New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-05
DISASTROUS FEE IN PATERSON.

TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE WATSON MANUFAc-
TURING CoMPANY's IRON BRIDGE AND MA
CHINE WORKSHOPS, S35O,O0O.
About a quarter of an hour after midnight,
vesterday the watchmau Of Watson & Co.'s extensive
machine shop IN Raroadaye., opposite the Erie Rail
way freight house at Paterson " j. discovered flames
in the drawngroom located in the second story front
of the new central building. In this room all tho de-
signs of bridges castings, machinery, &C.. we're made,
and many we're stored. Tho was locked at p m'
every day. and never had any fire made in it, From thus
pon the flames spread rapidly the whole OF the
central edioe and thence to the oundery ana aIter
ward TO the shop the southern end OF the establish
mont Tho Waterman Immediately attached nose 70
one OF the MIGRANTS in the building and ran up to the
room in which tho fire burning but the pressure was
So light that the flow Of water insufficient, and II
was lnposs BILE TO check the flames in the slightest de-
gree The steam engines arrived shortly aterward, but
when attempting work it found that some OF the
mains were leaking so badly that no water
could be procured. and on others the pressure
was barely sufficient to throw stream
moro than 20 feet On account OF this disastrous insult
hcency the water supply only three good streams
were brought to bear upon the fire. when there ought
TO have been at least Dozen In which case the flames
would in all probability have been checked before the
damage was very considerable The low pressure OF tho
water was attributed the fact that the supply from
the upper reservoir had shut of Thursday night
and only the lower reservoir left to supply all the
waermans throughout the city. This state Of affairs
continued until the fire had been burning more than an
hour and had made fearful Roadway, when the upper
reservoir was opened and there very perccptbie
increase in the quantity OF water thrown upon the burn
ing mass II ia ALLEGED, also. that tho water-mains,
which are only inches In diameter are utterly in-
adouate supply all the engines In an emergency ana
that II there had been fun pressure Of water from tae
beginning the fire could have been extnguished by tho
night Waterman. -
shortly before p. the flames reached the immense
boiler in the shop one OF tue hrenen however,
had taken the prpcauon 10 rcuOye the safetyVaye end
the steam was blown off wiClIOut an explosion. Five
minutes afterward the front OF the new shop fell INTO
Rairoadave From this time different portions OF the
wall cayed ~ one after another unu about 2:3O a. m,
& then had snfIenf control Of The flames 10 prevent
injury 10 adjoining buildings. Tue Elo relghthouse'
Ioman's Ho.cl and Aid. Charles ID. Beckwiths resi-
dence were nll slightly damaged BY heat and
caught IRE several times, out were saved by the bucket
brigade" Tho old axe-hande shop was torn down IN
order 10 prevent the spread Of the flames The black
smith shop IN the rear Was saved iAe uaehlne sh9p,
high and about $50 feei in length by 40 feet In depth
The two lower stories were occupied by the wat
son Company for the manufacture or steam engines,
turbine wheels, milwrghtng castings, aud machinery
Here the castings were made Tor the construction
OF the bridges which the Watson Brothers have
been building extensively during the past two three
years. In TO accommodate this branch OF their
business they had made extensive additions to their shops
during past two years In addition 10 the main
central building there was wing at the southern end
foundery was located. several frame buildings were
also situated on the premises blacksmith shop In the
rear extending 1875 feet toward Dale-ave., and fire
proof three-story building in Daleave, used for che
storage of patterns which mad been accommodating Tor
nearly 40 years and which, with the building, were
valued AT 100000, were saved The office furniture,
books, papers, safes &C., in the lover part OF the build
ing were also saved
The loss sustained by the Watson Manufacturing Com
pany bndings, stock TOOLS &C.. Is estimated by the
firm $3.50 coo; insured follows: International $500
Shoe aud Leather, 81 800 National 5000; Liverpool and
London s1l 200 Phenix, S. 500 Imperial s50oG Hum
hOdt. S5OOg Wiamsburgh city $500; Lenox, 5000;
Citizens, 5000 4Etna Hartford 100000 Hartford,
$3.50 North British, tl25O0 Metropolitan $1,000 total,
s3lg50 The Company employed about 900 men, $50 OF
whom engaged in the shops and the remaining LOO
work erecting bridges throughout the country
The third story Of the main building was occupied by
Watson x Son, silk manufacturers. Their stock and
machinery all destroyed and the loss Is estimator
100000 insured as follows Liverpool and London $780,
Phenlx s. 500 Imperial, $3.50; Springfield Fremens
Mutual $4,000; Commercial, $500; Greenwich, 5000
Clinton SsOOs total $751; 600 In this department about
100 hands chiefly women. were employed. on account
OF the destruction OF the machinery they Will not DC
able 10 resume business for some time 70 come. Tx
Mayor Watson, President OF the manufacturing CON-
pany rented yesterday, the old Erie repairshop near
the Marketst crossing OF the Erie Railway, and VIII oc
cupy the place temporarily gang OF men are already
moving the debris caused by the ure ana tne
sbops vii De Immediately rebuilt