The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-03-23
THE ARGUS ASHES.
Walls Of the Burned Build
ing Threatening Neigh
boring Structures.
FARRlER MUST REMOVE THEM.
The Plant Of the Concern Had Been
Advertised for Sale at One
Third Its Cost.

The partially destroyed argus building
was visited by throngs yesterday that
stood about the streets and gazed at the
havoc wrought by Saturday nignts' blaze.
The fire was not so sweeping in its effects
as at first appeared and did the greatest
damage in the rear OF the building. There
the floors fell in, carrying the heavy
machinery which encumbered them to the
cellar. Tue roof is entirely gone aud but
little remains of the two upper floors. Be
low that everything stands Ia the front Of
the building as It was before the fire be-
gan. On the second floor, which was used
as the JOB press room, several of the large
presses stand intact. The safe aud its
contents in the Office were found to be in
good condition. Most Of the books were
so that their contents could be used, but
almost Everything Is saturated with water.
In the cellar where the boiler, engine
and newspaper press are located every
thing is under water. In addition to the
torrents which were poured into the
building by tho Fire Department. a pips
bursted in the cellar and WAS still this
morning pouring wateT into the room.
The origin Of the fire Is still wrapped in
mystery The Messrs. tarrier and repre-
sentatives Of the insurance companies
went through the lower stories this morn
ing as far as they could, owing to the
which choke up the rear, but could find
nothing which pointed 70 the cause of the
blaze. The Messrs. Farrier aud their
counsel, J. Herbert Potts, were in tine
office looking over the books for some time
Saturday evening and Left about one nour
before the fire was discovered They say
that there was then no trace of IRE or
smoke about the place. the Only theory
so far advanced Is tnat the flames were
caused by the boiling over or a glue pot
which one of the girls employed in the
bindery must have lefr on a Stove which
was used for boiling glue in that de part
ment. The Messrs. Fafrier say that tnat
was the only fire which was in the build
ing as il was heated by steam.
The toll walls looked exceedingly dan
gerous this morning. There is nothing
TO hold tae first two stories together, and
there are large cracks and breaks in the
sides, and the front bas bulged out of
plumb. Mr.. William H. Farrier. the
owner of the building, said that he had
notified the police and building inspector
of the dangerous condition of the walls.
Chief Murphy says that ne has notified
Building Inspector Clarke of the danger
Gus condition of the walls also, and that
Mr.. Clarke notified the Messrs. Farriers,
aud urged them to take immediate steps
to remedy the matter.
Under the seventh section of the ordi-
nance providing for the appointments Of
power to order the removal or demolition
of any wall in dangerous condition after
a fire. He Is obliged TO serve written no
tice upon the owner or agent, who shall,
within twenty-fOur hours, take the neces-
sary steps to remove all danger, having
five days within which TO do this. Ia
case the owner or agent fails to do this
the Building Inspector IS directed to make
complaint before a police magistrate.
The penalty for noncompliance with the
law is a fine of $50 and SO for each day
thereafter the walls are allowed to stand.
The fire burned some time before the
police arrived on the spot and cleared the
street. aud a dense throng soon blocked
The thoroughfare in front of the burning
building. When the first alarm was
given the wife of the Italian who oc-
cupied the shanty adjoining the Arg us
building on the east. snatched up a OK
containing a sum OF money and some
jewelry, and rushed out on to the street
in a condition bordering on to hysteria.
While making her way through the
throng stranger came up, and snatch
ing the DoX out OF her hand disappeared
in the crowd. The only description the
woman can give OF the man Is that he
had a light moustache and wore faded
light oyercoat
The ArQuS will be issued as usual to-
day. The management secured a plant
this morning which will enable them to
publish the paper, and IL Will be delivered
to dealers at the old building this after
noon.
Considerable comment was occasioned
in this city yesterday over the strange
coincidence of tae fire in the argus
Building and the appearance IN
Yesterday mornings Herald of
an advertisement which offered
the entire plant of the concern for sale
either at private or public sale on exceed
fngly easy terms and conditions, which
were srafed to he one-third of its COSTS