Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-10-28
FURIOUS FLAMES.
Great Fire i'm BrOOklyn-Thc
AnsOnia Clock Works De-
strOyed-LOss Over Half q MIL

StfOyeO-LOSS ONcE udiA - MIL
lion.
New YORK, October 27.-The AnsOnia
Watch and Clock Works, at Brooklyn,
were burned. Loss over half u million.
The works had been in operation about
fourteen months, and the building and
machinery originally cost over hall a
million dollars. From time 10 time adj
ditional machinery had been added and
improvements made until it is said the
works were the most complete in the
country. Some of the machinery, OF
new invention, will be difficult to re-
place. Mr.. Davis, Superintendent the
works, says it is not likely the factory
will be erected on the same site, but the
company will put up another factory
as soon as they can settle up their busi.
ness. He did not know the amount Of
the insurance.
The factory was erected at Seventh
avenue and Twelfth street TO enhance
the value of tract OF land owned by the
proprietors OF the works and the neigh
bornood was building up rapidly. The
origin of the fire is not definitely y known.
The watchman saws he was making his
rounds of the buildings and upon reach
ing the fourth floor, there was a report
resembling the explosion OF gas, and
immediately the flames burst forth. The
alarm was given, but before the fire de-
partment arrived the flames had spread
generally throughout the building.
Four alarms were sounded, bringing
the greater part OF the fire apparatus of
Brooklyn 10 the scene. The water
thrown into the building seemed 10 have
but little effect, and the fire raged until
nothing remained but blackened walls.
Opposite the factory, on Twelfth street,
were four two story and basement brick
dwellings occupied by employees OF the
company. These were also destroyed,
AMI several other dwellings were badly
damaged. The main building OF the
factory covered fifty city los.
Phelps, Dodge Il Co, OF this city, are
largely interested in the AnsOnia Com
pany.
BY this fire twelve thousand persons
are thrown out OF employment. Halt
of the employees are young women and
girls. The company, it is said, estimate
their loss at a million dollars, but they
are not insured for more than hall this
sum. The company manufacture their
own gas, and have their own gas retorts.
Last evening, it is said, before the work
men left the gas got low aud began to
il!cker. 1t was impossible for the
men to continue their work, 30 they left
leaving the gas jets turned on. Some
went out, and the gas still lowed In
from the retort. 1t is said the gas
escaped, which may account FOR the ex-
plosion which the watchman heard.
A meeting was held this afternoon by
the Board OF Fire Underwriters and
majority of the insurance companies
that are losers by the fire in the manu-
factory of the Ansonia Clock Company
wererepresented. The aggregate amount
Of insurance OF the building, stock and
machinery was found to be S395, 900,
distributed among ninetv-tive compan-
les. The policies vary from $500 to
$4,000. 1t is said no company l5 in
terested for more than $4,000. There
are some forty New York companies in
volved and New Orleans, Cincinnati and
Boston companies are interested. A
committee Of five was appointed TO take
the matter in charge and adjust the
losses.