The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-04
AFTER THE FIRE AND FLOOD.
The Brooklyn Bridge Caisson
Yesterday.
Tho Amount OF Damage Done-0rigin Of the
Firs-TnvestiGat;on by the FIRE Marshal.

In the absence OF any positive Information In re-
gard 10 the amount OF damage to the casson
for the East river bridge by the hre which
occurred in IL on Friday morning, considerable
guessing was done. Had the nre been
In building where the buraed portion was visible
the positive loss could easily have been estimated.
bus rs 1t was ut the bottom OF the East river, II IL
NOT surprising that the figures were not strictly cor
rect II is even impossible. at the present time, for
those In charge OF the work to say what is the
EXACT AMOUNT OF THE Loss.
fine caisson is still aed with water 10 the top anc
VIII remain so until tomorrow.
Fno Marshal Ready proceeded to the once OF the
company yesterday for the purpose OF making an
OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION
as 10 the origin and extent OF the fire. anu took the
following testimony
TESTIMONY OF c. G. MARTIN.
am assistant engineer on the last River Bridge
works; fire TOOK place in the calsson on December
J. AT about nine A. NJ the general foreman In charge
OF the WORKS at the time was N. O. W. Young Twas
told yesterday morning. on arriving at the WORKS,
that the flames had not been eAtinguished; we inca
introduced steam into the caisson, ana alrecieu ~
into the cavity where Inc fire was burning; aiter
continuing this for fifteen or twenty ininutes we
found that the ire was not extingnshed; we asceI,
taued by boring holes ia the TIMBER we noieu
three feet ana found fnat the fire WAS stu burning
al this point; could not tell the extent OF the
iire then.
was that lt was burning in the tmocrs al tue
top or roof OF the eaisson; the tllnoefs are
OF yellow pine placed close together. ana
called with oakum; all the parts are IN
tended to 10 closed, but there we're some snaii
creylces nor exactly watertight; the re was caused
by men holding the candles too aear the timber;
there Is no indication OF the fire inside the caisson
proper and there was no smoke or blaze there at
any time; we could see it in the timber above the
probability IS that the damage 10 the structure Is not
extensive; went down personally and saw me
holes bored, ana that Is the view TOOK OF the mat
ter; there about eighty men in the caisson be-
fore the nre; the men use calcium lights gas and
IMPOSSIBLE TO USE LANTERNS
because of the smoke from The flames, wnlch is
rendered excessive by the compressed arr ala NOT
inquire at the time what In the opinion OF the work
men caused the nre the caisson has been on hre
seven different tines the caisson on the New YORK
side VIII be lined with boiler ron, so that II VIII DE
proof against fire; the caisson VIII not DC injured by
niling 1t with water, and do not know ofany
TO any part OF the works; ali That the nre has done
IL to burn little spaces between the beams,
which wal net to any extent effect the strength;
had not the fire been eXtnguised at the time IL was
there be but little doubt That the entire struc-
ture would shortly have been destroyed; the mere
have prevented 1t from being consumei; the supply
OF compressed air wsuiS have made that certain;
we snali commence TO pump the water out on Mon
TESTIMONY OF F. COLLINGwooD.
am one OF the assistant engineers on the East
river bridge works; fire was discovered IN the
caisson at nine O'Clock on Thursday night; at SIX
O'Clock in the evening was all through the place
and left It at that llme, but saw no lndicatlon
OF fire; was round the whole casson; when left
there were eighty men at work in tho caisson; they
remained there until twelve O'Clock al night and
then another gang came down and relieved them;
there is gang comes DOM at ten O'Clock at night;
Mr.. Young TOOK charge OF the men when lett and
he was relieved by Mr.. rinS at twelve go O'Clock;
learned from the foreman that there was candle
box IN which the men kept their dinner and which
was Lear the place
WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED
and the probability Is that some OF the workmen In
going there or their dinners held the candle light
Ton q n 10
was slight leak AT tnat point, and man might
set ire 10 the oaKum without being aware OF II; ]
had been set on fire they would tell
1t for the general safety OF the work;
the men VINO are In That chamber at the time are
all very reliable men; the timbers Of The roof
Of the caisson were wet; drops OF wafer con-
stantly on these timbers, except over the light;
the air below. is always moist; IL IS the oaKum
and tar thai burn; did not see what Roadway
the IRE had made, as ! did not go down
more useful at the top OF the works; nom all the
facts that have learned about the matter think
that $500 WIN cover the actual damage to the works.
this Is exclusive Of the loss OF time. about days
Witness testified that it was impossible for them TO
use covered lights. such as lanterns, on account OF
The compressed air.
TESTIMONY OF MIR. M'NULTy.
am attached to the engineer corps OF the East
at ten O'Clock A. NJ. yesterday; we bored
hole about seven feet from where The
ire was first discovered the night before;
and / saw light blaze, and ! think
was oceasIoned by the air rushing into the
hole the fire in the fourth course OF the timber:
we did not bore any more after tnat but we bored
several holes beore don't think there Is any seri
Gus damage done to the caisson
Il. +. Harrington, the master carpenter testified
fact Of having bored the holes IN order TO dis
cover the fire; he thought the space burned was
about SIX or seven feet III length ana about twelve
or fifteen feet IN width; did not think the damage
woull exceed S40O or $500.
Senator Henry G. Murphy, the President OF the
East River Bridge Company is Of the opinion that
tie fire has done no particular damage and that the
only loss viii be the loss oil time