New-York tribune., 1891-05-08
THE BIG LUMBER FIRE.
ESTIMATING THE LOSS AT OVER s6eo,Ooo
MANY ACRES BURNED OVER ON THE LONG
ISLAND CITY RIVER FRONT.

MANY ACRES BURNED OVER ON THE LONG
ISLAND CITY RIVER FRONT
The big fire which broke oui in Long Island City
at 10 80 O'Clock on Wednesday night blased unti long
after daylight yesterday morning, after destroying
large of property. The fire originated in the
toundry OF Doncaster Brothers in Flushing-st near
Newtown Creek The fire was first discovered by the
watchmsn who saw the flames between the outside
wall Of the foundry and large pile OF lumber. 1t Is
supposed that in making the castings liquid iron
escaped and into the woodpe wherc it smouldered
for some time and then set the lumber fire. The
place is surrounded with lumber yards, mills and
factories, while the Long Island Railroad station is
near.
When an alarm was sent out the three steam fire
engines of the paid fire depactment recently organized
in Long Island City hurried to the scene Mayor Gea-
son was also hand directing tho efforts OF the lire
men, The flames spread rapidly, and II was soon eVl-
dent that the local fremen unable to cope with
the fire. which had indications Of becoming conha-
grafton.
Doncaster & Brothers foundry was q large frame
structnre forty BY sixty feet with an OF 100 rect
As flames leaped TO the huge piles OF lumber May
Gleason sent TO Brooklyn for assistance Ihe cit@A
divides Brooklyn from Long Island CITY, ana when tne
Brooklyn rcmen arrived they directed their efforts 10
saving property the border OF the creek ana aiso
threw streams across the creek on the Ire seVerh
tugs of the Standard Oil Company rendered gocd ser
vice. and kept steady streams Of water on the fire.
Doncaster & Brothers foundry was soon burned
out when the flames devOured a vast quan'iW Oh
lumber in the yard of Horace F. Burroughs. strong
northwest wind carried the flames 10 the lumber yard
n Macintosh a Co.. and great quantity Of lumber
there was consumed. Rogers Co.'s saw-mln cangnp
dps and was partly destroyed The stables attached
10 Doncasers foundry destroyed but eight horses
were rescued by Police Captain Woods.
Clark q SIMPSONS hay sheds and stables were next
reduced to ashes The flames destroyed the Offices Of
JUaU nc
quantity Of lumber Tuns, Sons e. Co. had one of the
largest lumber yards in the neghborhood, but only
little OF their lumber was burned. The flames con-
tinued to destroy everything in their PATH and the
yards Of the Export Lumber Company and the Clayton
Company were completely swept by the hre Acres
of huge piles of lumber were burned in both yards
When the fire reached E. W. McClave Il Companys
lumber ward It burned more fercely than ever, as
there was a large quantity Of yellow pine timber
to feed It. The flames ragged through the yellow
pine lumber until they burned down to the piers OF
the East River and Newtown Creek. Many vessels
were moored at the different wharfs in the neighbor-
hood but their lines were cut and they were towed
away to place Of safety.
The fire got dangerously close to the Long Island
Railroad sheds and the station in course of con-
Suction. All the cars, including President Corblns
private car, were removed from the sheds The IRE
men, aided by the employees of the railroad company,
saved both the sheds and the depot. After a. m.
fire was still burning, but completely under control
Smoke curled up from the ruins at noon yesterday,
but there was no sign of blaze.
Nothing remained Of Doncaster & Brothers foundry
but mass Of melted iron which was scattered in all
directions. In place Of the immense piles of lumber,
which covered acres there vast heaps of ashes.
The district burned is equal to eight city blocks
The total loss as estimated is as follows: Ex-
port Lumber Company, 10000; II. F. Burroughs,
100000; Macintosh Co., S25, 900; Clark d Samp-
son. SO 900; Doncaster Brother, 900. Hubbles
stoneyard, So 1000; E. W. McClave g. Co., $4,000; /;
j. Whiting, Sc, 900; Tuns, Sons d Co., $4,000; other
damage $4,000. The loss In each case is partly COW
cred by insurance The total amount of insurance
could not be ascertaned. The safe OF II: E Bur
roughs opened yesterday afternoon, and the con-
tents were found intact In the yard OF Macintosh
d. Co. 100000 feet OF lumber and 100000 shingles
were destroyed. The Export Lumber Company lost
100000 feet Of lumber.
No serious Inconvenience will be caused TO the
lumber trade in this city In consequence OF the fire.
Thomas 5. QUINN the New York manager of the Ex-
port Lumber Company, limited, said that the lumber
which was destroyed In their yard by the fire was
fully covered by insurance, and that their business
would not be liampered at all, as they at
ranged for pier facilities at Twentieth ST. Brooklyn,
while their burned piers are being rebuilt. The COM
pary also has yards at Boston, Ottawa and Montreal