Morning journal and courier., 1883-09-25
The Rolling n1i11 Burned Down


 A Large Fire This MOrning-The Large
 MIu Burned to the GrOund-A Loss of
 Between $50, 900 and $40, ,00o-One Hun-
 dred and SevenGy.6ve Hands Thrown
 Out of EmplOyment.
 Shortly after o'clock this morning the numbers s3 sounded from the fire alarm, the call being struck from the box at the corner of East Grand and James streets. The cause was the discovery of flames from the rolling mill which is situated in Mill street at the corner of Wolcott, and which before they were subdued destroyed the large mill and badly damaged the smaller one. There were about one hundred and seventy-five men employed at the mill which runs night and day and which was very busy at this time: The night gang comprises about sixty men who work the moulds and supply material for the larger force which are employed in the day time. The men had just eaten supper when one of them, named Dennis Weloh, looking up saw the flames issuing from the woodwork which was close to the large furnace in the northwest corner near the river. In second the flames darted along the sides of the building which was of wood and the whole structure was soon mass of flames. The sight and Grand street bridges, which were crowded with people, was grand and picturesque. As the flames leaped up the sides of the building and lit up the ship ping and factories along the river one could not help being impressed with the awful grandeur of the devouring element. The men had barely time to escape from the building, many of them losing their clothes and dinner pails.
 In the large mill which was entirely de- stroyed there were seven boilers, eight fur naces and the engine. The latter was con- siderably damaged and much of the machin- cry was rendered useless. The material that was being prepared was left in the heaters, the men having no time to draw them, SC that this, together with the machinery and furnaces, will be almost if moi quite an entire loss. The build ing served as feeder for the rest of the establishment and will stop worE even in the part which was saved.
 The smaller mill was of brick and in conse quence did not burn so iercely or so rapidly as the larger one. and when the reporter left the scene it seemed probable that the build ing would not be entirely destroyed. The fire had not reached the office and it seemed unlikely that it would and in consequence no effort was made to remove the books ot the concern.
 MT. Caleb s. Toronto, the superintendent of the rolling min said it was impossible to give any definite estimate of the amount of loss, but thought that $50, ,OO0 to $4O,OOO would be fair estimate. The loss is fully covered by insurance. The cause of the fire could not be stated by any of those in the part where it caught, but it was thought that the furnace from which it caught became overheated and the wood work which was close by being quite dry took fire. The company had fire apparatus of their own on the premises, but the water early gave out and it was impos- sible to make any headway against it before the arrival of the fire department. The department worked hard and systemati- cally, and though high wind was blowing against them they were able to coufine the fire to the mill itself. The department are working on the fire at the hour of going to press (4 a. m. ), but it seems plain that the fire is confined within it's present limits.