The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-20
THE GREAT FIRE AT BRIDGEPORT.


The Largest Confagration- 4 Will
son Sewing Machine Factory Destroyed
Loss $3.50, 000-Seven Persons Burned-Two
Killed and Five Wounded.
BRIDGEPoRT, Conn.,, Dec. II.
Editor Rutland Globe Our city was |
the scene of another feast of flames and |
terrible destruction of property ON Tues |
day night, far exceeding anything of the |
kind known here for many years. About |
six o'clock in the evening the hoarse note of |
the fire alarm drove the fireman to his post |
and the idle spectator to the scene of destruc |
ton. The Wheeler g. Wilson old works |
which stood a proud structure, is now an |
unsightly pile of smoke blackened, fire |
warped and half fallen walls, budding in |
repulslve fellowship, with barren desert
of smoking brick, interspersed with twisted
bars and Jumps of steel and iron, the rusted
and ruined remains of what but few days
ago were graceful and useful monuments
of mans genius. The scene of the confla-
grafton was a wildly beautiful one
from any stand point, the long
walls of brick, looking red as
blood in the intense light and heat of the
roaring flames, the row on row of build
ings, each the vent for long arm of flame
which leaped forth and danced fantastical-
ly up and down in the belts of smoke,
bulied and bent by the strong northwest
gale that howled and ragged around the
doomed buildings, scattering cnders and
sparks like diamonds thrown with lavish
hand upon the face of night. The whole
crowned by dense canopy of smoke that
led away in long black lines toward the
| sky, as though eager to spread the news of
destruction far and wide, and above all the
| hoarse sound of the steam gong that kept
up its loud protest against the dread work
of the demon fire going on around it. Every
tree, every building. every object however
small was revealed in the strong red light
plain as though seen by the MONDAY sun,
the picture never lacking for moment a
host of appreciative observers among the
thousands who gathered to the spot. The
occasion had its full share of solemnity
too, for death waited at every step upon
its ally fire, and left ghas,ly record of
fatal and cruel wounds.
THE BUILDINGS.
The building fronted on East Washing
ton avenue, the rear resting on Barnum
street and the ends on Halet and Penn
broke streets. 1t covered really two DiU.ho
as cross street. The main building was
524 feet long and 234 wide, of brick and
four stories in hight. The Wheeler & Will
son manufacturing company occupied a
part of the building as a storehouse for
completed woodwork Of the sewing ma
chimes, and the remainder by the sewing
machine cabinet company and the Bridge
port lock company.
THE WORK OF THE FIREMEN.
The wind was blowing strong and the
flames spread very rapidly, the whole block
of buildings being wrapped in sheet of
fire within remarkably brief space of
time. The heat was 30 intense that the
firemen could not approach within many
feet, consequently they could not work to
advantage, though there was no possible
chance OF saving the building after the
alarm was struck, as they contained great
deal OF vsrnish, oil, finished and
unfinished wood work, lumber, etc.,
which burned like finder, and all the
engines in the land could not have quench-
ed the confagration. The st. Marys
church and other buildings on the south
side Of Chestnut avenue were scorched by
the awful heat and the people turned out
with pals and buckets and fought man.
fully TO stay the spread of the flames
Several buildings were in imminent peril,
furniture was removed and every prepare
ton made to flee If necessary Lines of
citizens were formed who passed water and
dashed it upon the roofs and sides of the
endangered buildings, until they were out
of danger.
OTHER BUILDINGS ET CKTERA.
A train of freight cars standing upon the
railroad track were badly scorched before
they were removed. The rails of the track
were twisted and warped necessitating re-
pairs and several trains were compelled to
wait an hour or two on either side of the
fire until opportunity was offered for them
to pass. 1t was thought at one time i'm
possible to save the Secor sewing
machine factory, as the wind blew Sc
strongly carrying the flames along
with it in that direction, Notwithstanding
the fearful heat the brave firemen turned
their attention to this building and worked
manfully. The flagstaff on the cupola OF
the Secor got on fire, and fireman climbed
up and put it out amid the plaudits of the
crowd. The walls were falling from eight
to nine o'clock and several explosions took
place. All this time an immense crowd
had been standing around regardless of the
cold and heat alike. spell-bound, as it were
by the magnificent spectacle.
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
At nine o'clock the worst of the fire wal
of the evenings incidents occurred. A
number of men and boys were standing
about the archway when the wall fell, in.
stantly killing boy of twelve, smashing
his head to a jelly and injuring young
man of eighteen 80 badly that he died Q
few hours afterward. A man about fifty
years of age sustained such injuries that he
was completely paralyzed below the neck
Others were injured, receiving broken Leg
and arms, gashes, etc.
LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
The fire finally died out for want of fuel
The Wheeler and Wilson manufacturing
company lose on the building 5000, 900; in
sured for 100000. The Sewing Machine
cabinet company, whole loss, 800, 900; in
, sured for about $4,000. Among the
losses OF the several insurance companies
are the Imperial, London, $4,000; Ly.
! coming, 81, 1000; Amazon, Cincinnati, $40.
| 900 Commercial Union. England. So.
900 Firemens Fund, California, $4,000
Queens. England, $4,000 Etna, Hart.
ford, $4,000; Hartford company, Hart.
000
NOTRs AND INOIDKNTe