The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-10-18
JChnstown Rolling Mill Burned Down.
TIN ACREs OF RUINS.


rTrorn our Special Correspondent
On last Saturday night, or rather Sunday
( morning, between twelve and one o'clock
the great Rolling Mill in this place was dis
covered TO be on fire. The whistle was i'm
mcdiately blown and thousands repaired tc
the pot, but only to witness the entire Roll
ing Mil IL flames. 1t is not known how the
fire originated, but as the men had stopped
work on Saturday about noon, it seems i'm
possible for the fire TO have been accidental
There is a wat, hman in the mill, but when
the fire was discovered ii is said he was not
about. The roof'waS as dry as tiuder in the
under side, and the flames spread rapidly
The entire roof of the following buildings was
destroyed in few minutes
1st. Old mill, six hundred feet by one hun
dred cross arm, three hundred aud fifty 10y
nty-GVe feet.
2d. The second mill, three hundred feet
long and one hundred wide.
81. The new building, three hundred feet
long and seventy-tve wide cross arm, two
hundred feet long and fifty feet wide.
y large portion OF the walls are ruined and
the steam pipes and water pipes have been
broken hyIthe falling timbers The engines,
boilers, pudding and heating furnaces, il is
thought, are not injured. Neither are the
rolls. But it will take from two weeks to a
month TO prepare the mill for rolling rails.
More than two thousand hands were at
work on Monday morning clearing away the
debris and taking apart the machinery for
examination. The mass of slate that fills
the mill is immense. There near ten
acres of rubbish to clear away The steel
mill is safe, but steel rails cannot be made
for want of rolls and steam The steel rails
were rolled III the iron rolling mill
tits fifteen years since this mill was burned
down before, both times on Saturday night.
The next roof VIII most probably be ali iron
and slate, which will render 1t fire proof.
The wild cat water saved what was pre-
served from destruction. The engines and
hose were on the ground and the tiremeu
worked hard till ten o'clock next day 10 keep
the fire subdued. The loss in time, maChin-
cry and buildings will be half Il Million
This is partly insured. The great loss Will
be in time, as it viii be a month before the
mill can be put in running order. The oper-
atiVcS, however, will not lose much time.
A II will find employment. ID. j. Morrel is
4 whole-souled man, and has a heart tull of
sympathy for the poor, and he Will give en-
ploymeut to all who will accept work
This great loss has cast temporary gloom
over the entire place, hUt our people need
not be discouraged. The mill, after the
other fire, fifteen years ago, was put in run
ming order in one month What has been
done can be done.
The spectacle of this fire in the darkness
and gloom of night was simply indescriLa-
he. \ sea on fire could not be more sub
lime. There were acres of flame for an hour
two, and acres OF men and women present
to witness the destruction that could not be
stayed.
We hope this is the last fire IN the rolling
mill and that the cause OF this calamity may
be ferreted out, and il any one is guilty, may
he burn in hotter flames thaI, were made by
the consuming mill. This is indeed a great
loss, hut the Cambria Iron and Steel COmpa-
ny viii rise ont OF these ashes brighter than
ever. Long live the Cambria Iron and Steel
Company :. B. NJ.
n b. Several persons were injured by
the falling of the roof and walls, and il is
thought that some are seriously wounded or
crushed. $ Is. VI.