The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-11-02
FIERCE FLAMES.
An Immense Fire at Fall River,
Mass.
Loss Almost A Million Dollars and a
Mammoth Granite Mill Com
pletely Destroyed.

house OF the Flint mill. when nrSG dlS-
covered the flames were issuing from
the belt box of the main engine room in
the lower story of the picker house, and
spread with lightning rapidity along
the belt to the upper story, and in less
time than it takes to describe it, flames
were bursting forth in every story. The
mill was a magnificent structure of
granite, five stories high, built in 1862,
and constructed and equipped at cost
of over $4,000. The main building
was 300 feet long by "a feet wide. The
picker house, which adjOined the center
east side of the mill, was also OF granite
and three stories high, with an engine
and bciler house on the first floor.
When the fire was first discovered
what few employees were in the mill inn
mediately made every effort to eXtin-
guish the flames, but without success.
Most of the wOrkmen had gone home
nearly an hour before, and so the regu-
lar fire department of the mill was not
available to handle the force of pumps
and hydTants with which the mill was
supplied, In fifteen minutes after the
alarm sounded, which was directly after
the fire was discovered, the lower story
of the main mill was burning feTcely.
Flames were issuing from the roof and
every floor of the mill on the side next
the picker house; flames followed the
main belt through every door, caught
on the belts in every room and flew
along the floors, 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 depart
ment and extra horses were sent for re-
serve engines and hose reels not in ac-
tive commission, and every piece Of fire
apparatus in the city put in service.
Less than half an hour after the first
alarm it became apparent that the mill
was doomed.
Dire city opposite the burning mill
was the WampanOag mill, another mas
sive granite structure, separated from
it by only $50 feet. A strong north east
wind blew a clOudkOf burning cindeTs
straight against it, and the mills began
to blacken with heat. 1t seemed at one
time as if this mill was also doomed
and word was telegraphed to New Bed
ford, Taunton and Newport, for assist
ance. The firemen worked herOically,
and delnged the sides of the mill with
we'll directed streams of water, and
saved the mill. Meanwhile the fire in
the flint kept gaining headway in spite
of the efforts to check it, and soon the
entire south end of the mill was burn
ing. 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 fitful jets from the north
halt, leaped from every window and the
entire structure was in a blaze. The
scene at this time was magnificent be-
yOnd description. The wind carried the
blazing cloud of sparks distance of
nearly a quarter of mile. Flames
were leaping full fifty feet in the air
and the entire mill was seething fur
mace, against which streams of water
were of no avail. Scores of streams
were directed at the fire, but the water
before reaching the burning timbers
was caught by the flames, hurled back
and went skyward in great clouds of
steam. Although evident no human
efforts could save any part of the mill
the firemen continued to pour floods of
water upon the fire to hold the flames in
check and prevent further spread. In
this they were successful The Wampa-
nOag mill was saved with only slight
damage, as also were the tenement
houses nearest, which were less than
two hundred feet from the burning
mill. The heat was so intense that the
walls of houses a thousand feet away
were heated and the paint blisteTed aud
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 firemen succeeded
in saving all these. At 8 o'clock the
north end of the mill fell in, and the
granite blOcka were hurled over one
hundred feet. The entire roof and every
floor had then fallen, and at 9 o'clock
only fragments of the bare walls of the
main mill were standing. The firemen
were still at work, and at 10 o'clock it
looked as if the fire would burn all
night. The total loss, including mill,
machinery and goods in process of
manufacture, will be very near one mil
lion dollars. Certainly not less than
$8OOO00. Insurance 100000. All in
surance in eastern companies.
The mill had a capital of 100000 and
a large amount of stock held by men
who can ill afford to lose it. The total
number of stockholders was nearly two
hundred. The mill employed 500 hands,
had $4,000 spindles, and had an annual
production of 13, 100000 yards of print
cloths. Its destruction will be heavy
blow to the operatives and stockholders
alike. The firemen were greatly an
noyed by the lack Of water, which the
city mains did not furnish in sufficient
quantities, and four engines were
obliged to take water from 6. pond some
distance from the mill.
LATER NEWS FROM THE FIRE.
FALL RIVER, MASS, October 29.-The
ruins of the Flint mills are still burn
ing. OF the main mill only the lower
sides and part of the south end remains,
and portions Of these will fall. OF the
picker house in the rear, the upper two
stories are gone; the lower story, with
the engine and boiler ro ON, is compara-
lively uninjured. All the machinery in
the basement is in the mass of burning
debris. Loss 100000, with $4,000 in
surance. Besides the insurance on the
mill is $4,000 on profits. The mill will
receive 800 for each day of stOppage.
The directors meet to- morrow, when the
question of rebuilding will probably be
acted upon. The present outlook. con-
sidering the heavy insurance, Is that
the companies will undertake 10 rebuild
the mill instead of paying the policies,
as it could be replaced at present a. less
than $6OO,OO0. The capital stock was
$3.50, 600 held by 275 shareholders, 1872 of