Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-08-17
Destruction of Central Stamping
Company's Plant.
The LOSSES WILL BE HEAVY
buildings for Blocks Around Endangered
by the Burning Brands Carried
by the Wind.

Newark, N J., Aug 1.-THE fiercest
fire the department Of this city has
had to contend with in many years
broke out in the plant Of the Central
Stamping Company this afternoon. The
front of the Central Stamping Compa-
ny's plant was on New Jersey and
Railroad avenues and covered 10 city
lots. The stables were four stories
high and 70 feet wide, running through
the block to Liberty street. To the
stable was attached a wing Of the same
size extending from the middle of the
block through East Fair street. On
both sides of the main building were
three-story brick buildings and on the
north was a two-story brick structure.
All Of these were destroyed.
The loss to the stamping company
was estimated by State Senator Ketch-
am, treasurer of the company, as up
ward of half million dollars; insur-
ance $250000. The other losses will ag-
gregate $4,000.
The flames were discovered about 2
o'clock in the blacksmith shop. A gen
eral alarm was sent out and within 20
jIuuLCS CNGI piCCS VI III SIpPcA S1StAS
in the city was on the scene. Fifty
thousand people watched the progress
of the flames. Despite the tons Of water
thrown on the fire, the flames gained
and within a half hour Of the first
alarm the rows Of buildings were mass
es of fire. The flames shot a hundred
feet in the air at times and big burn
ing brands were carried blocks by the
wind. These brands, some Of them many
inches in length, were carried onto the
roofs OF buildings q considerable dis
lance away and the chemical engine
was kept on the rush from one street
to another putting out the fires. Firemen
were stationed on the roofs Of several
blocks with water in pals to put out
the small fires.
WALLS BEGAN TO FALL.
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 1t. In this
house lived Samuel Glesner and his
family. The house was hattened by the
wall Of brick falling on it, but the fam
lily lost but little, as most of their be-
Iongings had been removed from the
building when the fire broke out. A
house at II Liberty street was also
caught beneath a falling wall and
wrecked. Several other houses were
badly damaged by falling tifnbers.
When the May wall fell 1t buried the
tracks of the Pennsylvania railroad,
and traffic on that road was blocked
for a time.
A number Of flremen had narrow es-
capes from being buried beneath the
walls. Fireman John Van Houghton,
Of Company 2, had a narrow escape
early in the fire. He had gone to the
roof searching for a position from
which to direct a stream. The roof
gave way while he was on 1t. When
he felt it sinking he leapt to the gut
ter and threw himself over so as to
hang from the edges by his hands. The
gutter was filled with boiling tar, and
although his hands were badly burn
ed he hung on until rescued.
James Parker. who lived at Is Hamil-
ton street, was on the roof Of his house
with buckets, watching for sparks. He
lost his balance and fell to the ground.
He was badly injured about the head
and shoulders, but will recover.
Frank Meeker OF the Salvage corps,
was severely cut about the hands.
Many f1remen were also badly scorched
and blistered by the heat.
The origin of the fire is unknown
The buildings belonged to James
Aiken & Co., who are also interested IN
the stamping company. The company
started on full time last week, employ
ing 4S7 men.