Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-08-27
YESTERDAYS FIRE.

munson q Co.'s Paper Box Manafae.
tory ON FTre-Damage About $25 1000
5000 work by the Firemen - A
Large ThrOng of Spectators = TWO
$4,000 photographic Machines be-
sSroYed-Pay OF Help To Day.
As the church bells were toiling and the
streets were filed with people going to their
several houses of worship yesterday morning
loud alarm of fire was sounded from box
421, corner of Bradley and William streets.
The fire was in the large paper box manu-
factory Of Munson & Co., and was first dis
covered and the alarm given by Captain Will
liam Gleason, the groceryman of State street,
while on the way to church.
Smoke was seen slowly curling up from
the left middle edge of the roof. The fire
was caused, as far as known, by spontaneous
combustion from oiled rags used in rubbing
machinery, and started in the loft where
paper and wooden boxes we're stored and
lithographing done.
sIf it had been on the second or third
floor" said Fire Marshal Kennedy, we
would have had it out in ten minutes" AS
it was, however, it was confined to a small
compass and nothing was burned below it.
The great damage was done by water. The
stock and machinery was ruined, or neatly 30,
by the heavy floods passing through the
floors, and damage is marked at $25, 600. In
surance was SO, 900 on stock and $12, 900 on
building. 1t is believed the insurance on
stock and machinery will not cover the loss.
Great work was done BY the fire DEPART
ment. The serial truck was early there and
did fine service. A special call was sounded
| for truck 3 shortly after the first.
| Twenty men with pitchforks were quickly
sent to the loft, and boxes of all kinds came
Aying out 80 thickly that you couldn't see
the building at times. This was literally
throwing the fire out of doors.
The engine room on the lower floor was
encased in 6reproof walls and remained as
dry as punk while everything about it was
swimming in water. A few things in the
Office were also kept dry by rubber blankets.
The principal loss was in the Autograph
department, which probably can't do much
fer two or three months. Two new 81 900
presses, set up two weeks ago, were entirely
destroyed. Here was where the heaviest loss
occurred.
The building was formerly occupied by the
old New Haven Organ company, and was
used by Munson & Co. about two and half
years ago, who bought the building from the
estate Of the organ company. Il lie three
and half story structure of brick. Almost
| two Thousand people filed the neighboring
streets to watch the work of the Grmen. In
| the crowd were many of the fair sex, some of
whom in Mother Hubbards gave variety to
l the scene, as also did some bareheaded Ital-
| ian danes with babies in their arms. They
| expect to be able to begin work again in their
building by Friday next. Work will be
begun in the present shop, as the lower part
| needs no repairing of note. The firm will
pay off their employees this afternoon as
| usual at the factory. The firm
| send paper boxes to customers in all parts of
| the United Statesr About 40 girls are en-
| ployed out of the hundred hands on the pay
| roll. The insureances were placed with
Charles Wilson & Co. and Cleveland S.
Thompson. The tired and heated fremen
| were invited into the neighboring store of
Mr.. Burrows, an ex-freman, fer refreshments.
| The damage to the building itself is probably
| about So 500