Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-25
STRIKERS BURN A MILL.
A DISASTROUS RESULT OF THE
FALL RIVER TROUBLES.

FALL RIVER TROUBLES.
The Loss 5000, 900 and the Insurance
S5OO.OOO - CireumstantiaI Evidence
Which Makes Incendiarism Almost
Questionless-The Largest Tannery ia
the World Burned at CIncinnati-Fires
Elsewhere.
FALL RIVER, April 24.-Shortly after
O'Clock tonight Sycamore Mill Ne. I.
situated in the northern part Of the city,
caught fire. The hands had just left the
mill. The fire was discovered in the
basement. In a very few minutes the
flames had entered the tower in the centre
of the mill, and the entire tower was soon
a mass of flames. A portion OF the base
ment. used as stOrerOom for cotton,
contained several hundred bales. This
cotton was on fire in three places
when first found, leaving little
doubt that the fire was of incepdiary Ori-
gin. The entire FIRE department was
called out, but it was soon apparent that
the mill was doomed TO destruction. The
mill was supplied with perforated sprink-
lerS connected with the water works and
controlled by valves located i'm the tower.
These valves were not open when the fire
was first discovered. When the men who
We're endeaYOring to check the fire in the
basement found their attempts TO be futile
and the fire was seen to be working its
way up in the mill. an effort was made
to turn on the sprinklers. but by this time
the fire was burning iercely below, and
only a few of the sprinklers could be
turned on, the men being driven back
by the flames. Despite the efforts
of the firemen the flames spread.
and the headway so quickly attained
4 Ill
The flames climbed the elevator shaft and
soon after o'clock were issuing
from the upper stories and at o'clock
the whole interior of the mill was a mass
of fire. The roof fell, carrying the re-
naming floors to the basement. At 1880
o'clock nothing was left of the
main mill but the tower and
exception of the lower story. The engine
house was in an ell in the rear. The
mill is a total loss, which will amount to
about S600.000. The mill was built i'm
1873 of brick, and was five stories high
with a basement and tower in the centre
What Is left of the walls and
tower will have to be oyerthrown.
divided as follows: Boston Manufacture
ers' Mutual, 1000; Arkwright Mutual.
$4,000; Firemen's Mutual, $4,000; State
Mutual, $4,000; Worcester Mutual, $40,-
600; Blackstone Mutual. $4,000; Mer-
chants Mutual, $20, 600; Fall River Manu-
facturers' Mutual, $4,000; Mill Owners
Mutual, $4,000; Watcher Mutual,
$4,000; Hope Mutual, S20, 600; Enterprise
Mutual, $4,000; American Mutual, 500
600; Cotton and Wool Manufacturers
Mutual, $4,000; total $500, 600.
The corporation had capital of
S150,00O and ran two mills. The
mill destroyed ran about 10000 spindles
and 10000 looms, and furnished employ
ment to 500 hands, with a weekly pay
roll of $1,000. The Sycamore was one of
the ten mills in which the spinners struck
twelve weeks ago, and was the one
against which the efforts of the strikers
were mainly directed. Notwithstanding
the strike the mill had been kept steadily
in operation, and today nearly the full
complement of machinery was running.
In the present state Of public feeling
here there is a strong opinion that the
strike and fire are in some way connect
ed. That the fire was of incendiary origin
the manner of its first appearance leaves
no reason for doubt. The most careful in
vestigatiOn fails TO show that there was
anything among the cotton TO cause
the fire. The time of its discovery
and the fact that the cotton was burning
III three places is regarded as almost un-
mistakable evidence that it was Of in
cendiary origin. The feeling which has
been shown against the Sycamore mill
has existed among the strikers because
of the success of the mill in keeping in
operation in spite of the strike, and gives
grounds for the feeling that this spirit
caused the fire.
A MAMMOTH TANNERY BURNED.
CINCINNATI, April q, , A. MA terri
bic fire is now raging at the American
Oak Leather COmpany's Tannery. one Of
the largest in the world.
CINCINNATI, April a, 9 A. M.-The
American Oak Leather Tannery was
burned this morning, excepting the ia
pannlDg work. There were $4,000 hides
in the factory. The loss is S400. 600 and
the insurance 100000. Four hundred
persons are thrown out of employment.
CINCINNATI, April "a, 7 p. M.-The fire
in the American Oak Leather Tannery
originated in the drying room above the
boiler, and was discovered by the watch
man about , O'Clock this morning. while
lighting the fire under the boiler The
spread of the flames was rapid. Many
narrow escapes from falling walls were
made, but no injuries have been reported.
The capital stock of the company is
Sl,000,000. j. +. Money is President. S. NJ.
Lamont Vice President, and August Fo-
gel Secretary and Treasurer of the COM
pany. There is no question Of the ability
of the company to repair its premises and
proceed with its business.
IA STRUCTURES LAID LOW.
CLEVELAND, o., April 24.-Twelve busi-
ness places and two dwellings in West
Salem were burned to-day. Ten DAYS ago
two saloon keepers in the neighborhood re-
ceived anonymous letters telling them
that their places would be burned before
long.
A CONVENT IN RUINS.
LINDSAY ONT A ADriI 24-I Oraffo Com
vent was almost totally destroyed by fire
tO-daY. IL was insurel fnl 500 900