Daily Republican., 1888-05-14
FLkE AT TACONR.
A Bniiding of the Disston saw works
DSstroyed-Loss S3OO,OOO-Urixtn OF
the Fire Unknown.

BniidinE of the Disston saw works
DSstroyed-Loss $500, O,O0O-UriEin OF
the Fire Unknown.
TIE rolling mill sud steel building Of
the Henry DIsston Il 5ono' saw Works,
at Tacopy, Pa, WAS destroyed by fiIe
early on Sunday morning, and the ma
chtnery and stock contained therein
totally ruined, involving q loss, 1t Is
estimated, Of about $500 900.
The building was q one story, double
peaked brick structure, 200 by 800 feet,
containing furnaces, ttocke, epgine1
aud rolls for melting and rolling the
steel sheets for their manufacture into
asws. The roof wes OF slate, supported
oY wooden bsams, which seemed to
have been the only iDflSmmable parts
OF the building. To the west and almost
adjoining the burned building were the
gas works which supplisd the furnaces
with fuel by large gas main four feet
In diameter, running over the root to =
vertical stand-pipe. On the Rorth was
the iron fire-prOof rolling mill and on
the south the hardening mill and the
long saw mill and machine shop, while
the east was unobstr ucted to the river
front.
The origin OF the FIRE is n mystery
and NO surmises In regard to IL were
nade yesterday by members OF the
hrm or employees About O'Clock 10
the morning the two wstchmeD, whose
duties require them to be In that build
Ing as that hour Gin nltaueously, dis
covered flames shooting up from thu
eeatre OF the floor. They rushed ou
and began calling aid by blowing theil
whistles, forgetting that o Gre alSrn
box Was located Just outside the gate.
The attention OF policemen attached
: to the tub-station ut Tacony wss at
tracted, and, noticing the Are whiol
broke Its way through the roof ant
. which was rapidly envelopipg thl
building, they struck IN alarm. Al
engineer on Pennsylvanin II ,ilroet
train passing through Taoony openeI
the valve OF his engine, and the whist
ling hsd the effect OF rousing the sleep
ing Inhabitants for miles around.
Five minutes after tina alarm wa
struck the reof fell in. Az interval
: the 20 Cdt stacks toppled over unit
scarcely half dozen were left stand
Ing. In 20 minutes the fire engine
from the Houaa Of Uorreoslon arrived
! but their services were useless, as ia
Ace had gone too fas and the othe
= buildings were on. OF danger. Shortl
: after company arrived from Frank
{ ford.
ToNards daylight the fire grad uall
died ont. The building yelterdsy pre-
. ented q spsctAole Of utter dshoiatior
5 The machinery was sill discolored an
Q warped, and covered with charrel ent
berg. The sheets Of steel lay piled
confusion, made useless fIom the II
tense heat,
MansSet williams, of the rolllu
g mill, said yesterday that 1eO nen we
$ employed IN the burned building. Z
a suid tie works would not be affsote,
II as Ru arrangement would be made
IL supply them with prepared eteel pen
o Ing the rebuilding Of the burned stru
II ture.
o TIE soene was visited by Samuel al
10 Jacob DlsstOn yestsrdsy. They 81
8, the ireursnoe on the bnllding W
r S190, 900, placed In the Manufactures
Q, Insurance. OompAuy OF Massschustt
o. The effect of the fire is seriously I;
J. by the residents OF Tacony, In nlmc
1. cutting off their water supply. Tue
IN 800 ,0C0 gallon WorthlnSton pun
% which torcaA water to the stand pipe
the middle of the village, and viii
y was located In the burned building, v
D. totally destroyed, and other means hs
90 been resorted to In order to furnish
part water to the inhabitants.
IL is the firms Intention to begin
binding ut once.