Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-29
A Fall Rirer Fire.

A Fail Rirer Fire.
FALL RIVER, Mass, Oct. 2s.-This even
ing fire was discovered in the Picker house
flint mill. When first discovered flames
were issuing from the belt box of the main
belt in the engine room in the lower story
of the Picker house, and spread with light
ming rapidity along the belt to the uppe
story. and in less time than it tkaes to de-
scribe it were bursting forth in every story
The mill was magnificent structure OF
granite, five stories high, built in 1872, and
constructed and equipped at cost of $780,
600. The main building is 500 feet long by
"a feet wide. The Picker house, which
fadjeined the center east side of the
mill. was also of granite and three stories
high, with engine and boiler house onthe
first floor. When the fire was first discov-
cred, what few employees were in the mill
Immediately made every effort to ex-
tinguish the flames, but without success.
Most of the workmen had gone home near
ly an hour before, and so the regular fire
department of the mill was not available
to handle the force pumps and hydrants
with which the mill was supplied. In ff-
teen minutes after the alarm was sounded,
which was directly after the fire was dis
covered. the lower story of the main mill
was burning fercely. flames issuing from
the roof and every foor of the mill
on the side next tho Picker house. The
flames followed the main belt through
every floor, caught on the belts in every
room, and few along the floor, the oily
waste, lint and cloth adding fuel to the
flames. Fifteen minutes after the first
alarm second was sounded. Immediately
followed by third, calling out the entire
fire department, and extra horses were
sent for reserve engines and hose reels not
in active commission, and every piece of
fire apparatus in the city was put in SER
vice. Less than half an hour after the first
alarm it became apparent that the mill
was doomed.
Directly opposite the burning mill was
the Wampanooga mill, another massive
granite structure separated from it by
only $50 feet. A strong northeast
wind blew cloud Of burning
cinders straight against it, and its walls
began to blacken with heat. 1t seemed at
one time as if this mill was also doomed,
and word was telegraphed to New Bedford.
Taunton and Newport for assistance. The
fireman worked heroically, and deluged
the sides of the mill with well directed
streams of water, and saved the mill.
Meanwhile the fire raging in the flint,
kept gaining Roadway in spite of the efforts
to check it, and soon the entire south end
OF the mill was burning. The floors began
to fall and the walls fell in. Then the wind
changed to the east. and the fire, which had
been bursting in ftful jets from the north
half, leaped from every window, and the
entire structure was in q blaze. The
scene at this time was magnificent beyond
description. The wind carried a blazing
cloud Of sparks "a distance of nearly a
quarter Of mile. The flames were leap
ing full fifty feet in the air. The entire
mill was seething furnace against which
streams Of water were of no avail. Scores
of SIRENS were directed at the fire, but the
water, before reaching the burning timber
was caught by the flames, hurled back and
went skywards in great clouds of steam.
Although it was evident that, no human
efforts could save any part of the mill, the
fremen continued to pour foods of water
upon the fire to hold the flames in check
and prevent their further spread. In this
they were successful. The .Wampanooga
mill was saved with only slight damage, as
also were the tenement houses, the nearest
Of which were less than two hundred feet
from the burning mill. The heat
was SO intense that the walls of houses a
thousand fee. away were heated and paint
blistered and cracked. Burning masses of
cinders fell On the roofs, and the occupants
OF some twenty tenements in the vicinity
began to move out furniture, but the fire.
men succeeded in saving every one of
these.
At o'clock the north end of the mill
fell in, and granite blocks were hurled over
one hundred feet. The entire roof and
every floor had then fallen, and at 9o'clock
Only fragments of the bare walls of she
main mill were standing. The fremen are
still at work at 10 o'clock. It looks as if
the fire would burn all night.
The total loss, including mill machinery.
and goods in process Of manufacture will
be very near $1,000, coo; certainly not less
than $500. 900; insurance 1920 All in
surance is in eastern companies.
The mill had e capital Of 100000. and a
large amount of stock twas held by men
who can we'll afford to lose It. The total
number OF stockholders is reariy 200.
The mill employed 800 hands. and $4,000
spindles, aud had an annual production
of 100000 yards Of printed cloth. The
destruction will be heavy blow TO the OPP
eratives and stockholders alike. The ire
men we've greatly annoyed by lack of
water, which the city mains did net furnish
in sufficient quantities, and fear engines
were obliged to take water from a pond
some distance frcs, the CilI
Other Fires,
EAST SAGINAW, Oct. 2S.-Fire broke out
early this evening on the lumber dock of
Hamilton, Mcclure x Co., SIX miles below