Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-07-15
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
G. W. Dodge & Sons Cork Factory Burned.
LOSS $4,000.
THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.
Pe,Ils OF the Occasion.

cork factory, go East Fulton street, took
fire and in a few minutes was wrapped in
flames. The fire spread rapidly to the
main building, three-stOry brick struc-
ture, and also to the smaller brick build
inss and sheds attached and these, too,
were soon in flames. The men and women
at work in the factory got out safely, but
with the exception of books and papers and
a few bags of manufactured cork nothing
was saved.
The building and the greater part of the
machinery to A. w. Russell, and were
probably worth nearly $4,000. He has
an insurance of $1,000 on the building and
81, 900 on the machinery, $4,000 of which
is in the Delaware Mutual. Of which John
Zimmerman is agent, and 81 600 in another
company.
Dodge & Sons loss will probably ex-
ceed $50. on which they have insur-
ances amounting to Sic: 900 or $50, 600, di-
vided among several companies.
AS soon as the fire was discovered the
employees were hurried out of the main
building and it was closed in hopes of con-
filming the flames to the engine house and
sheds, but burning brands appear to have
been blown into the upstairs windows
and set on fire the mass Of combustible
material stored in the upper story.
The firemen were a little slow in reach
ing the ground, most of the companies he
ing compelled to drag their heavy engines
by hand.
The American, which was first on the
ground, took position ut tho corner of
Shipper and Fulton streets and threw a
heavy and well-directed stream.
The Friendship took position in Lime
,oo< no,, %I,n ;I,n,I hr;Irn anI alS
did good service i'm preventing the spread
of the flames to adj joining property.
The Union took position in Chestnut
street between Lime and Sh ippen, and
during part of the time had al insufliciency
of water, owing to the small caIibrc of the
water main and the further disadvantage
of having the water taken from her by
steamers on each side of her.
The Sun took the plug in Lime street,
between Orange and Chestnut, and threw
4 powerful stream through twenty three
sections of hose, part of which was loan
ed it by the Humane company, whose
steamer was not i'm service.
The Washington was in Chestnut sire,
cast Of Shipper, and threw solid and
continuous stream.
The Shlfficr at first took position at the
corner of Limo and Chestnut, but being
unable to get water, owing to the drauy t
of the Sun and other steamers on lower
ground, changed her position to Walnut
street, between Lime and Shippen, and
threw a stream upon the fire from the Op-
posite side of the railroad.
While the interior of the main building
was in flames two of the long ladders Of
the Empire were raised against the front
wall and party of firemen mounted the
ladders to throw stream of water into
tho upper stories. While they were thus
engaged the front wall began to give way,
and in a moment more the upper part of
it was pushed out into the street, and one
half of the roof, including the burning
rafters and sheathing, came laundering
down into Fulton street secthing mass
of living coal and flame. Tho men jumped
from the ladder and had barely time to
escape the impending danger. Their
names rs far as VIC have been able to learn
them are II. Gcnsemer, Frederick Else
man, Winfield Weaver, John Flcnncrd and
Joseph Walker, all Of whom escaped with
but slight scorching.
Some of the men on the ground were less
fortunate. Edward Peters, residing ut $50
North Lime street, was seriously burned
about the face, neck. hands and arms. He
was taken to Cochran's drug store, where
his wounds were dressed.
A young man named Steinhauser was 50
badly burned that he had to be taken home
in a carriage.
John Burger, was badly cut in the face
by glass falling from the shattered win
duwS.
J. Walter Reed was injured in tho eyes
and the right hand. These men were at,
tended to by DR.. Fitzpatrick.
a young man named Weaver had his
arm cut.
Horace Martin, son Of J. b. Martin, is
reported severely hurt.
The large ladder standing against the
wall of the burning building when the
roof fell was crushed to pieces and it is
| marvellous that 4 dozen men, at least were
not also crushed to death in the narrow
street, as the roof that fell into it blocked
it from curb to curb.
Daniel Trcwitz, jr.. engineer of tho
Friendship steamer, had the middle fin
caught in the crOss-head Of the engine.
lie will probably lose the first joint.
The burning of the factory is not only il
severe loss to Mr.. Russell and the Mcssrs.
Dodge, who were overrur with work and
possible for them to fill, but also to the
large number of men and women, boys
and girls, who were employed in the fac
tory and who are thrown out of work by
the accident
G. w. Dodge is absent from the city,
being on business tour in the West. He
has been quite unfortunate in sustaining
losses, his factory having been once before
badly damaged by fire, and recently his
safe was blown to pieces by burglars.
The Union engine became disabled at
the fire, one valve coming loose and another
came entirely off.
The Insurance.
The total amount OF insurance on the
burned building was SIG, 500, divided rs
follows: S439.1O on the machin cry
81, 666.6S OIL raw and manufactured stock &;
$1O96 go on Office furniture and fixtures !;
50, 2S5.52 on cork wood and shavings !;
s., 600 special on stock. The insurance is
in the following companies all except
ono, are represented by Bausman s.
Burns. IL. r. Breneman being agent for
the Phoenix of London.
4Etna, of Hartford, $1,000 London As
surance, of London. 81 900 Phoenix, of
Hartford, $1,000; Commercial Union, of
London. $1,000 British America, of To-
ronto. $1,000; Howard. of New York,
SO, $50; Merchants, of Newark, s2, 500 !;
Phoenix, of London, $1,000 Lancashire,
of England, -, 500.
Fall of q Wall.
The Pennsylvania railroad runs directly
in rear of the factory through deep cut,
and on the bank of this cut was built the
foundation of a brick building used for the