The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-08-23
Big BLAZE ON THE HILL
Heppenheimer's Sons Lith
ographlc Establishment
Destroyed by Fire.
THE TANK WOULDN'T WORK.
Fireman O'Donnell overcome by
the Smoke-Loss Over
$4,000.
THE TANK WOULDN'T WuRK.

What was this morning known as the
box and paper department of the Ameri-
can Lithographic Company is this after
noon mass OF ruins. The builiing was
located on the southeast cornsr of Can
tral avenue and FRANKLIN street. Il was
a two story L shaped brick structure
with considerable frontage on both Gem
trail avenue and Franklin street. It was
built In 1880 and was owned by Frederick
Heppenheimer's Sons.
Fire broke out in the Central avenue
wing at eleven o'clock this morning.
There were no iron pillars for the sup
Were of wood. and these during the past
thirteen years had become well saturated
with press oils. The second hoor OF this
wing was laden with such materials
as easily succumbed TO the ravages
of tie fiery flames that darted
up from the first Hoor.
At the extremity of the Central avenue
wing huge tank with u capacity for ten
thousaod gallons of water loomsd up on
high. 1t seemed to do no good so far as
queuching the flames Is concerned. 1t is
said that the quenching force OF tbis
battery WAS shut of In the effort to save
the property from damage by food.
Il
was Summoned. The flames spread
rapidly. quitting the first aud sseo nd
floors of the Central avenue wing OF the
building, despite the work OF the Fire
Department. for which third alarm had
been sent out.
FIREMEN QUICKLY ON THE GROUND.
Fire Chief Conway and Assistant Chief
Denmead were botn aJ WORK wnen a re-
porter for The JERSEY CITY NEWS reach
ed the scene OF the con1agratien.
One hundred and twenty hands have
been thrown out of work temporarily by
the confiagrati0n.
Despite the efforts of the fremen at
one o'clock the flames had attacked the
roof of the Frankiiug street wing, aud
President Joseph P Knapp aud Superin-
tendent Morrell M. Fullerton. who were
among the thousand and one spectators,
saw but little hope OF saving eved that
u, rtion Of the establishment, The pro-
perty is fully insured.
The esta tablishment some time ago be-
came Incorporated in the great Litho-
graphic Printing Trust. Most of the
immense costly printing parapnernalia
was removed to other establishments of
the Trust, and the jersey City establish
ment became known as the box and
paper department of the American
LithographIc Company.
When the fire broke out this morning
turning out millions of boxes Tor the
packing of Kinney Brothers Sweet
CaporaW cigarettes for the American
Tobacco Company.
THREE LARGE PRESSES RUINED.
Four immense photographic presses
erected In the Central avenue wiag,
together with an immense amount or
stock are in ruins. At the present writ
ing the flames ara dsvouring this Frank
lin street wings The president. the
superlntendent. and an insurance in
spector were unable to approximate the
losses.
1t is roughly estimated that $50, 900
worth of damage was done
The three alarms which were sounded
drew large crowds of people rothe scene.
Captain Newton was on hand with q
force OF policemen from the Sixth pre-
cinct and Kept the crowds from interrer-
ing with the firemen in their work. The
flames burned fiercely at times, and fed
by the chemicals which are used
In producing vividiy colored Autographs
produced flames of various colors
which had the fire occurred at night
would hf D made a brilliant spectacle.
During the fire Fireman U'DonneH WAS
overcome by the heat aud taken to Christ
Hospital, where he soou recovered. He
is not dangerously injured aud will soon
De around again.