New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-12
FIRE IN COL1"S BIG FACTORY.
a BLAZE NEAR HARTFORD THAT CAUSED
LOSS OF s25OOcO
THE GREAT MANI'FACTORY OF PATENT FIRE
ARMS PARTIALLY DESTEOYED-TT WAS
BURNED DOWN THIRTY YEARS

ALSO
Hartford. Conn., Feb ll.-Colts Patent Firearms
Manufacturing Company's factory was partially
destroyed by fire this afternoon involving n loss
OF nearly S25oO0 The fire started near the boiler
house, and when discovered had communicated to
elevator and "A tier OF closets. running up three
stories. the main wall OF the east armory.
The building where the fire originated was Of stone
and brick three stories and nearly 400 feet long.
connecting the and west armories. Before the
fire department got to work the blaze had worked
Its way up into the attic. and had got beyond
the control of the engines which the first alarm
called out. so a general alarm was sounded. calling
out the entire fire department. The iremen OF the
first engine that got to work laid a line OF hos"
up the stairway near the closets. but the flames
made such rapid progress that the hose was burned
off. and the obliged to leave the building.
by time the nremen got fairy work
half of the long building connecting the two ar
morles ablaze from base 10 attic. and the
efforts Of the fremen were then directed to saving
the east armOry. The doors leading 10 II were OF
iron. These red hot and remained 50
an hour or more. The flames had begun TO COM
muncate to the windows Of the east factory on
either side Of the burning building. Lines OF hose.
however, were soon run up into the third and
fourth floors OF the east armory and the progress
of the flames was headed Of in that direction.
IN" fire in the mean time was slowly WORKING It's
Way toward the west armory. a building 800 feet
long and three s;,ries high. i had already eaten
through brick urc-wal foot thick. and VAS
working It's way through IA" attic over the heads
OF the frrmcn. who were bravey trying - stop
its progress the floor below. For some reason
the stairs leading 20 this attic coud not b. found.
AMI the flames made rapid progress among tn"
seasoned gun-stocks AMI other cOnbusiibe ma
irrial stored there. Finally = line Of hos" was
run mp into thr attic of the west armory and In
through iron door. the iremcn facing the smoke
ana IRE for nearly half an hour. IL their last
stand, AMI II what saved tn" west armOry.
rs soon fh- nr" burned through the roof the
smoke was drawn away from them. ana the fire.
men then followed up their advantag" and quickly
brought the nrc under control. In twp hours from
that tin, u was practically out.
The thrc"-stury building containing the
morles IS partially destroyed East of the dividing
and top story burnt on. The loss the building
j. estimated ~ <ij.s,'. There wrr" srventy-ny"
Universal presses ready for shipment. which were
totally destroyed. In the attic were ap.eJ back
walnut gun-StOcks. These We're alsO "a total loss
L. - Pierce. ck"l-p.ater. on the thirl rpor. lost
most II his machinery. All the other hpor-
occupied hv the Colt Company for storing ana
packing purposes Tho concerns in the Yves, arinory
lose little. and that by water The total loss vii
reach S&n"D covered by insurance 10 the amount
of S.""". The s"venty-hv" presses. valued at So
p". W-r" not insure
Thirty years ago this month on February :. colts
factory MAS destroyed by fire. NJ that time the
east armory was totally destroyed. The cause ~
tn" fire then thought - hc Of Confederate
origin F!v" hundred hands thrown out
OF work. but u IN" boilers intact. as IL f.
believed they arc IN" shops VIII be- running In n
weck tn" col. works Ar" about a mic and
haf south Of tn" city. on tho river front, They
occupy .arge tract ~ land. and are a notable
feature In the landscape. The IRE made brilliant
spectacle. which attracted throng ~ people 20
the