The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-14
LARGE FIRE IN BROOKLYN.

BURNING OF THE BRooKLTN LlxsKKD OIL
WORKSHOPS OVER FOUR HUNDRED THOU
SAND DOLLARS FIREMAN BADLY INJURED.
very destructive fire occurred in Brooklyn yester
day, involving loss Of several hundred thousand dol
lars and destroying four large buildings The dense
smoke which proceeded from the burning
structures attracted tho attention OF thousands
OF people, who remained about the scene
Of the conaagration throughout the entire
day. Tho Ore occurred In the extensive linseed oil
mandatory Of Campbell fhayer, on Water street.
between Main and Washington streets About ten
O'Clock In the forenoon the Waterman discovered the
IRE on the third floor OF the building which rs a six
story structure. and strongly braced with iron orders
The namcs spread with great rapldty, owing 10 the
highly inanmablo material contained in the factory,
and black and towering columns OF smoke, which
soon forced their way out into tho clear bright
atmosphere, darkened the sky IN the vicinity. The
engineer in the lower part OF the building blew the
alarm whistle, and the signal sent from the
tion at the Main street ferry. The rcmcn rendered
prompt response TO the summons, two subsequent
alarms were gwen from the City Hall tower At
eleven O'Clock less than ten steam IRE
engines were on the ground ana pouring de.ug-
ing streams OF water upon the flames In
the main building, on Water street. there
were $4,000 gallons OF linsced oil in casks, which
stored in the lower part oil the building aud speedily
caught Ore In the cellar there 900 gallons OF
oil IN iron tanks. These tanks were connected with
two two story slate rooted brick buildings IN the
Of the factory. Tho soreroons Ia the mnu structure
contained nseed oil cakes and other material, valued
NJ $4,000 The machinery, the damage to which not
known, Is valued at $4,000 la the rear buildings
thorc was machinery vaucd ~ $500 stock worth
81, $780, The ioss the two small structures, which
were entirely destroyed, was $1,000. There
900 gallons OF oil stored in barrels IN building No.
l. aud - 600 gallons OF OIL in building . Tho loss OF
ESQ 81 rcg
Ia the upper noor of building No was $4,000 worth
OF linsced The hremen dcvocd their efforts ~ LAno
the amcs to the Water street structure and 10 protect
the surrounding property. They successful, APP
parently, until tour O'Clock, when the flames burst
forth from The five story brick building No. " Front
street, which Was connected by oil tanks underground
with the Water street structure and formed part tho
iinsced oil works OF Campbell Tnayer. portion Of
tue front wall fell out mo the street with loud crash,
and the great OF flames winch upward led
considerable alarm among tue tenants residing On Front
street, who lost no tune III removing their hous eh0ld
enec's from their threatened hao'tailons
FOREMAN INJURED
Frank Hatton, member OF Truck Company No. l.
was at work OH the ROOT OF the front street building
just before the wall fell aud upon being warned the
danger he jumped down upon the OF an EXTENSION
u distance o twenty -ave ieet Hatton, VINO was Sc.
vcrely injured about the right arm. leg and
back, was removed 70 the Long island Col
legc hospital In the ambnlal CO. Tho Front
street building fell story by story aud OF the
walls tell into The street, blocking ths latter
seed, which was stored in bags, aud was Of course
destroyed together with the machinery, valued
there In barrts and other miscellaneous stock the
value Of $4,000 was consumed. The loss the
Front street building is $780, 900 The burning oil
quired The constant Attendance OF the bremen, VINO
kept steady flow OF water upon the ruins I'LL late
hour last night
INVESTIGATION.
Fro Marshal r. Ready who made an investigation
to tho origin OF tho tire, took the Testimony
watchnan William Kcrns who testified that he dscov
cred the ire tho third story OF The main building
about ten O'Clock A. ~ smoke was proceeding from
quantity oil empty guano bags, and no could not
mako his way into the room. Ihe floor Is used Tor
the storage OF empty bags ard linsccd,
and there werc about 200 bags there
when the tire broke out There no lirc in that
part OF the building before the time the witness discov
cred "; he had passed through there about half
hour before he found the smoke; tho building
ally kept closed witness notified tho engineer who
Immediately gave tho alarm by blowing the whistle.
George Gossip, the eng necr and other witnesses,
c0rroDorated the statement OF kerns
II was stated that tho employees Of the works who
were In tho buildings attempted to cxtngush tho ure
when II was nrst discovered, and while employed IN
throwing water upon tho burning bags, IN their tuto
Efforts, lost considerable valuable tnc which would
have enabled the Fire Department to stay It's progress
effectively.
The losses estimated follows :-On oil, SIG $50
on buildings, $4,000; general stock, $l07 500
machinery, $l20 0O0-making the total loss $40S. 100
The properly Is insured Tor $500, 000 The OF
tie companies 10 which tho insurance policies held
could not DO usceraned yesterday, but they include
the principal insurance companies In the two cities