New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-12
UNCLE SANS BIG LOSS.
GOVERNMENT PROPERTY DESTROYED.
FLAMES IN THE MILITARY POST AT wILLEr's
PoINT-yALUABLE TORPEDO. BOATS
AND APPARATUS GONE.

fire broke out in large warehouse at thA
military post at Willet's Point, l.. l., late on
Saturday night, and much valuable property Of
the Government was destroyed. some estimates
placing the loss as high as g 900, ,OO0
Colonel King, the ccmmandant Of the post,
thinks that the fire was the work of incendiary.
The building which was burned the out
skirts Of the post. 1t was in charge of Sergeant
Kelly, Of Company A. and none of the soldiers or
attaches of the post was allowed to enter it,
The building a one-story wooden structure
2j0 feet long and so feet wide. IL was used
as storage house for storing all the implements
OF the engineer corps, electrical apparatus. pom
toon bridges and other army supplies In the
building were stored nine fish torpedoes valued
at IS, 900 each, and the electrical apparatus by
Symms and Edison, used for steering the tor
pcdoes There were only three Instruments Of
this kind in use in the world. The only ones
ever made were manufactured for this country,
Germany and England. The apparatus, it Is
said, was worth many thousands of dollars.
Among the other things stored in the building
were 10000 feet of oak plank. fifty bales OF
rope, ] 900 shovels, 10000 pickaxcs, a number
of canvas boats, and all the pontoon bridges be-
longing to the post. There were also several
pianos and large lot Of furniture stored in the
building. Tie pontoon bridges were extremely
valuable, and were among those used in the war.
There were also large number of ship anchors
and small boat anchors destroyed
The powder and dynamite which were stOed
in the place were fortunately removed TO the new
iireproof arsenal some two weeks ago.
The Point is garrisoned by 400 men, soldiers
and officers, and is known as the Torpedo School
Taps had been sounded on Saturday night, and
the men were about going 10 bed. when the alarm
Of fire was given. The men immediately fell
into line and hurried to the fire, but upon their
arrival the flames had gained sCch headway that
they could do little to stay the fires progress.
There is two-inch water main which is sup
piled from the water-works at Flushing, but there
was very little pressure on, and telegram was
sent 10 Flushing To turn OIL greater pressure OF
water There is no direct wire with Flushing
from the Point, and the telegram had to go by
the way of this city. By the time suticient
pressure of water had been turned on the pipe the
lire had burned nset out. When the soldiers
found that they could not save the building In
which the fire started, they turned their attention
TO the other buildings, and wlth me assistance
Of hook and ladder companies from Baysde and
WhtestOne, they succeeded IN saving me sur
rounding property. The heat of the fire was
intense and the light was seen all over LONG
Island A large building constructed chiefly OF
glass caught fire from the sparks. put was saved
after great eXertions by the lighters
Colonel King immediately teesraRhed re re-
port of the fire to the Secretary of War. Con-
gress will be compelled 10 make an Appropriation
before the buil1ing and its contents can he re-
placed. The officers at the post are conbdent
That the fire was the wcrE Of an inccndlary ana
that it is the third fire of incenIiary origin Una.
has occurred at Willet's Point. The fire before
this one destroyed the theatre about four weeks
ago.
Il was fortunate that the soldiers were not
further handicapped in their endeavors to stay
The flames. Had the wind been in another quar-
ter without a supply Of water. the adjoining buid-
ing. which is full of army wagons, would have
also been destroyed as well as the dweng-honses
of the married privates. which are also on that
side of the burned building.