The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-10-17
DID V0RKMHN DO fHIS?
A 100000 Fire On the River
Front Thought to Be
Due to Incen-
diarism.
IRON WORKS WIPED OUT.
Theodore Smith 6 Brother and
the Wallis Co. the Victims
Shipping in Danger.
IRON WORKS WIPED OUT.

One of the most disastrous fires that
has visited this city in some time broke
out at ten minutes to two O'CLOCK yester-
day morning in the boilershop of Theo-
dore Smith & Bro. in Essex street,
near the river. 1t destroyed about
100000 worth Of property. The origin of
the fire is shrouled in mystery, and
superintendent Smith aud his detectives
are working on the theory that it vas
the work of an incendiary. The fire
would probably W. been confined to
the boilersnop of Theodore Smith & Bro.
had there not been u mistake in sending
out the alarm.
1t was about a quarter to two o'clock,
when q Waterman employed on one Of
the piers near the river saw a tongue of
flames shoot out of one Of the rear win
dows of the b~oilershop. facing the river.
The ~watchman. instead of running to the
nearest fire alarm box. ran TO a coal Of
fee near by and sent an alarn by tele-
phone to Police Headquarters, whence
The Sergeant ip charge Immediately sent
an alarm to Fire Headquarters. In the
meantime Patrolman Quinn had sent an
alarm from Box 5. which brought all the
departments in the lower part OF the city
to The scene.
WRAPPED IN FLAMES
When the apparatus arrived, the shops
we're all ablaZe and the flames shot high
in the air. Superintendent Brown and
Chief Denmead were among the first to
arrive. They saw at d glance that the fire
was going to be q bad one and the Super
~intendenI sentout two more alarms which
brought all the departments in the city to
the scene. A dozen streams were soon
pouring on the flames, but they did not
appear TO have much effect. The works
of The Wallis Iron Company. No. 10 Es-
sex street, were deluged with water in
the hope of saving them, but the efforts
were not successful. In q very few min
utes the flames had been communicated
to the roofs and woodwork, and the works
were doomed.
The flames lit up the entire n~eighbor-
hood and a great crowd gathered Super
%tntendent smith and a detail of men were
kept busy keeping the crowd outside of
the fire lines Crowds gathered III the
river front ON the New York side, too,
and watched the progress of the fire. The
fire tugs of the Pennsylvania Railroad
gathered on the river II sent powerful
stream into the blazing mass aud
deluged all the craft lying at the wharves
near by. which were threatened by the
flying sparks.
OTHER BUILDINGS ATTACKED.
After sweeping away a biz a RI of the
Wallis Iron Works the flames shifted and
attacked the small frame building at Nc.
% Essex street, occupied by L. Heyniger.
ship carpenter. and after partially de-
vouring this, swung around iuto Hudson
street, where they found abundant mater
ialt to feed uoon In the boiler shop of David
Blrdsell at Nos. SO and 40 Hudson street.
When the flames reached this shop they
were at their height aud 1.-THE heat was so
intense hat the fremeu vera greatly
handicapped. The sparks flew high iuto
the air aud the wind carried them across
the roofs of the neiahboring frame tene-
tnent houses. Several of the roofs caught
fire, bur q couple of sire ans soon extin-
guished them. The roofs were kept
thoroughly soaked and thus the flames
were unable to gain a hold upon them.
Although the firemen under Superin-
tendent Brown worked hard to prevent
it. the. flames next attacked Brown and
Milier's machine shops at Nos 40 and a
Hudson street. Here the firemen made IL
determined resistance. The fire had
spent its fury, and the great streams of
water were at last sufficient to check its
advance.
But though it did not spread any fur
ther it kept on burning brightly for three
hours, and the department. did not leave
until eight O'Clock in the morning. That
the fire did not spread to the docks along
the river was due wholly to gthe splendid
work done by the fire tugs of the Penn
sylvania Railroad.
Ali day yesterday crowds of people Wis.
tied the scene of the Are. All they could
see WIS a lot of charred lumber and
twisted machinery.
THE, LOSSES
Yesterday Chief Denmead roughly es-
timsted The loss at 500 600. Theodore
Smith & Bros. are the heaviest losers. 1t
was in their works that the fire started
and the works were entirely destroyed.
They estimate their loss at
$4,000, which they say is fully covered by
insurance. The Wallis Iron Works,
which are owned by Il stock company. in
which c. NJ. Wallis and f. F. c. Young
hold the controlling interest. were dam
aged to the extent Of $40, 900. The COM
Dany is fully insured. The other losses
are:-Brown & Miller. SIC. 900; David Bird
sail, $40, 600, and w. L. Heyenger, 81, 900.
All OF which are covered by insurance.
How the fire started is a mysteryewbjch
Superintendent Smiths detectives IRE
trying hard TO unravel. The firm of Theo-
dore Smith & Bro. has been having trou-
BILE with their workmen, aud the police
are working on the belief that the are
was started pv some dissatisfied employe.