New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-10
LOSSES ON A LACE FACTORY.
TIE DUDEN & co. PLANT DESTROYED.
VALUABLE STOCK ALSO BURNED - THE DAMAGE
WILL BE 100000.

Tho extensive factory OF the Associated Laccmakorv
Company at williamsbridge. In westchester County,
was totally destroyed by tho fire which broke out thefv
on Thursday evening. Tho employees had Quit wor1
and most Of them had left the building when the nre
was discovered. This was fortunate for the flames
spread with such rapidly that tho few persons who
" tho building barely escaped with their hvos.
T. ". Hudtwalcker, tho general manager and ono
of the principal stockholders Of the company, who
was at tho fire, said yesterday II wae In tho ONCE
on the second noor (he factory IS twostory build
ing, at o 80 y. m.. whom two boys and a girl csme
running down stairs crying fire. supposing II
trhng matter seized pail OF water aud ran to tho
finishing room, where the fire was but was not ablo
to get three yards from tho door. Tho entire. op-
p0sitc side Of the abaze and the smoke was
so dense that could scarcely find my way out. In
an instant everything seemed to be In flames. I
swallowed SO much smoke before could get ont
that became Sick though managed to recover my.
self soon and back into the Office to what
could But 1t was useless, for tho Office biacb
with smoke, and saved nothing. one man rushed
Into the Building at the risk of bis life and broUgh.
out a few pieces Of manufactured laces Of small
value This all that was saved. Tire, walls
are standing. but they damaged that they VIII
have to como down The volunteer Hrcmen Of West.
chester with steam fro engine arr, ed aboIt thrco-
quarters OF an hour after tho lire staod, but they
OF course could do nothing.
IL place the companys loss at about sl2O, coo.
Inc heaviest portion or this Is Oh the machinery which
Is costly and cannot BIO duplicated ia this country.
II consisted principally OF sixteen aco machines Of
various Sizes all imported and worth not less than
$4,000. Tho loss In manufactured goods Is
soo,OUo TO $4,000; Ia stVch hand $1,000 10
10000; IN patterns $4,000; IN jacquard cards,
SIX twisting machines, engines DofaD dyc.ng
houses and everything going TO make Up full equip
mcnt, say $4,000 more. Tho insurance Is aD0nt
S&OVOOU, divided among Thirty thirty five
panIcs.
ihs cause OF tho fro Is mystery TO when
the work OF dressing the lace Is going Oh 30 10 90
degrees Is the highest DccdfU tcmpcIatIc, but ycS
tcroay 90 degrees was the average temperature. No
smoking Is allowed In the factory. VIC have had
strikes and are on good terms with workmcn.
Many OF these ere skilled iaboreIs from France and
Belgium anu number now between eighty ami
hundred. About ono half arc men only SIX or seven
boys are employed and the rest and girls.
They VIII! OF be thrown out OF employ mentp
Tho company whose property has be,n destroyed
was established by Herman DnGen q Co.. OF Brussels,
Ia 1851. Previously they had been heavy importers
OF laccS, The nfst two years the manufacturing
done In BOohkn Then the company purchased
nineteen acscs OF land at Wniianisblidge aud erected
their factory, which lA5 ioot long by 80 wlde.
Hero the largest production OF lace In the United
stetes was carried The firm confined TO Import
lac1 I'm considerable qnsntitic but the bulk Of IT'S
orders wore manufactured here Tho amount OF tho
cUmpany's capital stock 4, 100000 divided into
$1,000 shares, held both IN thi, city and in Belgium,
and considered al par. Mr. lindtw alchcr said yes
terdey that n was tho compsny's intention 10 10.
build The works on the same property without delay