The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-02
Breaks Out In Finishing Room Of
National Mill No. 8.
ONE MAN NEARLY SUFFOCATED
While Engaged In Carrying Out Rolls Of
Cloth From the Burning Structure
The Loss is Estimated to De About
e2O. .OOO-The Origin.


ing room of No mill of the Providence
National Worsted company on Valley
street. The finishing room Is brick
building, two stories high, about 130 feet
in length and tapered In width from 30 to
so feet. Altht ugh the building is but a
small one It contained cloth valued at
nearly 100000
The lower floor was used as saving
room a d the upper floor as sewirg and
burling room. There were about 12l men
at work in this department when the fire
broke forth from the big drying machine.
This was the only part OF the large mill
where any work was be-
ing doue. In the finishing
room there was big Butterworth drying
machine enca ed in wood The machine
consists of series OF lied steam pipes
closed space TO an intense heat. The
cloth when being finished 10 run through
the heated spacs on rollers.
The help was operating three large
shears, a couple of mapping machines
and moving goods which were finished.
While the men were thus engaged
tho fire started, presumably
in CLOCKS" which accumulated
in the drying machine, and
it ragged in the enclosure until 1t had
burned through the wooden partition.
Then the fire spread in the room. quickly
going from pile to pile OF clolh and ignit-
ing the paper wrappings OF the rolls.
The fire also ran alo x the betting. eat
into the timbers aud Il iors Of the finis :
in room and burst from the windows
in one immense volume. Mr.. Nah n
Slater, chief engineer. tried to send al
alarm from the private box 324, but the
mechanism dii not work snd several
minutes were lost.
The fire apparatus belonging TO the
mills was brought into use and three
lines of hose were attached to the bydrants
aud streams turned into the blazing
building.
Gained Much Hesdway.
The fire had by this time gained great
headway, and 1t seemed as IL the
whole of the great mill close by
would have to succumb. Policeman
Arnold happened to be in the vicinity
of Bowdoin street from where
the Fletcher mills are all visible and he
sent special messenger to Putnam street
fire station. He then ran down the hill
and pul ed in an alarm from box l73 at the
mill which called in additional apparatus.
When the fremen arrived tue fire had
gained headway that seemed to make
assured the destruction OF the building
where it began, aud bridge connect
ing the burning building with the struc-
ture known as No. 2 mill, which 10 four
stories high, was carrying the flames
from window below the bridge TO the
large mill.
The bridge was burning rapidly. A
stream Of water was turned on the bridge
or the fire might have been communi
Gated to the adj j,ining mill. although the
doors at each end Of the bridge were
covered with tin.
The firemen then began to pour large
streams of wat n on the flames from all
sides of the building and it was quickly
seen that the department had gained con-
troll. BY 6 o'c ock the blaze was quite sub
dued and nothing but smoke aud steam
could be seen.
The Losses.
Superintendent Farwell said he could
not give an. accurate estimats OF the loss
at present. Tn. bull ding contained
driving machiue worth 5000, shears worth
$500, mapping machines $1,000, engines and
betting 81, ,0O0, a press 81. 100, loose rolls of
cloth valued at $1,000, cloth packed In
cases worth 10000 or $4,000 and all this
will be much damaged by water to what
extent could not then be ascertained.
The machines will also be much dam.
aged ~ the heat All OF them being
made OF fac tempered steel, the temper
may b. drawn cue by the heat. IL so it
will cost about $4,000 to put it into
working orler again. The total loss is
estimated at SEQ 600
When the fire broke forth some of the
men at work devoted themselves TO saw
ing the cloth which was in the rooms,
Others went to help TO get the mill fire ap-
paratus in order Amongst those who
iriel to slve AS much cloth rs DOES BILE
was the s, cond hand in the fnis ring
room, ia mes Lamb. who lives at 3S Nc
Donough stree. He was cautioned by
the other men aud told OF the
risk he incurred. He went In re-
peatedly and carried ont rolls OF
cloth and as the flames spread one OF the
men said: "You may go in once too
ofteu," aud he did, for Lamb was over
come by the volume Of smoke. and
when IL was seen Le did
not return tue fremeu were
apprised; no was found aud brought out
unconscious DIR. 4. A. Payan was called
and resusci sted the nearly suffJcated
man. He was sent TO his home aud at
tended by DR., Pagan who expects he will
be all right in A fe ~ days