The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1873-06-28

BURNING OF MOUNT VERNON CoTToN MILL No.
About 5 o'clock on Friday morning of last
week, Cotton Mill No. l, of the Mount Vernon
Cotton Company, situated on the Falls road,
about II miles from the city limits and near
Wood berry, was discovered to be on fire and in
a few minutes afterwards the whole building
was in flames. How the fire originated is a
mystery. The custom at the mill was for the
night Waterman, Mr.. Connolly, to pass through
every room in the building, and be on the alert
at all times. At the end of every half hour he
was required to operate an indicator which reg
stered the time in the main Office, and which
was inspected each morning by the superin-
tendent. When first discovered the fire, ac-
cOrding to the watchman's statement, was in
the vicinity of the wheel pit, and in close proX-
mity to a box which enclosed the betting used
in driving the mill machinery. This box ran
up from the first to the fifth story, having OPEN
ings in each room. Into this box the flames
found their way, generating a fierce draft, which
soon involved the whole building. Each floor
was supplied with four-inch water pipe and
sufficient hose to command every portion of the
factory, the water being obtained from the city
MAINS which pass near the mills OF the Mount
Vernon Company. These water pipes are al
ways ready for service, it only being requisite
to turn key in order to obtain full supply.
Independent of this safeguard steam pipes were
placed in every room of the mill, and in few
moments the rooms could be filled with steam.
With these precautions it was supposed that
fire of any great magnitude could not take
place, but the sequel has proved that the appli-
anees were of no avail whatever.
The Waterman was so bewildered on dscov-
ering the building on fire, that he could do
nothing to check its Roadway. Mr.. Smith, en-
gagged at Mill No. 2, also belonging to the Mt.
Vernon Company, and situated about one hun
bred yards north of the destroyed building, up
on being informed that Mill No. was on fire,
ran to the place and discovered dense volume
of smoke issuing from the third story. He sue
ceeded in reaching the fourth story and turned
on the water. This done, he then, to avoid the
thick smoke, crawled on his hands and knees
into the third story and turned on the water in
thatroom also. This done, he ran to the engine
room, separate from the main building No. l,
in which there are four immense boilers, and
finding steam up gave orders to the engineer to
turn steam into all the rooms. This order was
complied with, but despite the steam and water
the fire still gained Roadway, and by six o'clk,
when the operatives wentto go to work, the two
gable walls of the building and pile of twist
ed and broken machinery were all that marked
the spot of the once busy mill. The flames
communicated with the engine-house, and 1T
also was destroyed; the boilers, however, were
not much injured.
On the north side, adjoining the destroyed
building, there is in course of erection, by the
Mount Vernon Company, another structure, to
be known as Mill No. 3. The building, when
completed, viii be about two hundred feet IN
length and seventy-fve feet in width. At the
present time it has reached to the second story,
the heavy girders and joists having been placed
in position last week. greater portion of
girders, with about two thousand feet of joist
and thirty large window frames were destroy
ed, or so badly burned as to require their re-
moval. large amount of fencing and several
patriarchal trees were also destroyed, and up
wards of an acre of grass land near the mill
burned over.
At one time the dwellings on the top of the
hill, which overlook the mill site, and which
are inhabited by persons in the employ of the
Company, were in great danger of sharing the
fate Of the mill. Huge flakes of fire were watt
ed upon the roofs by a strong breeze prevail
ling, but by constant appliance of water by the
occupants the showers of sparks, &C.. were rem
dered harmless.
Captain VIM. Kennedy, president, and Mr..
VIM. M. Boone, vice-president of the Mount
Vernon Company, estimate the loss upon the
building, stock and machinery at $685. 900, up
on which there is insurance in a number of
companies amounting to $1S5,O00.
By the above disaster about two hundred and
twenty-five persons have been thrown out of
employment, and who, unless they seek work
elsewhere, must remain unemployed by the
..ount Verr IN Company until the burned mill
has been rebuilt, arrangements for which VIII
be made as soon as the insurance offices inter-
ested in the late fire have settled.