The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-08-12
NEWARK'S BIG BLAZE
1t Was q Fierce Half a Million Dollar
COnAagraiOn.
THE ORIGIN IS A MYSTERY
Fifty Thousand People Watched
the Large Plant of the Contra!
Stamping Company Burn
No Fatalities Reported.

Newark, n. j., Aug. 1.-THE fiercest
fire the department Of this city has had
to contend with in many years broke
ou; in the plant of the Central Stamp
ing company this afternoon. The front
OF the Central Stamping company's
plant was on New Jersey and Railroad
avenues. and covered 10 city lots. This
building was five stories high and 70
feet wide, running through the block
to Liberty street. From this building
there was a wing of the same size. ex-
tending from the middle of the block
through East Fair street. On both sides
story brick buildings, and on the north
was two-story brick structure. All
of these were destroyed. The loss to
the Stamping company was estimated
by State Senator Kdtcham. treasurer
OF the company, at upward of half a
million dollars; insurance, $250,000. The
other losses will aggregate $4,000.
The flames were discovered about
o'clock in blacksmith shop. A gener-
al alarm was sent out and within 90
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
thrown on the fire, the flames gained,
and within half an hour after the first
alarm the roofs of the buildings were
masses Of fire. The flames shot hun
dred feet In the air at times and big
burning brands were carried blocks by
the wind. The brands, some Of them
many inches In length. were carried on
to the roofs Of the buildings a consid-
cradle 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
pals to put cut the small fires.
In less than half an hour after the
first alarm the walls began to fall The
house at No. 10 Fair street was crushed
beneath the wall next to It, In this
mouse lived Samuel Glesner and his
family. The house was fiattened by
the wall Of brick falling upon 1t. but
the family lost but little, as most OF
their belongings had been removed
from the building when the fire broke
out. A house at No. 20 Liberty street
was also caught beneath a falling wal
and wrecked. Several other houses
were badly damaged by falling timbers
'S4fcn the main wSil feI lit buried the
tracks Of the Pennsylvania railroad
and all their ofiices on that road were
blocked for a time.
"A number OF firemel mad narrow es
capes from being buried benaath The
I wall. Fireman John Van lToughton ot
Company No. had narrow cscap,
early in the fire. He had gone 10 tn,
roof searching FOR a position frcn
which to direct stream. The roo
gave way while ne was on it. When h,
felt 1t sinking he leaped to the gut.e
and threw himself over so as to mans
from the edges by his hands. The gut
ter was filled with boiling tar, and
although his hands were badly burned
he hung on until rescued.
James Parker. who lives at No. i
Hamilton street was on the roof OF hi
| house with buckets. watching 70
sparks. He lost his balance and fell I,
| the ground. He was badly injured
about the head and shoulders, but will
recover. Captain Frank Meerer Jf tn,
Salvage corps. was severely cut abou
the hands. Many firemen were ais
badly scorched and blistered by tn,
neat. The origin of the fire Is unknown
The building belonged to James Alike,
II Co.. who are also interested in tn
stamping company. The compan,
started ON full time last week, employ
| ing 4S7 mon