The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-03-07
FIVE PERSONS BURNED.
Narrowly Escaped With
Their Lives From a
Sudden Blaze.
NO FIRE ESCAPES, AS USUAL
Destruction of the United States
Carpet Lining Factory
Other Buildings in
Danger.

Flames were discovered issuing from
the two story frame building occupied
by the United States Carpet Lining Com
pany on Grand street between Van Worst
and Henderson streets at half-past eight
O'Clock this morning An alarm was
sent in from box No. 10, but before either
an engine or hook and ladder company
put In an appearance the entire building
was in flames. The nine employees who
were at work on the second floor were
given no warning that the building was
cotton and other highly infammable ma
terial used in the business was a mass of
flames when Superintendent John G.
Mayell cried:-
'For Gods sake jump from the win
dows If you wish to save your lives"
Four Italian women employed in the
factory escaped unhurt, but the three
men and two boys who worked on the
floor were badly burnt about the head,
face and hands. January Mersari of No.
N Colgate street is seriously injured, and
his burns may prove fatal. He was max
ing his way down the rear stairway when
he slipped and fell. His fall rendered
him unconscious, and he would probably
have been burned to death had he not
been discovered by fireman and carried
to place of safety. He was removed in
all possible haste to Police Headquarters.
where his wounds were dressed by City
Physician Cray.
THROUGH A HATCHwAY.
William Freeman, colored, laborer,
in endeavoring to escape from the burn
ing building fell through a hatchway into
the cellar, a distance of fifteen feet, break
ing his right arm. Before he could es-
cape from the building he was badly
burned about the head and face. He
home at No. 221 Montgomery street.
Joseph Harrison, eighteen years old, of
No. $50 Grand street, another employe, in
endeavoring to eXtinguish pile of burn
ing iute, was burned about the head. face,
neck and arms. His fair was burned off
and it is feared that he will lose his eye
sight;
No. 3S4 Montgomery street, who WAS
working beside Harrison, was also badly
burned. Their wounds were dressed at
Police Headquarters. Superintendent
John G. MayelPs hands were burned in a
terrible manner.
SPREAD OF THE FLAMES.
The flames spread through the Carpet
Lining Manufactory and extended to the
carpet cleaning establishment of Wester-
welt & Meschutt. and to the cooperage
works of Day & O'Donnell For fully
half an hour the flames gained headway.
The Carpet Lining factory was completely
gutted and the machinery destroyed. The
adjoining buildings were saved from de-
Struction by the efforts of the hremen.
The building occupied by the Carpet
Lining Company was formerly occupied
by James Leo. box manufacturer.
Chief Denme realized that the entire
block was doomed to destruction unless
the progress of the fire was checked. A
second alarm was sent out. and police
summoned from the First, Second and
Fourth precincts.
The thousands of people who had gath
cred on Grand street were driven back by
the police into Henderson and Van Worst
streets. The carpet lining factory is back
from Grand street. about fifty feet, and it
is owing to this fact that the other tene-
ments on the block were not destroyed.
The origin of the fire is at present un-
known Superintendent Mayell states
that ne was in the yard when he dis
covered volumes of smoke pouring from
the building. Before he could give an
alarm the building was enveloped in
flames.
The United States Carpet Lining Fac
tory is owned by Sergeant & Co. of New
York, The loss Is at present unknown.
The building and property of Westervelt
g. Meschutt is damaged by water to the
extent of $500. Day & O'Donnell will
suffer about one hundred dollars loss
from water.
There were no fire escapes on any of the
damaged buildings.
HOSE IN WRETCHED CONDITION.
The deplorable condition of the hose
used by the Fire Department was clearly
demonstrated this morning. From Engine
No. there were fifteen lengths of hose
stretched. Within five minutes after the
water had been turned on. seven lengths
had burst. The hose could not be re-
placed, and as result the firemen were
seriously hampered in their work.
The hose stretched from Engine No. 2
was in an even worse condition than that
stretched from No. 8 engine. The first
three lengths burst Immediately after the
wat er was turned on. 1t is generally
believed that if the Are had originated in
Day and Donnells cooperage works, the
entire block would have been destroyed.
The loss sustained by Sergeant & Co.,
proprietors of the United States CARPET
Lining Company. will net exceed 50, 600.
The damage to the building, which is
owned by Mrs. E. NJ. Gregory, is estimat-
ed at $1,000. Westervelt & Meschutt
were damaged by water $500 worth, and