The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1883-09-01
Burning Of tho Box Factory.


No. Ones to remain, as 1t would be
unsafe to leave the city unprotected.
1t was long hard pull for the boys,
but they finally got there TO find the
box factory in flames, which threaten
ed the piles Of dry lumber on every
hand. No. pa ergine was stationed
close to the White Star Packing Cos
building, and three streams were got
on the fire. 1t was useless to attempt
to save the building which burned
like tinder, go that attention was
turned topreyent the fire from spread
ing. This proved a difficult matter as
the lumber was already on fire and
the breeze famed the fame in a dozen
places, but by dint Of hard work on
the part of the firemen and the hook
and ladder company 1T was got under
control By eleven o'clock it was
plain that no further damage need re-
suit; the wind died down; the Point
Adams men got steam up and threw Z
stream that kept their building wet
down, but the department stayed by
till three o'clock yesterday morning,
when the order came to take up.
They came down the roadway on a
gallop and made the "masheen"
hum, and after housing her gave three
cheers.
The mill was owned by Messrs.
Merrill, Meade and M:Gregor; it was
built in March, 1882, and was used
chiefly as a box factory; the firm
sawed their own lumber and turned
out cases by the thousand for the sew
eral canneries; ii was IN almost con-
slant operation and was in the midst
of heavy business. Its destruction
will entail considerable delay and
probable expense to cannery men who
were waiting for orders to be filled.
1t was valued at $4,000, and il is
reported, was insured for $1,000.
The origin OF the fire is not known
the superstition is that it started
about the furnace somewhere; the
watchman Of the Point Adams Pack.
ing Co. says the first he saw of it wa:
bright fame that shot up from the
middle of the building. The building
was situated in a place hard to get at
but fortunately the efforts of the fire
men were successful in getting the
flames under control; had the fire
crossed the road to the wooden houses
on the other side, the destruction
would have been terrible. The
White Star and Point Adams Pack
ing companies wish to express then
heartiest thanks to the Astoria Fire
Department for their services in saw
ing their property from destruction
and say that they intend to give some
substantial acknowledgment Of theil
gratitude to those who worked so hart
to keep the fire at bay.
p. Duffy, the fireman employed in th,
mill, and who sleeps there, was badl.
burned. lie woke to ind the FIRE ol
every side Of him and in attemptin.
to escape, his arms and feet wer
blistered. he was carried into /
saloon close by and az eleven o'clocl
was taken TO the hospital. His injar
les though extremely painful are no
necessarily dangerous. The attend
ant physician thinks he will be al
right in a little time.
The pull up the hill from Johan
sens was hard one, and few com
panies would have done it. 1t Nigh
be well for our friends in upper Asto
ria to remember that our departme1
is not obliged to run ont Of the city I
save property, and that a little hel
on an occasion like Thursday nigh
might encourage them to 60 agai
when their services were badly needed
When the boys were pretty we
3 tuckered out climbing the hill Thurs
7, day night, and one of the foreme
s asked a crowd OF men who were stan,
= ing around to "lend a hand" Il
C answer was $50 to hell; pull it you
SELF" That blazing mill did look
g little like Tophet, and they wei
N going there as fast as they could, bu
= the advice wasn't relished all Il
same. 1t doesn't cost anything TO |
; civil, and if our neighbors IN upp,
Is Astoria expect assistance in case
!. FIRE they should stand In and he
is save their own property. A fire d
II partment is like church, or a new
le paper, or steamboat; it costs mon'
= to run it; when it is wanted it
es wanted right away, and when m,
I who stand all the expense run ther
selves to death in dragging heavy m
chinery out of the city limits to sa
property, and work all night Iii
slaves to keep fire in check, they dor
N care to be told to go to hell nor an
lie where else for that matter. 1t is
1T great deal easier to stay at the engi
D. house and ''let her burn The for
~ of this lies in its remembrance
e. those who are the most interested.
in Before Rescue No. rs and Alert
ID & L.. left the scene of the fire, Nj
o.,,e A. -.