Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1895-08-12
BIG BLAZE IN NEWARK
Plant of the Central Stamping
Company Destroyed.
LOSS IS ESTIMATED TO BE s5oo,oOO.

The Buildings Occupied Ten City Lots-Fif-
ty Thousand People Watched the Prog
ress OF the Flames The Porilous Position
and Timely Rescue Of One Fireman.
NEWARK, n. j., Aug. 12-The flercest
Gre the department Of this city has had TO
contend with in many years, with the
possible exception Of the big grain fire at
the Ballontine brewery couple Of months
ago, broke out in the plant Of the Central
Stamping company yesterday afternoon.
The front OF the Central Stamping COM
pany's plant was on New Jersey Railroad
gvcnue and covered ten city lots on that
street.
From this branched another building
five stories high and as feet wide, running
through the block to Liberty street From
this building there was n wing of the same
sizo extending from the middle of the
block through 20 East Fair street. On
the south side Of the main building on tho
nvonue were five three story brick build
lngs and on tho north was a new two sto-
ny brick structure. All these were de-
Btroyed. The loss TO the Central Stamp
ing company was estimated by State Sen
ntor Ketcham, treasurer of the company,
MS upward Of $500, 900; insurance, $780,
600. The other losses will aggregate $780,
900.
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
20 minutes every piece Of fire apparatus
in the city was on the sceno Fifty thou
sand people watched the progress of the
flames
Flames Shot High In the Air.
Despite the tons Of water thrown on the
fire. the flames gained, and within half an
hour after the first alarm was sounded the
roofs Of the buildings were masses Of
flames Tho flames shot 100 feet into the
mir at times, and big burning brands were
carried blocks by the wind. These brands,
some of them many inches in length were
carried onto the roofs Of buildings a con-
siderable distance away, and the chemical
engine was kept on the rush from one
street TO another putting out the smaller
fires Firemon were stationed on the roofs
for several blocks with water in pals and
extinguishers to put out the small fires.
Less than an hour after the first alarm
was turned in the walls began TO fall in.
The house at 10 Fair street was crushed
beneath the wall next TO it. In this house
lived Samuel Glesner and his family. The
house was flattened by the weight Of brick
falling upon it, 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 % Liberty street was also
caught beneath a falling wall and wreck
ed. Several other houses were badly dam
e. a. .t.Tr
When the main wall fell 1t buried tho
tracks Of the Pennsylvania railroad, and
all traffic on that road was blocked for a
timo. A number of fremon had narrow
escapes from being buried beneath this
wall.
Perilous Position of Fireman.
Fireman John Van Houghten Of Engine
Company No . had q narrow escape early
I'm the course of the fire. He had gone to
the roof searching for a position from
which TO direct stream of water. The
roof gave way while he was on IT, When
he felt it sinking, he leaped to the gutter
and threw himself over SO as TO hang from
the edge by his hands The gutter was
filed with boiling tar and, although his
hands were badly burned, he managed to
cling to the roof until rescued.
James Parker, who lives at 15 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. He was badly in
iured about the head, shoulders and arms,
but will recover. Captain Frank Meeker
of the salvage corps was severely cut about
the hands Many hremen were also badly
scorched and blistered by the heat.
Tho origin of the fire is unknown. Bo-
sides the raw materials and the finished
work destroyed in the stamping establish
mont much valuable machinery was ruin
ed The building belonged TO James Ak
en- a Co., who arc also interested in tho
stamping company. Tho stamping com
pany started ON full time last week and
employed 4s7 men.