New-York tribune., 1879-05-24
A BROOKLYN FACTORY BURNED.

LOSS OVER A QUARTER OF A MILLION.
THE LINsEED OIL WORKS OF FOWLER, CHAMPION.
CO., IN FURMAN-sT.. DEsTRoYED-THE ENTiRE
Loss ESTIMATED AT $275, 5,000-A BRILLIANT
SPECTACLE.
An alarm of fire was sounded at S:45 last evening
from the Nassau Linseed Oil Works, extending from
No. 55 to No. 63 Furman-st., Brooklyn, and owned
by Fowler, Champion & Co., whose office is in this
city at Nos. 142 and A Front-st. The building Is
of brick. four stories in height, with frontage
on Furman-st. of about 120 feet. It is fifty
feet deep. The fire is supposed to have
originated in the seed loft on the
top floor near the centre of the building 1t was
discovered by Michael Burns, the night engineer.
who saw sparks falling down the elevator, and ran
to give the alarm There was good deal Of con-
fusion, and the firemen rather slow in respond
ing to the alarm. The flames had burst through
the roof by the time they arrived. Three alarms in
all were sent ont. The fire spread rapidly on ac-
count of the combustibe nature of the contents of
the building, and soon the entire interior of the
building was a roaring mass of flame.
At the eastern end the Furman-st building was
connected with building fronting on Columbia
Heights, and owned by the same firm. This build
ing was four stories in height Columbia Heights
but from Furman-st. it runs up seven
'@N'l'N'N
the linseed oil works, while several firms oc-
cupied the upper stories. The fire was
communicated to this structure in about half an
hour and burned with great brilliancy. Dense
masses of smoke rolled upward from the burning
seed and oil and the sheets of flame produced "a
brilliant spectacle. Thousands of spectators were
attracted by the scene.
The works have been established about thirty
years. For some time previous 20 the burning OF
Campbell Il Thayer's oil factory, in Front-st., two
years ago. they had not been running but since then
they have been running night and day. From eighty
to one hundred men were employed In the daytime,
and about forty at night. The seed loft where the
fire is believed to have broken out, not occu-
pied by anyone after 500 p. M, when the man who
had charge of the work there went away for the
night. There were no lights allowed in that part
of the building, and the origin of the lire
could not be ascertained In part of the build
ing a new engine, and new presses. shafting, etc.
had recently been put in. In the yard of the Fur
man-st building were four large oil tanks contain
ing 2, 500 gallons each, in which a considerable
quantity of oil was stored Seed had been delivered
In this building during yesterday.
The entire loss of Fowler, Champion & Co. is es-
timated at $3.50 900 on machinery. buildings. and
stock. This was said to be fully covered by insur-
ance. but III what companies could not be ascer-
tanned. No. 90 Columbia Heights was occupied In
part by Thomas Cox, manufacturer of slver-plated
ware whOseloss on stock and machinery 81 800.
He had recently started in business. There was no
insurance on his property. The upper part OF No. o6
| was used by the Union Toy Manufacturing Company,
| Joifery. was at work when tho fire burst through
| tho roof of the building In Furman-st; This COM
| panv's loss was $15, 900, on which there no
| insurance. Adams, Hallock g. Co. until recently
! occupied No. % Columbia Heights as a sllverware
| manufactOry A mortgage on their property was
foreclosed and the property passed into the hands
of j. A. Ruthven, lawyer of this city. The loss Is
| SIS 900, with no insurance.
| BY / o'clock the fire was under control The in
terror of the buildings was almost entirely burned
| out and the walls WEIR greatly injured.
One of the engines was stationed about a hundred
yards from the burning building. close to the side
| walk in front of Watsou's bonded warehouse on
ing was discovered to be fire. Its stores at pres
ent consist largely OF cotton and hemp and
it is supposed that the fire caught from
| the cracks under the shutters. Ladders
were raised to the top of the building and
| nose was carried 10 the roof where an entrance
was effected, and the flames were soon under con-
troll Ii was impossible to estimate the loss in this
| building.
AS soon as the fire was discovered John I. Martin,
| the owner of the bonded warehouse opposite,
flooded the roof of his own building by means OF a
| steam pump. This pump is located on the wharf
and is capable "f drawing 1000 gallons per minute