The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-04-25
WORK OF THE FLAMES.
Serious Fire i'm ICincinnati-Loss $500,
OOO-4OO Pernnns lluf nf Er,,nIaxn,eut

serious FIRE AA lC1nclnmat1-LOss $780,
O0O-4OO Persons Ont of Employment.
CINCINNATI, April A.-The American Oak
Leather Tannery. occupying the square bound
ed by Kenner street, Mclean avenue, Dalton
and Florence streets, was burned at an early
hour this morning, excepting the japanning
works, which were saved by the desperate eff
forts of the fire department. There were
20, OOO hides in the factory. The loss will reach
$4O0,00O /; insurance $500, 600. Portions of the
tannery were burned year ago. Four hum
bred kersons are thrown out of employment.
A Result of Fall River Srikes-The Saga
more Mills i'm Ashes anu 500 People ont
of Work.
FALL RIVER, Mass, April 24.-Shortly after
g o'clock tonight the Sycamore mill, No. l,
situated in the northern part of the city caught
fire just after the help had left the mill The
fire was discovered in the basement, and in a
very few minutes the flames had entered the
tower in the centre of the mill, and the entire
tower was soon mass of flames. The fire
caughtin several hundred bales of cotton in the
basement. The cotton was on fire in several
places, leaving but little doubt that the fire
was OF incendiary origin. A few women were
in the weaving room, but the fire in the tower
cut off their escape by the stairs, and they
made their exit from the burning building BY
means Of fire escape. The flames spread
rapidly through the cotton, and the superin-
tendent, after striking the alarm, attempted
with others to stop the Roadway of the fire by
the use of the extinguishing apparatus at the
mills. The flames had gained such headway
however, that they were soon driven from the
basement One of the men who aided in the
attempt to subdue the fire was badly burned
about the face and hands. When the fremen
arrived the tower was mass of flames, and
the burning cotton in the basement sent forth
dense black smoke, which greatly impeded
their work, Despite the strenuous and we'll
directed efforts of the firemen, The flames
spread quickly, and Roadway was so rapidly
attained that it was beyond all power to con-
troll. The flames climbed up the elevator
shaft and through the tower to the stories
above, and soon after the floors and walls COM
menced to fall.
AT 1890 p. m. nothing was left of the main
mill but the tower and portions of the walls.
With the exception of the lower story of the
engine house, in the ell in the rear, the mill is
total loss, which will amount to about
100000. The mill was built in 1873, of
brick, was five stories high with basement
and tower in the centre. A four-story ell in
the rear contained the engine house, which
was saved. What is left of the
walls and tower will have to be torn down.
The corporation had capital of $3.50 900 and
ran two mills. The mill ran about 4O. 600
spindles and 1000 looms and employed about
500 hands with weekly pay roll Of $1,000. The
Sycamore was one of ten mills struck by spin
ners twelve weeks ago and was one against
which the efforts of the strikers were
mainly directed. Notwithstanding the
strike the mill has been kept in
steady operation and to-day nearly
the full complement of machinery in the mill
was running. In the present state of public
feeling there is strong opinion that the strike
anu tne nre are in some way connected.