The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-12
BIG FIRE At NEWARK.
Stamping Company's Plant
Burned to the Ground.
MARROW ESCAPE OF A FIREMAN.
Hangs by His Hands to . Gutter Filled
With Boiling Tar-Loes
Over $500. 900.

Newark n. J.. Aug. 1.-The hercest
fire this city has had TO contend with in
many years. with the possible exception
of the grain fire at the Ballatsne brew
cry couple Of months ago. broke out in
the plant of the Central Stamping Com
Central Stamping Company's plant was
on New Jersey and Railroad avenues and
covered ten city lots The building was
five stories high and seventy feet wide.
running through the block TO Liberty
street. From this building there was a
wing Of the same size. extending from
the middle of the block through to Fair
street On both sides of the main build
ing were five threeastory brick buildings.
and on the north side was two-story
brick structure. All OF these were de-
stroyed. The loss TO the stamping COM
pany was estimated by State Senator
Ketcham. treasurer of the company. as
upwards OF s55o.6ca: insurance s25o.oo0
The other losses will aggregate $4,000.
The flames were discovered about ?
o'clock In the blacksmith shop Even
then the fire had firm hold on the
building. A general alarm was sent out
and within twenty minutes every piece
of fire apparatus 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 buildings were
masses Of fire. The flames shot hum
dred feet In the air at times and burning
brands were carried blocks by the wind.
These brands. some of them many inches
in length, were carried on TO the roofs of
buildings a considerable distance away,
and the chemical engine was kept on the
rush putting out the smaller fires Fire
men were stationed on the roofs for sew
eral blocks with water pals TO put ont
the small fires. In Jess than half an hour
after the first alarm was turned in the
walls began to fall.
The house at No. 10 Fair street was
crushed beneath the wall next 20 IL. The
house was flattened by the wall of brick
falling upon 1t, but the family lost but
little. most of their BELONGINGS fad
been removed from the building ,vnen the
fire broke out. 4 house at No. q Liberty
street was also caught beneath a falling
wall and wrecked. Several other houses
were badly damaged by failing timters.
When the main wall fell 1t buried the
tracks of the Pennsylvania railroad. ard
ali traffic on that road was blocked for
time. A number of firemen had narrow
escapes from being buried beneath the
wall
Fireman John Van Houehton. of Com
pany No. 2. had Il narrow escape early in
the fire. He had rcEs to the roof reach
ing for position from which to direct
stream. The roof gave wav while he was
on it, When he felt it sinking he leaped
TO the gutter and threw himself over go
as TO hang from the edges with his
hands. The gutter was filed With boiling
tar. and. although his hands were badly
burned he hung on until rescued. James
Parker who lives ut 10 Hamilton street.
was on the roof of his house with buckets.
watching for SPARKS. In throwing water
on some of them he lost his balance and
fell TO the ground. lie was badly injured
about the head AMI shoulders. but will
recover. Capt. Frank Meerer. of the sal
wage corps. was sevcrsrJ cut about the
hands Many fremen were also badly
scorched and blistered by the heat. The
origin of the fire IS unknown.
The building belonged to James Aiken
& Co. who are also interested in the
stamping company. The company start
cd on full time last week, employing 4S7
men.