The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-04-11
THE GAS WORKS SCARE.
1t Might Have Been Serious
but the Firemen Saved
the Big Reservoirs.
HARD AT WORK TO GIVE LIGHL
The Lafayette Works Started Up
and Over Half Pressure Kept
Up in the Mains.

According 70 Superlntenuent ElliottH
story the patrons Of the United Gas In
provement Company will not be at all In
eonvenienced through the effects of yes
tsrday's FIRE at the company's works at
the foot Of Sixth street
To q reporter Of THE JERSEY CITY NEWS
this morning Mr.. Elliott said.--"You see,
when we saw the fire yesterday would BE-
n serious one, arrangements were inn
medistely made TO start up the Gas Con-
sinners works in Lafayette, which had
been closed down during the the pest
eight or ten weeks We control
the Bergen Point and the st. Paul's ave-
nue. works also aud our system Of pipes
is so perfect that we can readily draw
from these SO nsnes, though we shall not
be obi ged to do8o. Then we tele9raphed
for men from our works In other cities
We were manufacturing gas at the Haili-
day street works at midnight, and had
million pounds on hand ~ daylight this
morning. feel rather proud OF this fact.
considering the big fire in Sixth street.
Yes we gave full pressure last night will
do SO again tonight, and Will continue 70
do so right along without any breaks. or
course we can manufacture with greater
facility at the works In Sixth street when
they are in order"
EMPTY TANKS
visited the wrecked building, IN which
were the four large generators, at Pro-
vost and sixth streets The four large
gas holders that were yesterday plainly
visible over the high fence running from
Henderson to Provost had sunk clear out
of sight, and the weights were hoisted
nearly to the top OF the iron framework
from which the retorts are suspended
This looks as though the gas stored in
them was pretty well consumed last
night.
On the other side Of Provost street
stands the shattered building. Inside,
there is a general chaotic mass of debris,
yet the iron generators seem partially
protected By the network Of iron which
supported the fallen roof Res ting upon
the bent and tangled network of iron are
masses of charred timbers. bricks and
mortar, and joints OF the big smoke STACK
that fell with the roof. Occasionally
a piece Of iron or masses of brick came
tumpling through, making It extremely
hazardous 10 work beneath.
PUSHING REPAIRS
One OF the engineers was found walk
ing about inside the building. He said
gagged in strengthening things up and
making temporary arrangements for
manufacturing gas.
Il can't tell anything about It, be said,
when asked what was the prospect for
light. ''We're doing onr level best. The
generators are not much damaged
certained, and CLAN cling up at tue mass
of debris overhead. 'if nothing unforeseen
happens we may be able to manufacture
some gas here this evening. We usually
carry enough ahead TO supply customers
for two nights. The company gave
pretty fair illumination last night didn't
ABOUT half pressureso asked.
sOh, more than that" he replied, SAL
most full pressure.
'wlll you be able to give the same
amount Of pressure tonights"
well, we hope so. So far as these works
are concerned the main trouble is with
the pipes which connected with the
retoris We can't tell just what con-
tingency might arise In re-adjusring
them.
"Just about the time we think we've
got things in shane we may discover
some new trouble. But / think we shall
be able TO supply customers right along.
1t looks that way at present. The other
works in Lafayette have been started
up
'sYou don't know how the fire origin
ateQ. do You 7"
things In shape for manufacturing new
-
the origin OF the IRE"
"And the amount OF damagef"
Cant tell that. either. II runs up in
the thousands"
THE ORIGIN OF TIE FIRE MIS- TERY.
The IRE occurred yesterday afternoon
in the generator room of the companyis
works at the foot of Third street, and its
origin seems to be wrapped In mystery.
Those who were In the neignbofh0od
when the fire broke out say that
1t started with a sudden out
collapse of the roof and tall iron smoke
stack. The next minute the place was
Wrapped IN flames. All who saw il say fl
had ali the appearance Of an explosion
but Mr.. Robert Elliot, the general agent
of the company, declares that there was
no explosion 1t was a difficult matter 70
gain any Information, as the superln-
tenaeut warned all the company's en-
about the origin of the fire.
The generator room IN which the ire
started IS a oae-story brick building about
100x35 feet, situated at the corner OF
sixth and Provost streets. IL is separated
from the main works by Provost street
The building, which was covered
by a heavy slate roof, con-
tained four large generators, or fur
naces. in which the gas was extracted
from the coal The crude gas was forced
from this building across the street 70 the
main works. where 1t was put through
the various processes OF manufacturing
Illuminating gas. and then stored in huge
gasometers.
John O'Seii and Joseph Noble. two OF
the Workmen. were severely burned BE-
| fore they could get out of the building
The firemen responded promptly
10 the alarm, and although
hampsred by an insufficient
apparatus they soon had the IRE under
control Chief Conway was on hand
early and so exposed himself to danger
that he got his new rubber suit with
Assistant Chief DenmeAd had MS eye
bows and mustRche badly singec- he was
| climbing upa Ladder against a woo1en adj
diIion to the burning building when tns
flames burst out all around hlin-
Hudson Circuit Court.
Calendar Tuesday. April II A. D. 169L.
4 aud & z. n.