Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-05-31
wAhLrNGFonD,s BIG FIRE.


The wheel shop Damaged About $780,
O0O-A Binding Flash of Lightning
Strikes the CupOla OF the Shop-A
Fierce FIre-The Tnsurances-The
Company May Remove Its Business
To New Haven
WALLINGFoRD, May 30.-The damage by
the wheel shop fire here to-day is estimated
at about $50, 900 or 100000. The FIRE was
occasioned by the lightning which struck the
cupola of the main shop ct 3 o'clock this
morning The spread of the flames was very
rapid and the fire departments rotten hose
burst several times, hindering the work of the
fremen who worked braveIy. By o'clock
the main shop was nearly burned to the
ground, but it was necessary to keep q stream
of water upon the ruins until noon. IF the
| hose had not bursted, it is probable the dam
age would have been much less and that the
| fire would have been confined to the roof and
| upper stories. Unquestionably lightning
| caused the fire. At 1:45 O'Clock this morn
l ing heavy thunder shower prevailed and
one particular clap of thunder set the towns
l teeth on edge. Those FIRST to the FIRE were
| able to see marks where the lightning had
| shiyered the cupela and run down one corner
| of the building.
i The company have large stock of materi-
al stored in sheds and outbuildings, all of
1 which was saved. The factory was burned
down March 10, 1880, when Wallingford's
| fire steamer was first used.
Captain B. A. Treat and E. S. Parmalee
were the principal stockholders in the con-
Germ, and Captain Treat said this morning
| that the loss would be between $50, 900 and
| $50, 900. The plant was insured for $23, 300
| eff the company does not receive cent of
its Insurance. said Captain Treat this morn
i ing, sit can pay all of its debts and pay 100
cents on the dollar"
The insurance on the building was So, $50;
on stock 81 200; on machinery So, $50; on
engine and boiler $500. The company held
i policies covering their buildings, machinery
and contents as follows, Phoenix of Londen
| So, $40, London and Lancashire of London
| So, $40, Lancaster of London 81 $50, Peoples
of Middletown 5000, New Hampshire Fire
Insurance company 5000, North American of
Philadelphia $3.50, Imperial of London
| 80, $40; City of London 5000, Pennsylvania
of Philadelphia $2.64o, Queen of Liverpool
1 81 $3.50, Westminster of New York 81 .485,
Hanover of New York 1890, Telland Coun-
| ty of Rockville 5000, Norwalk of Norwalk
5000, American Fire of Philadelphia 81 $50,
| Norwich Union of London 81 $50, German
American of New York 81 $50, Commercial
| Union of London 81, $50, Fire Association of
Philadelphia 1880, National of Hartford
| 81 $50, Liberty of New York 81 1929, Elliot
u
H., 1890, Granite State $500, Traders In
surance Co., Chicago, 81, 1856, >Anglo-Nevada
of San Francisco 81 800; total $43, 1926.
But portion of their insurance applies to
the loss, however, as it was written so as to
| cover the stock in the outbuildings. At a low
estimate the company's net loss will be $780,
| 600.
The concern has on hand $40, 900 worth of
| orders and has been running eleven hours per
day recently. About seventy-6ve or eighty
hands will be thrown out of employment.
The insurance was all placed through the
agency of Hall & Vail.
The concern owns another plant down in
| North Carolina and consequently will be able
| to fill it's orders with reasonable degree of
promptness. 1t is probable that the shop
will be rebuilt as quickly as possible.
A daughter of John Heineman was one OF
the first to discover the fire and George Carr,
the Waterman, was one of the first to see it,
and he promptly gave the alarm. Carr's
| work is to patrol the different shops of the
Maltby, Stevens & Curtis plant. Watehman
Bartholomew, who is employed by the wheel
company, was busy at work in the smithing
department when the alarm was sounded
The Wallace hose company first responded
and at the second alarm the Simpson hook
and ladder truck and the steam fire engine
| came to the scene. Thomas Clark telegraph
operator at the depot, was one of the first tc
see tia FIRE. He thought the depot had beer
struck, so binding was the lightning's flash
and going out to reconnoitre saw flames issu
ing from the wheel shop cupola The build
ing burned was wooden structure 1914 feel
long by so feet wide. 1t burned like tinde1
| box.
Captain Treat, the treasurer, who is com
mander of Company K, Second regiment
said last night to COURIER reporter that il
was not decided to rebuild in WallingforG
and that the company might remove it
business to New Haven. The company viii
try to have its untitled orders filled here
The fire was still. burning last night and
part of the fire department was still on dut,
at the ruins. The company saved all it
books.