The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-17
NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS,
A Very Costly Blaze at Jer-
sey City.
A Slaughter House and It's Contents
Destroyed.
The Cause of the Disaster still In
Doubt, But IL 10 Supposed to Have
Been Caused by Careless
ness of Workmsn.

By the Associated Press.
JERSEY CRY, June 16.-The old but
extensive abattoir OF the Central Stock
and Transit company In Hersimus cove.
just south Of Pavonia avenue and the
Erie grain elevator. was totally DESTROYED
by fire this evening. The loss reaches
almost million dollars. Built on piles,
the structure Of two stories was en-
tirely OF wood, but the machinery was
costly. while the amount of stock, in
GLIDING dressed beef, mutton and up
ward Of 5000 live sheep and lambs, went
to swell the loss. No one appears to
know the cause of the fire, but Sstur-
day is a half holiday, and one of the
few men at work may possibly have
broken the rigid rules of the company
and smoked, the match or the light of
his cigar causing the conhagration.
The fire, which broke out in the alley
adjoining the fat room and about
100 feet from the outer end OF
the building, was first seen BY
Watchman James Mccarthy. He did
not make an instant turn in OF the ire
alarm and he had to 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 IL or
IL men then at work in the building all
escaped, but when the Associated Press
reporter left the ground, William Mar
tin. the cook in the restaurant, was
missing.
The building was erected in 1884 over
the water OF old Hersimus cove, with 8
frontage of 800 feet ON the river and ex-
tending back for about 600 feet. The
spread OF the flames was go rapid thai
in 15 minutes the whole space wal
masa of flames which caught the
cattle boat Burlington and the
barge Refrigerator before they could be
loosened from the docks; also the Goa
barge Hoffman, belonging to Deriving
White & Co. The fire tugs OF the Erie
railroad and 10 belonging to the Penn
sylvania railroad, together with the pri
vate tug Raymond and the New Yorl
police boat responded quickly to thu
calls and did their best, but the Goa
trestle Of the Pennsylvania pier, to thu
south, was damaged to the extent
| $1,000, and a number OF cars were de
| atroyed. The crafts on fire were tcwe(
into the river and cast loose. The Bur
lington was totally destroyed, but th'
barges were only damaged to the extern
OF few hundred dollars each.
The river front on the New York sid
was lined with thousands of spectators
attracted by the brilliant spectacle. Fear
were entertained for the safety of tn
great Erie elevator, but, fortunately, tn
wind blew in the other direction
Within two hours from the outbreak Q
the flames there was nothing left but
glowing pile Of cinders, which covere'
about four acres of ground. The losse
sgssasata $500 ea9l un t ugtdfhv $500 nn'
The Central Stock and Transit com
pany is partly owned by those doin
business in the plant, but the maiorit
OF the shares are held by the Penney
vania Railroad company. Senator Nc
Pherson, D. H. Sherman and S. II
Smith. Over 700 men are thrown ont {
employment by the FIRE.
No data could be given as to the in
surance, but it is said to be about one
| third the loss.