
Messrs. Knapp, Wade & Co., was on fire.
The engines arrived on the ground as soon
as possible, but all their exer,iuns could
net save the works, aud their efforts were
directed to the protection Of the adjoining
buildings, which were with greot difficulty
saved. The whole Of the works, with the
exception Of the office, which was constrnc.
ted fire. proof, was destroyed. The engine
shop was the portion fir.t discovered to be
on fire, brick building about hundred
and fifty feet in length by forty feet in
width. larse quantity Of patterns stored
in the upper part of this building were all
destroyed. This building contained large
engine and ether machinery. The fire then
extended to the boiler shcp, a tive. STORY iron
building, nearly three hundred feet long, on
the bank of the Allegheny. In this build
ing were also stored quantity Of patti, rms
which only served to aid the fumes. The
fire then commu icated 10 the foundry
building, which was one Hundred and fifty
feet in length, and one hundred in width
containing three large air furnaces; the on
| ly part Of this pile now remaining are the
immense stacks, which are rot injured -
The cannon boring shop, two story brick
building, was next consumed, with all is
valuable machinery, the cannon, Of course
being saved. Here the fire was met by the
other wing, which, extending in the other
direction had, after burning the second sto
ry of the Office, communicated to row OF
smithshoes on Etna street, which were to.
tally consumed. 49,
The loss OF property is very great; in.
deed, it is almost impossible to form cor.
rect estimate of >be amount. However
we believe The following to be nearly cur.
rect: Boiler and smiiNshop. $50 600; pat
terms and machinery, $4,000; engine ant
furnishing shop, $l5 700; foundry and cast
ings, $4,000; cannon bbriug mill, $40 600
Total loss, $l25,00O. The buildings occu
pied an entire square, aboGt three hundred
and twenty-five leet in length by one hun.
dred and fifty feet in width, tho eOgine shop,
in which the FIRE originated, was four sto-
ry brick building. To cover this loss ol
1925 900, the firm is insured as !ollows:-
In the Western, and Citizens of Hittsburg,
the Frunkln OF Philade phia, the De laware
Mutual, and the Home OF New York, &c..
900 cash, and in the Reliance So 600. 10.
ia amount Of insurance, S37,5O
The Wate: Works, separated from the
engine shop by O'Haru street, were in imi.
nent d.nger for long time. and q, one
time it seemed almost impossible TO save
them. The window frames were a good
deal charred. We understand it was the
Intention Of the ficers OF the works to
huve made the building fire.proof by putting
in iron window frames. These we're on
the ground, but had never been put in.
The Flushing shop Of Messrs. "A. Brad
ley d Co., on Etna street, was also in great
danger end took fire several times; but the
hremen, seeing they could not cxtinguish
the fire in the works, turned their attention
to the surrounding buildings. and they were
saved. Some other buildings were also on
lire several times, but were extiDsuished
without material injury.
The foundry Of Messrs. Tag & Pante
is separated from the Fort Pitt Works by o
narrow street. Mr.. Painter, one OF the
proprietors, wus present, and offered the
Fairmount FIRE company $1,000 if they
would save the property. They according
ly took their station inside the building, and
on every appearance Of fire on the inside,
directed their stream to that particular point
and by this means, with the exertions oI
! the Niagara OH the outside, the building was
saved.
Mt serious accidents occurred, except the
injury OF one fireman by the falling o
something on his head.
The night was extremely windy, and tht
noble firemen cannot receive too mucf
credit for their exertions. Yet, however
much we may appreciate their efforts, w
cannot but believe that change in the irt
arrangements in our city would be bench
ciai. 1t is more than probable that had W,
been provided with four or five steam en-
gines, with properly organized and paid fire
men, and watch tower and alarm bell, Ih,
fire in this case would never have EXTENDED
beyond the engine shoP--and thus suG
cienI amount Of property would have beeI
saved to purchase these engines and keel
them in operation for year. The win
wAs so high yesterday morning that The fee
Bile streams Of our hand engines had bu
little effect, great portion OF the water be
ing blown intoispray and scsttered about
Tbe heavy stream Of q. steam apparatus il
irresistible, peaeE infected BY the wind, ana
pouring powerful deldge Of water into I
burning building, We think the establish
.meHtv(sac " system is necessary for The
protection OF the properly of our cilizens.--
rt.may be expensive at first. but III the ent
itgwiff prove good Investment. g !
0TThe New York Senate has adopted