New-York tribune., 1886-07-23
EHRETS BREWERY ON FIRE.
BUT THE BOYCOTTERs HAD NO HAND IN rr.
AN EXPLOSION IN TnE MALT MILL. SUCH AS HAS
OCCURRED BEEORE-Lnss S2i0n0

AN EXPLOSION IN TIIE MALT MILL SUCH AS HAS
OCCURRED BEFORE-LOss $4,000
When reports of an explosion and n fire in
George Ehrets big brewery in East Ninety. .second-s
we're spread about the city yesterday many persons
wondered II the boycotters who have been after Mr.
Ehrets scalp lately had undertaken to carry on the yar
against him with dynamite and the torch. Thrre was
much eleltenent in the brewery at Q a. M when tho
building shaken by explosion. but none OF tho
many workmen about the place imagined that the boy
cotters had anything to do with IT, loud report ths
northwest wing OF the six story structure followed h.
puns OF smoke and the cracking OF flames the uppsr
stories told the plainly enough that had
been accidental explosion OF matt dust In the mill
the third The entire wins used FOR the storage
and preparation OF malt At the mill the third ncos
the malt ground between heavy iron rollers which
turned rapidly by steam power. The fine malt duss
which fills the air about the mil Ia ain ost explosive as
gun owder ana che faintes spark Will ignite IT, Great
care needed to prevent the Introduction OF stray nail
or bit Of stone mill. Despite the precautions
bich taken at the brewery. some gravel passed
between the rollers OF the mil about 1--WE add
struck spark which caused explosion. The matt
mill was nearly destroyed by fire at time similar
accident happt ned yesterday morning AMI the men On
duty at the mill were not long in crdng alarm
OF fire.
No person was hurt by the explosion and the injury
property at the slight; but the malt dust
the re quickly through the which tho
malt elevated to enclosed bins IN the 70 rh nth aud
sixth stories Several companies OF remen ;He
brewery In hot haste and iues OF hose dragged mp
the Winding stair tie roof upper floors.
The flames IN the ooiwork extir guisled eA,iy
hut II necessary 10 wet down the bins ~ malt in
order put out the fire in them. TIE result tnst
tue water cauei damage TO the malt far greater Than
tho damage 10y fire. Before IL a. IN. the nrcmen
Thought they had completed their work and they got
ready to leave the brewery. Some o! the companies
the back TO their quarters when snOgidrr
irg embers which had been ovrrookei near the roof
cd A " a
nremen returned to rnd the b, tower the WING
well on fire. ft required hard work for an hour 10 eg
tinguish the 4 amos In tue tower and roof anu
down the malt bins
The loss by hre ter estimated az about
S25.C C0O Mr.. Ehret sad he thought the loss would
the hui ling was worth about f3O0DO aud WIS dam
aged only by water II probably Is worth haf - M ch
can he repaired for siOO0O Mr. Ehret WIS rejected
by insurance IN tina following companies: Liverpool
and London and Globe. Roy l. hoLe e. lmperla. ,om-
ish Queen. and several otner- II was his intention -
d. scharge O, his em loyes soon. but the lire Will
cause interruption OF business II the brewery and
laryer number OF men probably VIII be discharged
today.
There is no reason believe that the fire OF uccn
diary origin, that the boycOers had ans po>sl DO
connection with it. IA in fonr mills the dust from the
mali mills highly nfamn able aud fires % lrcuenI
occurrence IN them hs RUE, however NOT n''l'ns
quantity ot dust accumuates TO give tue hamc, mueh
he and they generally eNtiDsuished with ltuo
or no trouble In eakng OF the probable origin % tho
Of Mr. Ehr6 s foremeu said: In All pruDk-
blty a nail piece Of iron betwe the rocrs and
this made "A spark which set fire to the dust.
Secretary setert, of the Association Of Cnitei Lager
Reer Brewers. said: have iiea tnat tie IRE WAS
OF .cendary origin AMI think an inNestig tou VIII
show tn.t it was iue entirely to cxpainaole cau,es
TIE men Laughed at the idea tia, tue boycOtrrs hal
ANYTHING to do with the One of the said: Every
little while they these fires ID the mill rooms
There in Rurperts not long aio bat va, pus
easily before 1t got any heddw'y anu you arc hhVo
10 have them In brewery AT any time.