The daily gazette., 1877-04-05

Anew calendar mill ;,-B--machine |
room and old calendar mill; C-engine |
room; D-beader and wash room; E.
rag mill.
In short time after the fire, was dis |
covered on the roof of the machine room,
the flames spread to the beader and wash |
room, and both buildings-occupying a |
space nearly 200 feet long and 80 feet |
wide-were completely enveloped by the |
fire.
The alarm was promptly given, and the
fire department of the city arrived on the |
ground as rapidly as possible, but they
could do nothing towards saving the |
burning buildings, and could only assist |
in staying the further progress Of the
flames. The fire continued to rage until
late in the evening, when everything of a
combustible nature in the beader and
wash room and machine room was en-
tirely consumed. leaving nothing stand
ing but the stout stone walls.
The rag mill and the new calendar
mill, being provided with fire-proof roofs,
escaped without the slightest damage.
OAhA0hO
The beader and wash room contained
large amount Of valuable machinery for
washing rags and manufacturing wood
pulp, nearly all of which, from present
appearances is damaged beyond repair.
The fierce fire heated them red hot, and
the sudden application OF water from the
engines caused them to crack in large
seams and frequently break in pieces.
In the machine room a large quantity
of machines for finishing paper, and sew
eral calendar rolls, shared the same fate.
The running gear of the machinery, sit
] uated in the basement of the burned
building, was also seriously damaged.
In addition, q large quantity of wood
pulp and finished paper was destroyed
BY the fire.
The engine room contained two large
engines, one OF 400 horse power and
the other of 200 horse power. The top
gearing of the larger engine was slight
liz damaged, but with this exception
the engine room escaped injury.
HOW THE FIRE ORIGINATED.
The origin of the FIRE is not positive
ly known, but the suppobition is that
| it was caused by a portion ofignited
fuse which came from blast close by.
On hill to the east of the mills some
workmen were engaged in blasting
Irosks,sand as a stiff east wind prevailed
at the time, the probility is that por-
ton of the fuse, while still burning.
was blown over until it lodged under
the ventilation of the machine room
where it smouldered until the wind
Increased it into large blaze. This
is the only reasonable supposition, as
1.-THE ventilation is not easy of access, is
mot large enough to be entered by a
Imam, and could not have been reached
lin any other manner. The fire was
lfiret discovered by the engineer, who
promptly gave the alarm.
i AN UNFORTUNATE SPOT.
The roof of the machine room
where the fire originated, was not fire.
lproof. and was the only weak spot
Iabout the property, the other roofs be-
ing all fire proof. a fire-proof roof for
this mill was in the course OF construc-
ltion. and would have been completed
and put in position within the next
three weeks. .g.-.
Another unfortunate circumstance
Ia that the insurance on the machine
. Iroom was not completed, and Mr..
Moore wss arranging the matter With
the Insurance Agents only yesterday
Iafternoen. -l..,
THE RUINS.
Fl This morning large number OF per
laons went out to see the results OF the
}, Are. The cracked and ruined machin-
J, ery, and the. chagreds remains OF the
mills, formed sad spectacle.
> The Delaware and Water Wltch
IConnanies remaided Oh duty all night,
}, in order to kept flames from nais'
ting out afresh. This morning the
y ruins were still smoking. but no fur
D, lther danger was apprehendsd.
During the fire tho residents OF the
neighborhood furnished the firemen
with a substantial and refreshing
lunch.
e This morning the members of the
ICompany. and the superintendent, MI
.IWm. Luke. assembled to examine In
70 the damage, and make preparations
n To repair the same. The machinery
l. will be overhauled by Messrs. fusey,
4, Jone s. Co. and work will be resumed
d as soon as possible. n
THE LOSSES.
The losses cannot be exactly estima'