Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-06-28
A DISASTROUS FIRE.
strceter, GIddings A. CO.'S sash ana Blind
works and Phoenix Fonndry "ioe" IN
Ruins, Loss abJ ut 100000

GfDDINas e. Co.'S. Sash, Blind % Door factory,
which WINS in full blast, and filled In every part
with machinery, material and work In process
of execution. The building was of wood ex-
cept the boiler aud engine room, but that was
open by door to a shingle room in the rear
which happened Mt the time to be full o shay
ings--and also to the planning room. The
in the shingle room lnd caught when
tue discovery was made by Mr.. Giddings, who
remained nearly alone, on the premises. during |
the Ginner interval. Though II had but just
started, such WINS the almost infamable char
actcr Of the shavings and shaving dust about
the building that the fire spread instantaneous
ly, and to stay or queDcli the fancs was seen
at once to be beyond human power. The
alarm was given, and every body about the
village was soon upon the spot. The dense,
black smoke from the burning pine, soon
showed itself, and the location was fixed with
out doubt second thought. Soon the
flame shot up through the smoke and surged
and cracked through the entire building. The
consumption of course was rapid, and the
heat intense. 1t was exccedinly uncomfortable
IN front, upon any portion OF the street.
Scarcely anything was saved from the shop
except the tool chest of one of the hands.
Even a loi of shingles piled against the front
of the building was but partially removed so
speedily did the flames and heat command the
situation. The wind was blowing freshly from
the north east, and TO this fact is due the saw
ing of much Of the lumber piled in the rear Of
the factory. The firemen, in full strength, were
soon upon the ground but nothing could be
done in staying the flames. The fire soon COM
municated with the large, brick building
known as Phoenix Foundry, standing south
erly but Il few feet from the burning one. This
building was occupied by W. A. ELLIS. as
handle factory, who owned the halt he occu-
pied. The upper stories of this portion was
| filled with finished work. or that in process.
This being piled rather close aud solid, ii took
some time to get fully under way The pro-
gress of the flames through the windows in ig-
hitting this mass of small, hard wood material,
though gradual, was steady and sure, in the
execution of their work the demolition of
everything within its inclosurc. This, how
eyer, proved sale and comfortable barrier be-
tween the flames and those who embraced the
opportunity to save the machinery of Messrs.
FRINK & WIRE, machintsts IN the south end
of the buiding-leaying their loss but nomi
nal. The building was also occupied by
Messrs. TINKER & SPERRY, us an office and
for the depository of finished and unfinished
work. The destruction of these two buildings
was the extent of the fire, though it required
some effort to save Tinker & Sperry's mould
ing shop, south Of, and nearly adjoining.
| hn nln nNy
are--Streeter, Giddings & Co. $l9 to $l5 thou
sand; w. A. Ellis, plow-hande works stock,
&C., and half interest in brick building, about
$4,000; VIM. Humphrey and Mr.. Brown
interest each in the building, $4,000; Tink-
er Il Spcrry, stock, about 5000; Dr. Eames
stove castings and patterns, $500; X. w. Hill
yer, shingle machine, $3.50, besides his books
Frink & Wire, tools and machinery, $3.50
Henry Smith, TOOLS about SlO0; G. A. Street.
er, tools, about 500; VIM. Sivcrs, tools, $175
Edwin Frazer, recently from Camden, N. Y,
chest of tools, $l83. c. r. Noble, painters
tools, &c. The only insurance, we believe
was that of Mr.. Ellis. of $1,000 in the Hart
ford Slreeter Gddings & Cos safe preserve,
their books and papers uninjured
This event is particularly caamitons one
, All the sufferers were men of small means
some of them held their Investments by thu
aid of borrowed capital, and were all frugal
industrious and energetic mechanics, The!
were struggling for subsistence aud comtorta
ble-respectable positions. Their losses hay
/, left them destitute not only, but involved, ant
with the dew of early manhood passed. BE-
p side, their business, especially that of Sey
4, mOur, Giddings IL Co., was essential 10
meeting the present demand for the crectio
of new buildings, and all were valuable col
tributions TO the material wealth of the place
a Their misfortune is the common misfortune G
e the locality, and some 80 or 40 men are throw
t out of work. Their loss, and The stoppage
n their business takes hold uppn the public syn
l. pathy, and every effort aud pecuniary accon
/. dation will be extended for fayoring a resuml
/. ton of business, which, we believe, all intent
d Messrs Tinker Sperry and Mrssrs Frink
le Wire will, we learn, accommodate ihcmselve
is temporarily in the old building near by, b
Of longing to Mr. ID. NJ. Strong. The work W
on building contracts with Messrs. Streete
IL Giddings & Co. we learn, are TO be carried on
a The effect upon the neighborho0d by Il
: raging and threatening o: this fire, was alarr
H. ing, and many were induced To pack tht
:, goods preparatory 10 a removal if necessar
~ These precautionary steps were taken even
:. the family of Dr. Harrington. The discreet,
:. and propricly of such course was shown
= the fact, that the house of Amos Fisk. ON I
=, corner OF the park, caught fire from spark,
- the roof
,is The heat was so intense and such the en-,
gy of our citizens and firemen to render thel
selves useful in some way, that several perso
~. were prostrated, and became helpless, a
even unconscious. This was the wi
-. CHARLIE ROBERTSON, JOHN WARNER a
20 ALoNzo SAVAGE, who, we learn, have be
-, restored.
I'd. This was, of course time for tn distril
ia tion of kind attentions and relr, sinner
re which was not overlooked by several of ,
,is. ladies and gentlemen. Perhaps one of
pn. saddest occurrences, was ihat experienced
ner WM. E. WATRoUs-cripplcd as he is kno
to have been, his desire TO render what Ii
he could, led to his taking position upo
ladder for the passing of water from which
,,o. fel and fractured his unsound leg in I