St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-17

Sd6G 4OOScs
JERSEY CITY, N. j.. June 16.-The
old but extensive abattoir of the Central
Stock and Transit company in Harsh
mus cove. just south of Pavonia avenue
and the Erie grain elevator, was
totally destroyed by fire this eveu-
ing, the total loss reaching al
most Sl.OOO.O0O. Built on piles, the
structure of two stories was entirely
of wood. but the machinery for the va
rious utiiitarian 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, a
prominent official of the company, in
sisted might reach S1,5OO.OOO.
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
tfe company and smoked, the match OF
the light of his cigar eau sing the confla-
grafton. 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 watchman, James
Mccarthy. He did not make an instant
turn in of every 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 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 aud it is reported
that he never returned. The bulldiag
was erected in 1874 over the water of
Old Harsimus cove with frontage of
800 feet on the river, and extending
back for about 800 feet. The spread of
the flames was so rapid that in fifteen
minutes the whole space was 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 & Co. Three fire tugs
of the Erie railroad and ten belonging
to the Pennsylvania railroad, together
with the private tug r. 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 THE PIER
to the south, was damaged to the extent
OF $1,000. and number of cars loaded
with twenty-nine tons of coal each
were destroyed. The crafts Oh fire
were towed into the river and 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 einders, which cover
about four acres of ground. The losses
aggregate SS00.000, of which $500, OOO is
on the building and machinery.
The Central Stock and Transit CON-
pany is partly owned by many of those
doing business in the plant, but
the majority of the snares are
held by the Pennsylvania Rail-
road company, Senator j. r. Me-
Pherson, u. H. Sherman and S. H.
Smith. The executive officers are: ID,
H. Sherman. K. l.. Lambert and S. u.
Smith, the latter being superintendent
Over 70O men are thrown out of employ
ment by the fire. No data could be
given as 10 insurance, but it is said to
be about one-thlrd of the loss.