The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-11
MIDNIGHT FIRE.
Meader's Factory Destroyed.
Loss over 100000; InsuranEs
$4,000.

About halkpast IL O'Clock last night .
Ore was discovered in the factory Of thu
Meader Furniture Company, at the
northwsst corner Of Front and Smith
streets. The flames at first were pent Mp
in the building. From the occasional
pufrs of steam aud smoke which broke
from every window IL was evident that
the building was on fire from the cellar
to the roof.
1t seemed at first as If the Depart
meut would soon have the fire under
control, but a sudden gleam, every now
and then, showed the fact that the
building was doomed. The rolling
smoke nearly suffocated tie firemen.
who worked like heroes. The flames
speedily found vent through the root,
and, as floor after floor Of the Immense
structure went down, millions of sparks
shot through the air and spread over tho
city as far as Fourth and Vine streets.
The l., c. & L. Railroad Depot was
slightly damaged by these sparks. Tho
building OF j. & j. NJ. johnston, box
makers at 219 West Third street, was
also ignited. The shingle roof OF .
dwelling al the northwest corner Of
Third and Plum streets was fred
several times and only prevented from
being destroyed by the vigilance OF the
inmates. The dwelling in The rear Of q.
b. Asplnwall Il COPS jewelry store, No.
1873 West Fourth street, was discovered
in flames and was only saved by engine
No. 7, which happened along.
The rain Of sparks lasted over half an
hour and the roofs and street within q
circle OF half mile were covered wtsa
these bits Of charcoal.
About l o'clock the walls began TO
crumble and fall, and soon the place Was
| nothing but burning pit.
AS soon as the fremen saw that the
| Meader building could not be saved.
they turned the water upon the walls oi
| the picture frame factory, which seemed
| to be heated to redness, and to the Iun-
| Der yard adjoining. The efforts of the
firemen were successful, although somH
OF the stacks Of lumber were within
twenty-five feet OF the burning factory.
The building at the corner OF Smith
and Augusta streets, formerly occupied
by Il. +. Hammer as q looking glass ana
pictHrs-frame factory, caught IRE. The
flames were in the basement and il
| looked as il this structure too was
doomed. The building, hoWever, was
saved, though badly damage0.
| Nothing OF the Meader factory Is Left
except the corners, which rise Like
| towers.
The stock of the Meader Company
was largely tiDe furniture, ready for thu
market. Its value was from $50, 900 TO
$50, 900. The building was valued at
| so 900 and the machinery at $4,000.
The total insurance is $4,000.
The Hammer factory has not been run.
ming sinoe Hamme.'s assignment, and
there was only about $500 worth OF
stock in it. This WAS held by the as
signees, Jacob Diehl and Edward Rob-
erls, who hold Two policies TO cover
| their loss.
| The building and machinery were
| bought by Mr.. Closterman for $24,009.
The insurance ON this was 81, 900. This
will cover the loss on the machinery.
The Meader factory was seveu-story
brick building with front about eighty
feet on Smith street and one hundred
and fifty feet on Front street,
AS to the origin OF the fire nothing fs
known, except that it commenced in tne
basement.