New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-04
THE FIRE RECORD.
EMPLOYEES ACCUSED OF CRIME.

EMPLOYEES ACCUGBD VI NhIhb'
THE FIRE AT GEORGE c. FLINT CO.'S FURNIIURE
FAcToRY-BOrn SIDES OF THE STORY
The fire in the factory Of George Z. Fllnt
& Co., Nos 15i and 100 West Nneteenll-st' on MOI
day evening is said by members OF the firm to De he
result Of quarrel with their Trades Unlon employees
The head OF the rm George c. Flint, was found yester-
day at his warehouses; Nos. 10l, 1O0 and 1O3 East
FOureenthst ana gave the following account OF the
troubles:
There have been several occasions when the men
have struck for various causes aud have always
tried to obigc them when possible. The first time they
demanded that they should be paid Saturdays instead
OF on Mondays 40 we had been accustomed to do. Of
course We granted il ut once 10 made no difference 10
us hut their manner OF making their demands was
very dsaereeabc. They would quit work without say
ing ANYTHING and meet at some shop near by, aud
then send two delegates requiring Us 10 give
an answer at once Two or three after that they
demanded of wages and we always granted
II rs we could stop work. But the last time they
said We must discharge forcmau and this We refused
to do; so they all stopped WORK, and We have been
going vth Canadians ana others not belonging
To the unions Tue men, while on STRIFE are allowed Dy
their societies hall the amount OF the wages they were
earning Since the were discharged they nave Oeen
hanging around factory ANA trying TO keep our new
hands from working. On the evening Of the fire there
was a number of them still around the building when
our worilcn away. We think that they must have
thrown match into the grating on some papers ana
that the fire started from that cause"
II was also explained that the opposition to the FORE
man arose from his having discharged two or three Of
tie neu particularly Of the leaders, named shliIer
shaG,,r himself was found In beer saloon nesr the
burned factory and the following as the workmens
side Of the story All who worked in tho factory be-
longod 10 the Cabiuct-maicr-' Union. Our motto Is
One for all and all for one. so hat when one Of US su
crs we al stand up for him Two weeks ago saturday
Tie tore uan discharged two Of who were delegates
10 the Union without giving any On Monday he
dd give ia sort OF excuse, and we accepted IL ana
kent ~ work. But he abOut TO discharge another
ana we al! left. We did not attempt 10 dictate VINO
should Dc foreman. but did not want tnis man"
Some OF the discharged men who were IN inc saloon
were very energetic In denying that the fire had been
started Nv my OF their number, and pointed ont that
WIS impossible for 10 have act the budlng on
fire from ne outside there was coal stored hDdef the
grating and9is that part or TIC building was nor Dnrned
The nremcn and several Of the men employed about the
building also said that the fire could not nave originated
from the outside. There no fire used IN TIC snop,
the boiler bciny situated IN rear building Inc IOre-
man Charles Planecke said that the reason he men
had been iii charged because they were ncomDe-
fert an Troublesome lie felt that the hre must
have been STATED in same wey by some OF the dls-
charged men. The i0mtOr had seen that everything
was safe "A few hours before thCSire started.
The only Insurance was, the stock, $3.50: on the
machinery, -, 2JC on the building sl2,20O MI Flint
estimates his stock and machinery as double Tue
Insurance. while the loss the building s slight The
firm asserts that all its contracts Will BE- filed as agreed,
Notwithstanding the IRE.