Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1868-11-27
DESTRUCTIVE CONFEDERATION
IN THE SECOND WARD.

Our city was this morning visited by
one of the greatest CONGREGATIONS that
has come within our province to record.
At half-past five o'clock smoke was
discovered issuing from the carpenter
shop of the C,'ptral Railroad Ccmpanv's
Works, corner of Wall street The
alarm was given, but the hour being
one at which all creation is most sound
~ hushed in sleep, it was sometime be-
fore the fiIemen answered. The fire.
men experienced considerable difficulty
in getting into service-owing to the
want of hose and scarcity of water, the
flames by this time making great head
way.
The firemen opened q door on the
north side of the building, and discov-
cred the body of man lying on the
floor near by, which on being dragged
out proved to be Mr.. John Fox, an old
gentleman who had been employed
many years asa night watchman. When
found he was insensible, having been
fearfully burned, while luboring alone
to extinguish the flames. He was at
once placed in carriage, and tenderly
conveyed to his home on Lincoln ave-
nue., where DR.. J. S. Martin did every
thing in his power to relieve his suffer-
ings. We understand that no hopes
are entertained of his recovery. Mr..
Fox is a most estimable citizen, and a
faithful officer.
The fire ragged within the building,
especially in thecarpenter repair shops
owing to the solidity of the sheet iron
roof, but this having at last given away
the flames licked the clouds, presenting
a fearful spectacle, and endangering the
dwellings, on the north side of Wall
street, which were only saved through
the herculean efforts of our gallant fire.
men.
Several new passenger cars and con-
siderable amount of work which had
been recently repaired, totally destroy
ed.
Some go carpenters were employed
here, all of whom sustain the loss OF
their tools, which will be serious one
to them. 1t is calculated that each
carpenter lost over one hundred dollars
worth of tools, which cannot easily be
replaced.
The fremen labored for three hours,
immortalizing themselves by saving in
tact the other large works attached to
the blacksmith shop.
The buildings burned contained a
vast amount of valuable machinery,
which was entirely destroyed. The
planning and morticing machines, and
other improved machinery cannot be
recog nized, SO intense was the heat
The loss will likely reach $3.50, 900, on
which there is no insurance. The Rail-
road Company will be greatly discom
NODDED by this accident. 1t is said that
these works will now be removed to
Communipaw-thereby proving great
loss to the business interests of the
Port.
The origin of the fire is not positively
known, but the most probable cause is
that the old Waterman, Mr.. Fox, as
was his duty, had kindled fires in some
OF the stoves, by means of which the
buildings were heated, and that some
shayings scattered about the floors,
had ignited during his absence in
another part of the building. At all
events there is no doubt but that Mr..
Fox did all in his power to extinguish
the fire, as bucket half filled with
water was found in his hand when he
was discovered. The fires throughout
the buildings had been put out at the
time of quitting on Wednesday after
noon, and no fire was known to have
been kindled till this morning.
DeA. AS Mr.. Caleb Halsey. a we'll