New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-24
LOOKS LIKE A CASE OF ARSON.
A COSTLY FIRE OF SUSPICIOUS ORIGIN IN
EAST TWENTY -SIXTH-ST.
BUILDING OWNED BY THE FIRM OF JOHN MAT
THEws AND OCCUPIED BY THE NAT
THEws DECORATIVE GLASS CON-
PANY. WRECKED BY THE

FLAMES.
Three alarms were sent out shortly after
O clock yesterday morning for fire, which kept
the force of fremen under the direction OF Dep
uty Chief Reilly busy for four hours. and wrecked
the hve-story brick building Nos. 32S and 3oo
East Twenty -sixth-st.. owned by the frm OF Johh
Matthews the soda-water apparatus inanulact-
urers, whose factory Is almost directly opposite
the burned building. There were some sus-
picious circumstances connected with the out
break Of the fire. and Fire Marshal Hoilister
and the police of the East Twenty-second-st. sta-
ton are now making an investigation 10 learn' II
they can, the identity Of man VINO was seen
to leave the building just the fire was discov-
cred by James Carroll. employed as Waterman
by the John Matthews Company.
Carroll patrols East Twenty y-sixth-st. IN 'front.'
Of the building which was burned, and also
watches the factory on the north SIDE OF tne
street According to the story told by him 10
the police he was standing on the north side OF
the street. about 2 o'clock yesterday morning
when he saw man enter the once OF 'he
Matthews Decorative Glass Company, when &C.
cupied two floors OF the burned puildlhg. Inc
man entered the Office which is at the west side
of the Twenty-sixth-st. front or the puildihg'
from the rear. AS he did so, Carroll says the
pose of seeing his way out as the Office is dark.
The watchman ran across the street 10 intercept
the man, but as he lid so was startled by
hurst of flames in the rear part Of the building.
Turning he ran TO Twenty-sixth-st and FIRST
ave whence he sent out an alarm. The man, In
the mean while had made his escape. Carroll, ac-
cording TO the police. was able to furnish only
meagre description of the man. whom he says ne
saw only for a moment by the light Of the match.
John Matthew's owner OF the building, VINO Is
also interested in the Decorative Glass Company
and James Fergusol. the manager OF the glass
company. reached the scene of the nre about
noon. They could give no explanation OF the
cause of the fire. and said that II the names
were started by the man who was seen by the
watchman TO leave the building he must nave
been actuated solely by desire TO create DIG
blaze as the firm had no difficulty with any or
its workmen, and there was no one whom they
could recall who would seek revenge IN such IL
manner. Both men. as well as workmen apoue
the buidng said the premises were closed at D
o'clock on Saturday evening, and there was no
fire in the place except in the boiler-roo, WHICH
Is in the cellar The names seemed 10 DE Wsi
started when first discovered. and shot up quick
lv to the upper floors through the elevator smart
and stairway A row of four double hVe-story
tenement-houses adjoins the burned bulldlng at
the westerly side. and an employe or the grass
company said that despite an iron railing erected
on the coping Of the factory wall, man could
ca ilv make his way from the roofs or these tene-
ments 10 the Matthews building.
The building had frontage OF fifty feet in
East Twenty -sixth-st, and extended back more
than one hundred feet. The Matthews Decora-
tive Glass Works occupied the first Second.
fourth and fifth floors. The factory was work
ing full time as this is It's busy season, ana many
workmen will be thrown out OF employment.
The third floor was occupied by the American
Food Company, concern which manufactures
prepared soups in cans The building was con-
structed in a substantial manner. and was ftted
with improv ID appliances. The machinery ana
fixtures of the two firms occupying the building
were elso expensive and elaborate. Both ON
Germs had a large stock Of goods on hand and
the losses will be heavy. They are covered ty
insurance. go 90
The loss on the building is placed at Sl2.OOO
Mr. Ferguson. the manager of the Matthews De;-
orativc Glass Company. placed the loss or th@t
concern at $4,000 in stock and SlS,OOO on ma
chinery and fixtures The loss Of the American
Food Company is placed at between SJOOO and
81 coo Slight damage was done by water TO the
adjoining tenement houses. chiefly in the cellars.
The tenants in the neighboring buildings were
much alarmed during the height OF the fire. and
crowded out on the fre-escapes. Many or ;hem
were with difficulty restrained from throwing
their scanty belongings into the street.