St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-18
ONE MILLION IN FLAMES.
PROPERTY or A STOCK COMPANY IN
JERSEY CITY DESTROYED.
5000 LIVE LAMBS ROASTED
A Two Story Structure With
Costly Machinery and Large
Quantity of Dressed Beef
Burned-C fits on Fire lowed
Into the Hudson River and
Cast Loose.
From the Sunday Globe

JERSEY CITY, N. j., June 18.-The
Old but extensive abattoir of the Central
Stock and Transit company in HARSH
mus cove, just south of Pay0nia avenue
and the Erie grain elevator, was
totally destroyed by fire this even
ing, the total loss reaching al
most $l.O0O.OOO. Built on piles. the
structure of two stories was entirely
of wood, but the machinery for the va
rious unitarian purposes was costly,
while the amount of stock, including
dressed beef, mutton and upwards of
5000 live sheep and lambs. went to
swell the loss. which l.: l.. Lambert.
prominent official of the company, in
sisted might reach 81, 100000.
No one appears to know the cause OF
the fire, but Saturday is half-holiday,
and one of the few men at work may
possibly have broken the rigid rules of
tEe company and smoked. the match or
the light of his cigar causing the confla-
grafton. The fire, which broke out
IN the alley adjoining the fat
room. and about one hundred feet
from the outer END uf the building. was
first seen by the head Waterman, James
Mccarthy. He did not make an instant
turn in Of every alarm. and he had 10
run to make his escape, leaving his
clothing. which he had hung up in the
office when he
| WENT OFF DUTY.
| He believes that of the twelve or
fourteen men then at work in the
building all esca ped. But when the
Associated Press reporter Left the
ground William Martin. the cook in the
restaurant. was missing. He had gone
back for something and it is reported
that he never returned. The buildiag
was erected in 1874 over the water of
! Old Harsimus cove with frontage of
800 feet OH the river, and extending
back for about 500 feet. The spread of
the flames was so rapid that in fifteen
minutes the whole space was a mass of
flames, which caught the cattle boat
!, Burlington. and. the barge re-
frigerator before they could be
lOosened from the dock; also the coal
barge Maggie Hoffman. belonging to
Berwind. White Il Co. Three fire tugs
of the Erie railroad and ten belonging
!
with the private tug Il. c. Raymond
and the New York police boat. respond
ed quickly to the calls, and did their
best to keep the fire within the limits of
the abattoir itself, but the coal trestle
of the Pennsylvania Railway company
| ON TIE PIER
| 10 the SOuth,WaS damaged TO the extent
OF $1,000. and number of cars loaded
with twenty-niHe tons of coal each
were destroyed. The crafts On fire
were towed into the river ana cast
loose. The Burlington was totally de-
stroyed. but the barges were only dam
aged to the extent of few hundred dol
larf each. Fears were entertained for
the safety of the great Erie grain eleva-
tor. but fortunately the wind blew in
the other direction. The pumps. how
ever, kept perfect cascade OF water
pouring down Its roof and sides until
all danger was passed. The river front
OH the New York side was lined with
thousands of spectators, attracted by
the brilliant spectacle.
Within two hours from the outbreak
OF the flames there was nothing left but
glowing pile of cinders. which cover
aggregate 100000, of which S6CO, 600 is
OH the building and machinery.
The Central Stock and Transit com-
pany is partly owned by many of those
doing business in the plant, hut
the majority of the shares are
held by the Pennsylvania Rail-
road company. Senator j. r. Nc.
Pherson, ID. H. Sherman and S. H.
Smith. The executive officers are: ID.
ii. Sherman. E. l.. Lambert and S. II i.
Smith, the latter being superintendent.
Over 700 men are thrown out Of en- pIoy-
ment by the hre. No data could be
given as to insurance. but it is said to
| be about one-third of the loss.