The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-06-20

JERSEY CITY, y. J., June 16-The
old, but extensive, abattoir Of the Cen
trail stock transit company in Harsimus
cove. just south Of Pavonia-ave.. and the
Erie grain elevator was totally destroyed
by fire this evening. the total loss reach
ing almost 81, OOO, 600.
Built on piles, the structure Of two
stories was entirely of wood, but the ma
chinery for the various utilitarian pur-
poses of the company was costly and ex-
tensive. while the amount of stock. in
Guiding dressed beef mutton and up
ward of five thousand live sheep and
lambs went to swell the loss. which E.
L. Lambert, a prominent official Of the
company, insisted might reach $500. 600.
No one appears to know the cause Of
the fire, but Saturday 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 con-
f1agration. The fire, which broke out in
the alley adjoining the fat-room, and
about one hundred feet from the outer
end of the building. was first seen by
the head Waterman, James Mccarthy.
He did not wait an instant, but turned
in every alarm at his command, and had
to run to make his escape, losing his
clothing, which he had hung in the Office
when he went off duty. he believes that
of the twelve or fourteen men then at
work in the building all escaped, but
when the Associate Press reporter left
the ground William Martin, the cook in
the restaurant, was missing. He had
gone back for something, and il is re-
tod Tfaf h. 7sad he
building was erected in 1874, over the
water Of Old Harsimus cove, with
frontage of 300 feet on the river and ex-
tending back for about six hundred feet.
The spread Of the flames was so rapid
that in fifteen minutes the whole space,
500 by 300 feet, was a mass Of flames.
which caught the cattle boat Burlington
and a barge before they could be loosened
from the dock; also the coal barge Mag
gle Hoffman. belonging to the Berwind-
White company. The three fire tugs of
the Erie railroad and ten belonging to
the Pennsylvania railroad together with
the private tug r. G. Raymond and the
New York police boat, responded quickly
to the calls and did their best TO keep the
fire within the limits Of the abattOir it
SELF but the coal trestle Of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad company on the pier TO the
south was damaged to the extent Of 5000
and number of cars loaded with twentys
nine tons of coal each were destroyed.
Inc crafts Oh IRE were LONCu lllAO Alld
river and cast loose. The Burlington was
totally destroyed, but the barges wers
only damaged to the extent Of a few huns
dred dollars each.
Fears were entertained for the safety
of the great Erie elevator, but fortunately
the wind blew in the other direction. The
pumps, however, kept a perfect cascade
of water pouring down its roof and sides
until all danger was passed. The river
front on the New York side was lined
with thousands Of spectators attracted by
the brilliant spectacle.
Within two hours from the outbreak
there was nothing left but a glowing pile
of cinders, which covered about four acres
of ground. The losses aggregate $500, 600,
of which 100000 is on building and ma
chinery.
The Central stock and transit company
is partly owned by many of those doing
business in the plant, but the majority of
the shares are held by the Pennsylvania
railroad company, Senator J. r. AIcPher-
son, D. II. Sherman and Simon II. Smith.
The executive officers are d. H. Sherman,
z. L. Lambert and S. H. Smith. the latter
being superintendent. Over ZOO Elen are
now thrown out of employment by the
fire. No data could be given as TO insur-
ance, but it IS said 10 be about one-third
Of the loss.