Huntsville gazette., 1886-03-13
DISASTROUS FIRE.

A Clean Sweep of the Monarch Line Steam
ship Pier and Erie Depot at Jersey City,
N. 1.-THE Steamship Lydiian Monarch
Badly Damaged and Her Cargo Almost
Ruined--The Loss Nearly 100000.
NEW YORK, March S.-Just before two
O'Clock this morning the extensive prop
crty OF the Erie Railway Company in Jer-
sey City and the dock of the Monarch
line of steamers were in flames. A gen.
eral alarm brought the entire fire depart
ment of the city to the spot, but their ef-
forts proved futile in staying the prog
ress of the flames, which spread rap
idly. First the capacious passenger
depot was attacked. There the
fire had full play, for the structure burned
like kindling wood. Next the car-shops
were enveloped and quickly consumed.
The employees, aided by several locomo-
tives, transported much of the valuable
rolling stock beyond the reach of harm,
but it is feared that many cars, including
two Pullman sleepers, were destroyed.
With inconceivable speed the fire then
spread to the ferry-house and mcnaced
boat in the slip, and the adjacent shipping
but several tugs were soon on the scene
and towed them to places of safety. 1t
is not thought probable that the loss can
fall short of $600,000.
JERSEY CITY, N. j., March 8.-The
fire early this morning in the rear of the
Monarch Line steamship pier was
caused, it is said, by spontaneous CON-
bustion in pile Of jute recently dis
charged from the Lydian Monarch.
The wind was blowing on shore. Moth.
ing could have saved the ferry-boat and
railroad offices of the New York, Lake
Erie & Western railroad. The fire on the
dock spread with lightning rapidity, and
soon enveloped the whole structure and
extended to the steamship Lydian Mon
arch, which was lying at the
dock. A general alarm brought
all the available fire apparatus
in Jersey City to the scene, and two fire
boats from New York. InnumerabIe
steamers were soon playing upon the
burning property, but with little or no
effect, and in a short space the steamship
dock and shed six hundred feet long, and
eighty feet wide, together with one hun
dred feet of the milk-car shed. of the Erie
railroad depot were completely destroyed.
Despite the efforts of the crew the
I.ydian Monarch was soon covered with
flames. The fire boats turned their at
tention entirely to the steamship when
it was seen that the pier was doomed,
and through their efforts alone was the
vessel saved from destruction.
Although there were innumerable tug.
boats in the vicinity, none could get near
enough to the Monarch to tow her out.
The starboard side of the vessel is badly
warped. and the iron for long distance
Is olistered and bulged. All her boats
have been destroyed, and her upper spars
are gone. The cargo, which was almost
wholly destroyed, was very valuable, con-
sisting of wool, jute, rags, tin, rum,
bottled ales and porter and other mis-
cellaneous goods. The most valuable
part of the cargo was a large consign-
ment of dry goods in bond for transporta.
lion for Canada.
In the burned shed of the Erie railroad
there we're several milk cars which were
totally destroyed.
The flames were not gotten fully under
control until seven O'Clock, and up to
one O'Clock this afternoon the firemen
were still at work on the smouldering
debris. The roofs of the Erie Ferry
house and railroad waiting-rooms were
badly scorched. The total loss is esti-
mated at from 100000 to 100000. NJ
lives were lost