The herald., 1895-08-12
SEEN BY FIFTY THOUSAND
Tremendous Havoc by a Fire at
Newark, N. j.
SMASH OF FALLING WALLS
Despite Tons Of Water the Flames
Triumph
The Central Stamping company's Works De-
stroyed at Loss Of Half
Million Dollars
Associated Press Special wire.

Associated Press Special Wirc.
NEWARK, N. j., Aug. 1.-THE fiercest
fire the department of this city has had
to contend with in many years, with the
possible exception Of the grain fire at the
Ballentne brewery a couple of months
ago, broke out in the plant OF the Gen.
trail Stamping Company this afternoon.
The front of the Central Stamping COM
pany's plant was on New Jersey and
Railroad avenues and covered ten city
lots. This building was five stories high
and seventy feet wide, running through
the block to Liberty street. From this
building there was wing of the same size
extening from the middle of the block
through to Fair street. On both sides of
the main building were five three-story
bricks and on the north side was two
story brick structure. All of these were
destroyed. The loss to the stamping
company was estimated by State Senator
Ketctam, treasurer of the company, as
upward of $500, 900; insurance, S25O,O0O.
The other losses will aggregate $780, ZOO.
The flames were discovered about 2
O'Clock in the blacksmith shop. Already
the fire had a firm hold on the building.
twenty minutes every piece of fire appa-
ratus in the city was on the scene. Fifty
thousand people watched the progress of
the flames.
Despite tons of water, the flames
gained, and within half an hour after the
first alarm was sounded the roofs of the
building were masses OF fire. The flames
shot hundred feet in the air at times
and big burning brands were carried
blocks by the wind. These] e]brands, some
of them many inches in length, we're car
ried on to the roofs of the buildings con-
siderable distance away, and the chemical
engine was kept on the rush from one
street to another putting out the smaller
fires. Firemen were stationed on the
roofs for several blocks with water in
pals to put out the small fires. In less
than half hour after the first alarm was
turned in the walls began to fall. The
house atNo. 10 Fair street was crushed
.!hepeath the wa next to it. In this house
lived Samuel Giecner and his family. The
house was fAttened by the wall of brick
falling on 1t. but the family lost but little.
as most of their belongings had )een re-
moved from the building whep ~she fire
broke out.
A house at No. 81 Liberty street was
oico caught pcncdtH a IdHluS wall anu
wrecked. Several other houses were bad
ly damaged by falling timbers.
When the main wall fell it buried the
tracks of the Pennsylvania railroad, and
all traffic on that road was blocked for a
time. A number of firemen had narrow
escapes from being buried beneath the
wall.
Fireman John VanHoughton of Com
pany No. had narrow escape early in
the fire. He had gone to the roof search
ing for position from which to direct
a stream. The roof gave way while he
was on it. When he telt it sinking he
leaped TO the gutter and threw himself
over so as to hang FROM the edge with his
hands. The gutter was filled with boil
in: tar, and although his hands were
badly burned he hung on until rescued.
James Parker, who lives at No. Is
Hamilton street, was on the roof of his
house with buckets, watching for sparks.
In throwinbg water ON some of them he
lost his balance and fell to the ground.
He was badly injured about the head and
shoulders, but will recover.
Captain Frank Mercer of the salvage
corps was severely cut about the hands.
Many firemen were also badly scorched
and blistered by the heat.
The origin of the fire is unknown.
The building belonged to James Anken
e. Co., who are also Interested in tn
stamping company. The company started
on full time last week, employing 4S7
men.