Evening journal., 1895-10-04
COTTON MILLS BURNED
Three Big Buildings Destroyed
at Warren, r. l.
OVER sloooOOo WENT UP IN SMOKE


Joining Cities Summoned.
WARREN. X. l.. Oct f.-One Of the
largest fires that has over occurred In
southeastern Now England broke out in
one Of the three mills of the Warren Man
ufacturing company situated about an
eighth of q mile from the center OF this
town, and before it was got under con.
troll it had swept through three large cot.
ton mills, two warehouses. small sheds,
freight cars and other property, causing q
loss which is estimated nt more than
81, 900. 600.
The fire started in the washroom near
the engine room OF No. ! mill aud spread
with great rapidity through the building
and threatening adjoining property.
Within an hour after the blaze was discoy-
cred the flames wero roaring through all
three mills
Tho magnitude OF the FIRE at once be-
camo apparent to the local department,
nnd help was Immediately summoned
from Bristol, FAN River and Providence.
An engine from Bristol one from Fall
River and two steamers, two hose cnrts
and three companies from Providence re-
sponded arriving ON special trains.
Tho sceno whom these out of town CONF
panies arrived was appalling. The whole
OF the southern part of the little town
seemed 20 be a roaring mass OF flames,
threatening not only the tenement houses
OF the manufacturing company near by,
but oven endangering the business part
Of the town some distance of
Almost Immediately after the additional
force had set at work the water supply be-
gan TO give out, and the combined depart
mcnt consequently worked under a heavy
disadvantage, and, although the automat-
&c sprinklers were turned ON in all of the
three mills and six inches of water stood
upon all Of the floors, very little progress
was made
Flames Fed by Tar aud Cotton.
A carload of tar and another OF cotton,
standing ON track in the mill yard be-
coming ignited, furnished admirable food
for the fire in its onward sweep through
the great plant. The heat was insuffera-
bic, and soon 40 was impossible TO got
within goo feet Of the buildings.
AT lOo'clOck last night the flames were
threatening two warehouses containing
together $500, 900 worth of Sea island cot
ton and completed shcetings, and at 1880
they caught and In % few moments had
become a roaring furnace.
A few minutes later the flames jumped
from these buildings 70 the adjoining lum-
ber yard Of Ezra Martin, and his entire
stock Of coal wood and dressed lumber
became food for the fire monster.
Shortly before II O'Clock the walls OF
two Of the mills fell in and the dwelling
houses occupied by the operatives also
caught fire, so that IL seemed 10 be spread
ing i'm two directions.
by most persistent and arduous efforts,
however, the flromon gained control OF
the conilngration at midnight, but an that
was left Of the big factories washhouso
and tenements was a blazing pile Of ruins.
Tho entire contents Of the plant were de-
stroyod with the exception of 80 bales OF
cotton from the warehouses. which, after
taking Ere, dropped into the water and
were carried down the hay, blazing
mass, ondangering vessels at anchor
Several persons in the crowd of spectn-
tors were injured by flying bricks when
the walls fell. but mono were seriously
hurt When the roof OF the Warehouse
fell, four Providence flremen were caught
They escaped by crawling down the water
pipe and then jumping distance OF IL
feet. Two were slightly injured
The Fall River engine broke down
shortly after arriving here and was hclp-
less just under the owalls of the warehouse
A volunteer company Of 80 mon drew 10
to more safe position although the walls
began to totter as they worked.
The losses are estimntod as follows.
Warehouses and factories, $500, 600; ma
torial, S30u. 600; lumber yard sl5, 600;
tenomcnts, $4,000; total, 81, 100000.
Fire Service Inadequate.
The local fire service was ridiculously
inadequate, as the steamer which had
heen used previous to the Introduction of
the water service some four years ago was
condemned soon after that time The
town has since relied on two hand engines
and two hose carts and hydrant service
for what small fires have occurred Only
the Bristol engine was able TO usn the To-
cal water service, the Fall River and Prov
idence engines having 10 use salt water
from the bay near by.
The Warren Manufacturing company Is
one Of the largest and best known cotton
manufacturing corporations in the coun
try. John Waterman Of Warren is the
principal owner, and Warren and provi.
donce people are the heaviest stockholders.
The three mills destroyed were each ZOO
feet long, five stories in height and con-
tained in all 81, 900 looms. sixteen hum
drod operatives. comprising nearly all the
working force Of tho town, were employed.
Thus the principal means OF support in
the town is taken away but as Warren Is
Mr. Watermans home it Is expected that
he will rebuild the plant, The insurance
on the whole OF the company's property
amounts to 81, O50, 600.
Instructor Rogers Suicide.