New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-09
TIN-PLATE DAMAGED.
MACHINES CRASHED THROUGH THE FLOOR
SIX HORSES BURNED TO DEATH-Loss NEARLY
$4,000.

SIX HORSES BURNED TO DEATH-LOss NEAHLh
$4,000
A large quantity of tn-plate. which had been I'M
ported before the tariff on the article went INTO
effect, was damaged by fire yesterday morning IN inc
six-story building Nos. 1913, $50 and 132 Janc-st'
The building Is owned and occupied by John d. HAS,
manufacturer of nware whose specaltes in the trade
are large and butter-pails. He was one OF the
manufacturers who invested largely in tlnpate during
the rush 10 take advantage Of the tarn ana nosV
Of the tinplatc which he imported stored In boxes
in his factory. The boxes. holding altogether many
tons, piled each other from the floor to the
ceiling and occupied large part Of the space on the
first floor Of the building, which has frontage Oh
sxty-sx feet in Janest. and extends back from the
sidewalk a distance Of eighty four feet.
smoke was seen rising from the roof OF the iao-
tory few minutes after a. IN. yesterday, and
policeman fastened to send on alarm from the nearest
signalbox. The Gremen found that the flames had
started in the cellar and had gone up through
holstway to the roof. extending in the fifth and sixth
stOries which well ablaze. A second and
third alarm called extra engines, water tower ana
a freb boat, but for nearly hour the flames seemed
to increase steadily in volume. Six horses, which
were stabbed I'm the factory, beyond the reach
of the hremen and burned To death. The fire
men were afraid that the strong walls Of the factory
might be dragged down by the weight of the tin
plate and Of the heavy machinery, and Chief Bonner
urged caution in the work Of throwing water on the
fames On the top floor were several large and heavy
machines, used in stamping tin-pato. one Of them
weighing nearly four tons, went crashing
down through the building soon after
a. m, and the lremen scampered away from the
walls thinking that the entire building might tumble
in ruins. The building strong enough to hold up
the enormous weight Of stock and machinery however,
and when the fire under control about a. m
the walls were to be comparatively unnued While
most Of the floor beams up TO the fourth moor had
escaped serious damage The roof of the building
was wrecked, and the two top stories were gutted
In the lower part Of the building the fire had destroyed
most of the lighter woodwork.
1t was not possible 10 tell later in the day to what
extent the large stock of tinpatc had been damaged
by fire and water, as the boxes were covered with
debris F. Assmann, the superintendent of the factory
said that the stock and machinery were insured for
only S34 600, which sum. lie thought, only about
half the value OF the stock. The building cost 500 OOO
when II was erected five years ago, and insured for
only 10000. From the estimates Of the superin
tendent and of the fremen the following account OF
Mr. Hasss probable loss and Of his insurance was
made up:
Loss. Insurance
r,uudtoo $4,000
So nd machine nv 30 600 3i.0
lies 'N .................... LOO 1,200
The insurance was divided among fifteen of tho
best companies in the city, Mr.. Assmann said. Ihe
cause of the fire was not klown