Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-04
DOUGH In THE FIRE.
BonistalIi & Bisi's Maccaroni Factory
Totally Destroyed.
FLAMES REACH ACROSS A STREET.
Losses Will Aggregate Nearly Thirty-Six
Thousand Dollars.
SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN INCENDIARY

The maccaroni factory of Bonistnlli &
Bisi, at 114s Penn avenue. was totally de-
stroyed by fire last night. The loss is esti-
mated at from s31, 900 to s36, 900, nearly all
of which is covered by insurance.
The firm has only occupied the building
about three months, having moved there
from No. 9 Market square. The building
was formerly occupied as -four and feed
wholesale house by Walter & Horning. The
building was owned by Leonard Walter, of
Church avenue, Allegheny. 1t is 27x1O0
feet. and was erected in 1885 at a cost of
SIG, 900. There was no one in it when it
caught. The only fire in the structure was
that under the boiler in the cellar.
The fire was discovered by Officer Oliver
Peoples at 8:25 o'clock. He turned in an
alarm from box %. The fire was in the
basement at the rear. and there was strong
odor of burning petroleum, which leads to
the suspicion that the fire was the work of
an incendiary. According to the statement
of Mr.. Bisi there was not an ounce of petro-
leum in the building. He, however, has no
idea OF who could have applied the match.
a second Alarm necessary
Although the department responded
promptly to the alarm, the flames spread
rapidly, owing to the infammable mate
rial with which the building was stored.
When Chief Evans arrived he turned in a Sec
ond alarm. For some reason not stream was
turned on the fire for Is or 20 minutes. In the
meantime, however, Assistant Chiefs Coates
and Stewart arrived and then matters moved
smoothly.
The new No. 8 truck was raised. but the
heavy clouds of smoke prevented its use, and it
only suffered from the flames, which burst out
later on. By the time the first stream was
thrown the great clouds of smoke enyeloped
the building, and in spite of the heavy wind
great volumes of it rolled down along the
street, chasing before it the great crowds. who
quickly dispersed in order to escape asphyxia-
ton.
Suddenly the great waves OF smoke changed
into pillows of flame which burst from every
opening in the fve-story brick building, The
doors and windows had been broken in below
and the great building roared like blast
furnace while the flames rolled out in front
until they kissed the buildings or the north side
of Penn avenue, and every few minutes the
roar was increased by the thunder of exploding
-four barrels Flaming brands and sparks were
scene was one of the most beautiful ever wit
messed in Pittsburg.
Although the spectacle was a grand one the
fire was easy to control. On the west side was
d
by ex-Alderman o. Donnell as an office. In the
rear were only few small tenement houses,
while the blacksmith shop of N. G. Moore was
all that stood on the east
Adjoining Property Saved.
The SHELTON livery stables in the rear were in
danger for a while, but a liberal supply of water
saved them. By $50 the fire was under COM
plete control and at 10 o'clock it was rung out.
The building is q total loss, as the walls will
have to come down. 1t was fve-story brick
structure with an iron front. 1t is regarded as
a total loss, but is fully covered by insurance.
Ernest Bisi and Frank Bonestalli, the owners,
who also have q liquor and grocery store at No.
Market square, state their loss will be from
SIS 600 to $4,000 on the machinery and stock.
They have sl5, 900 insurance. The firm is one
of the largest manufacturers of macaronj, ver-
micelli and noodles in the country. The ma
chinery is valued at $4,000 and the stock at a
similar amount. The factory was in the base
ment. The office and storeroom was on the
first floor and the other portion of the building
was used as drying rooms.
Ernest Bisi, the Junior member of the firm, is
of the opinion that the building was set OH fire,
but he cannot give any idea as to who could
have fired it. .--
An alarm was also sent in from box 269 at $40
o'clock last night 1t was caused by chimney
fire on the roof of house occupied by Mrs
Smith, on Pearl street, Bloomfield.
Another alarm was sent in from station l65
at 400 o'clock yesterday afternoon. caused by
a small blaze in the attic of John Orritts house.
No. Ga st. Michael's street, Twenty-seventh
ward. The fire was caused by defective nue.