The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-02-11
GREAT FIRE IN NEW BRUNSWICK.

A freight train standing on the railway
bridge across the Raritan River, at New
Brunswick, N. j., was run into Saturday
morning by another freight train. Several
oil cars were thrown to the ground and
set fire to factories Hear the track. II
was little before o'clock In the morn
ing when the long train, made up of half
dozen oil tanks and the usual box cars,
came to a stop halfway across the long
iron bridge that leads out of New Bruins
wick towards Jersey City. The engineer
had received instructions to run into
sliding beyond the river and remain there
while the Southern fast freight following
lust behind went on. The train was
backing towards the New Brunswick
station Ia order to run into the sliding,
when the fast freight rounded ths curve
and crashed into the rear Of the backing
train. The engine crashed into the ca
boose OF the slow freight, splintered 1t
into jagged kindllng wook, four oil cars
were hurled over the high bridge and
three other cars dropped down in the
general wreck. One of the oil tanks was
thrown clear through the ornamental iron
fence that guards the bridge, and landed
upon the three-story roof Of a wing Of the
tory, breaking through three floors and
spreading blazing oil all over the build.
ing. The two other oil ears exploded aud
fell over the bridge into the street that
runs along The canal forty feet below
The burnin. oil ran down the CUTTERS OF
the street IN great sheet of flame and
spread oil over ths fiat frozen ground IN.
der the large factories that rise on either
aide Of the railroad bridge.
Frank Dumas, Of Dennison, the rear
breakman, was caught in the wreck and
went down with the flaming oil ant
twenty-five IN all, and box car full Of
dry goods came down upon him the oil
spread over all and the fire in u few min
utes finished the work, licking up all bu,
the iron girders aud trucks OF the wreck
that lay piled half as high as the grea
stone piers Of the bridge. The wounded
horses snorsed and screamed with pain
but In five minutes they, with the brake
man who went over IN the caboose, wer
silsnCed. The oil sped aloug the wood
work of the bridge, setting fire to til,
timbers aud cross. ties and burning ava,
about two hundred feet of the structure
Two Of the horses were fast trotters
yalued az BiUVU eacn.
The fire spread rapidly from one build
ing to another, as the burning oil wa
running all through the streets 10 The vi
cinity Of the accident, and 10 less than n,
time Janeway 4 Co.'S wall paper factory
I've story structure, was in blaze from
top to bottom, and 1t was only few
minutes before the entire place, covering
over block of ground, was on fire Five
buildings across the street from Janewa,
l. Co.'S factory--fonr dwellings, and al
inn--caught soon after the factory wall,
fell aud were burned to the ground. The
wind was fortunately blowing towards
the river, aud after two buildings of the
Consolidated Fruit Jar Company and one
Of Janeway Il Co., aud five dwellings
we're entirely consumed, the fire was pro.
nounced under control. The night was
bitter cold and the clothes Of the fireman
were frozen stiff.
Pat Dougherty, his brother and another
fireman went into the Wallpaper factory
shortly after the Gre started to save what
they could. In the smoke laden atmos.
phere Dougherty lie supposed to have
lost his way, for whea his companions
came out they were alone. They called
TO their friend and be shouted back some
anintelligible answer, but did not return.
The loss will reach $700, 900. The ex-
element Ia New Brunswick was very
great and thousands Of people fiocked "a
the awful scene Of destruction.