The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-01
WORK OF FIRE.
Shoe Factory and Car Shops
Burned at NewburypOrt.
Outside Cities Rendered Ald-many
Will Be Forced lnio ldleness.

NEwBURYPORT, Mass, Nov. !. - The
most serious fire I'm 70 years was expert
enoed here yesterday The Ncwburyport
Car company's works, the Burley *
stevens boot and shoe factory and John i.
Leary's dwelling were destroyed, while
the Eaglc House was 50 b'Ily burned that
the building is lituo better than a charred
she'll. Several other places were scorched.
The direct loss is estimated in round
numbers at 100000. Beyond this, there
will be the loss OF wages 10 several hun
dred employees who, at the best, will be
idle for some weeks.
The location OF the fire Is on the north
side of Merrmac street, with the Merrimac
river and its wharvcs in close proximity TO
the back of the buildings swept away by
the flames.
The cause was the explosion Of an oil
stove used for heating purposes in the car
eompany's Office. The explosion occurred
during the brief absence of Charles Brown,
who was there alone. Returning TO the
Office, he found the
Floor and Woodwork Blazing Fieroeiy.
He gave moment 20 attempt to check the
spread, but, seeing Il was useless the
alarm was given.
Everything about the works was favor
able for a quick fl-o. and almost before it
was realized "a great wave OF flame en-
veloped the entire shop. This building
was knowp as the ''setting-up" one, the
cars being pnt together there. To the east
was the wood working shop; that was
speedily iCnited. The Burley g. stevens
factory on the other side was also OH fire
Two more alarms were turned in, and
help asked for from Salem, Portsmouth,
~ H., and Haverhlll. An engine and corps
of 40 men from Salem were she first TO ar
rive, they having n stream on in 55 min
utes from the time the call was sent them.
Portsmouth sent an engine and 30 men
and Haverhill an engine and 80 men.
Newburyport has but three engines, but
they did splendid work. Valuable assist
ance was rendered by the tug Uhler, re-
Gently fitted with pump for fire use, and
when the three out-of-town companies
added their strength the lighting force
began to make itself felt.
The scarcity of Water
was felt badly. The city supply gave out
Mt the outset almost. and the engine com
panies had to fall back on the old reservoir
and river.
At the beginning the Burley e. Stevens
factory pump was started, and poured out
terrific volume of water, holding the nre
fairly in check. But the we'll in connec-
ton was dry in eight minutes, and, with
no way to reach the river, nothing more
could be done
The car shops burned were two-story and
covered about 5000 square feet Before the
outside engines could reach the scene, the
Burley & Stevens building was one furious
blaze. 1t was over 800 feet long, about 90
wide and seven stories high. The specta-
Gle was grand one.
The Heat Was Intense,
the flremen having to uso doors as screens
in order TO get anywhere near. A number
of men were temporarily Frustrated by
smoke and heat.
Over $50 people were at work i'm the
Burley & Stevens factory, but all got out
of the building in safety.
Among the incidents of the fire was the
fall of Pipeman James Delano from lad
der, breaking his collar bone. Herbert
Currier had one hand badly cut by falling
glass at the Eagle House. Captain
Knight was severely burned in the face by
flying sparks
Burley g. Stevens estimate their loss at
fully $l75, 200; that far exceeds the insur
ance Considerable new machinery and
stock had recently been put in that was
not insured. The company manufactured
boots and shoes for both men and women