The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-12-20
AN EXPENSIVE FIRE.
THE LARGE TANNERY AT THIS
PLACE TOTALLY DESTROYED.
Loss $aoo.ooo-A Hundred Men Thrown
Out Of Employment.

1
At seven o'clock last Wednesday
evening the whistles at the tannery and
Herpel's machine shop sounded the fire
alarm. The people we're not long in
discovering that the tannery was sfre.
The fire companies responded promptly,
but they were unable to do anything TO
stay the flames that were rapidly
spreading through the large plant,
which was good material for the fire
fiend to feed upon. The fire companies
only had 1000 feet of hose which
reached half way from the nearest water
plug to the tannery. The fire started
In the loft and was discovered by one of
the night watchmen before IT had
gained much headway and he ran to the
engine house and gave the alarm, but
the fire gained the victory because
the means for fighting it were very
poor. There was not much to do
but stand around and watch the
flames devour from $l75,0OO to 5000, 900
worth of property. A car load OF sides,
worth &c. 400 was carried away from
the fire and 81 900 worth of IL de-
stroyed by being carelessly thrown into
water and tramped upon. The plant
was spread over almost two acres of
lard and was composed of twelve build
| ing, ten of which were turned into
ashes. The buildings had either slate
m iron
dense cloud of smoke rolled heaven
wards, but when the flames did break
out they ascended high into the dark
ness and could be seen for many miles.
The buildings were well saturated with
oil and grease and made terrible hot
| fire. Almost 100000 worth of bark
was piled near the buildings which was
saved by bucket brigades. The wind
was favorable for saving the bark and
many dwelling houses hardly the tan
merry. Had the wind been blowing
in an opposite direction there would
have been more property destroyed. A
large crowd of people, who were willing
to work, stood around with their hands
In their pockets because there was
nothing for them to do. The Dubois
fire companies were telegaphed for, but
they were delayed in getting their en-
gine loaded on a car and when they got
here there was nothing for them to do.
The origin of the fire is mystery. 1t
is thought, however, that the fire
caught from the steam pipes in some
way. There were about five mile of
steam pipes in the various buildings.
When the tannery is running full
capacity 1t gives employment to 100
men, but there were only about fifty
there before the fire. A number of
these are in the Building and Loan and
are trying to pay for their homes and
have all their money invested, conse-
quently If the tannery is not rebuilt,
which is very doubtful, they will be
placed in bad circumstances at this
season of the year when times are not
as good as we would like to see them.
II the tanneiy is not rebuilt Reynolds
vile will have lost one of its largest
industries. We hope for the best,
however.
Thirty-six thousand dollars worth of
sides in the loft that were drying were
burned up without outsiders taking any
note of them. A crew of men was put
to work Friday morning to clear away
the debris to get the hides out of the
vats. There were sixty-four thousand
sides in the watts valued at 81. 90 per side.
Many of them were totally destroyed
and others badly damaged.
The insurance men will come to
Reynoldsville to-day to adjust the loss.
We have been unable to learn the
the amount of insurance that was carried
on the tannery, as those who do know
are not at liberty to tell. The plant
was we'll insured.
A meeting Of the stock holders will
be held this week, and until they decide
the matter it will not be known whether
the tannery will be rebuilt or not. The
Dubois Courier on Monday morning of
this week says the tannery will be
rebuilt here. While we would be glad
ifsuch was really the case, yet at present
the Courier does not know any more
about it than the superintendent of tho
tannery here does, and he says that he
does not know whether it will be rebuilt
or not.
II there had been water plug near
enough our firemen would have saved
several of the buildings.
If the tannery is not rebuilt the men
who have been thrown out of employ
ment are the heaviest losers, all things
considered.
This was the second big fire for West
Reynoldsville this year.