The Republican journal., 1877-06-14
A Great Calamity at Bridgeport, Conn

BRIDGEPORT, CONN, June 8. The most
disastrous fire, if we take into account the
loss of life, and one of the most destruc-
tive looking at the loss of property, ever
experienced in Bridgeport occurred about
midnight last night. At l.3O the outside
Waterman at the Union Metallic Car
fridge works discovered Il light in the
fourth story of Glover, Sanford q Sons
hat factory, situated across the railroad
track from the cartridge works. An alarm
was Immediately sounded, followed 10y Il
second, and the whole Fire Department
responded. AS is almost invariably the
case in this city, the water supply prov
ed insufficient, and after eNhausting the
street main the steamers took water from
swamp holes and ponds in the vicinity
Here water WAS obtainabe, but in the
meantime the fire had escaped control.
1t appears to have originated in the dry
ING OF mixing room in the northwest
corner OF the third story of the main
building and ran along the floor until it
reached the dummy, by means of which
ire WAS communicated to the store below.
The main building was $50 feet long
80 feet wide and ~ stories high 70 the
top of the high basement the brick walls
were Ii inches thick, but above that
came q story Is feet and two others Il
feet high, together with an attic, all sup
ported by l2-inch walls, the windows be
ing A. inches wide and supporting col
unns between them Of only 40 inches. 1t
will be seen that there was but little
probability of the walls standing. 1t is in
consequence of this fact that the sad loss
of life occurred. While volunteers were
engaged in removing the goods from the
burning building an entrance was effected
into the office, Il one story building ut the
northeast corner of the factory, and Il
dozen OF twenty men rushed in and com
menced to get out the safe, counter and
other appurtenances. Suddenly and with
out warning to those inside, the back and
then the front walls fell out, leaving the
two high end walls unsupported, The
one adjoining the office leaned outward
and, us a shrek went up from hundreds
of spectators fell upon the roof of the
office, crushing through to the basement
and burying in the ruins those who had
been engaged in the rescue One man
who escaped with Il cash on his forehead
when interrogated as to whether any one
remained inside; replied that there were
Il dozen in there which number proves to
have been nearly or quite correct, eleven
bodies having been recovered, nearly all
of them being leartully crushed and more
or less burned. At the same time the
east end wall also fell, carrying the fire
into a wing 10 feet long and 50 feet
wide. This was also completely destroy
ed together with the engine and boiler
rooms adjoining. The walls fell at about
1870 o'clock, and as soon us possible the
search for the missing was commenced,
but it was 5 o'clock before the first body
was recovered. Between that hour and &
eight more were found, and up to 1920
two others. They were all placed in
wooden boxes, labelled and taken in
charge by Bishop & Culliman, at whose
rooms they now remain awaiting the ac-
ton of the Coroner's jury, which meets at
noon to view the remains and at , to
commence the inquest.