The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-30
BREAKER Burned down
1t Mas the Property of the Johnson
Coal Company.
ORIGIN or FIRE IS uNkNOWN
started in Breaker That Has Not Been
used for the Preparation OF
Coal for Some Time
BE Rebuilt.

Breaker No. ! of the johnson Coal
company, formerly known as Jermyn
No. 4, at Priceburg, was totally de-
stroyed by fire Saturday night. together
with the surrounding outbuildings. The
loss Is estimated at 100000. which is
probably nearly, if not entirely, COW
cred by insurance, although the amount
of the Insurance could not be obtained,
as Mr.. Johnson attended to that part of
the business, and he is now in Cali
fOrna.
The fire was discovered shortly before
10 o'clock. In Il short time thousands of
persons We're attracted To the vicinity
of the burning building by the fierce
ness of the flames. which lighted up the
country for miles around. There was
no staying the progress of the fire. ana
it soon became evident that not only
the breaker, but the boiler and engine
houses, blacksmith shoD ana other ad-
joining buildings would be destroyed.
The breaker collapsed about 1890
o'clock. but the fire continued to burn
hercely until after o'clock in the morn
ing. At one time it was thought that
the store. across the road from the
boiler house, would also he destroyed,
The buildings which were burned COW
cred an area of over an acre I'm extent,
and they were all on fire at the same
time. The heavens We're lighted up for
miles around and the fire could be dis
tinctly seen in this city and in Carbon
dale, Traffic on the street railway was
suspended during the progress Of the
fire, as II was deemed unsafe to run
the ears over that portion of the road
which runs close by the side of the
breaker.
ORIGIN OF FIRE \ MYSTERY.
The origin of the fire is not known.
The breaker has not been used for the
preparation Of coal since January, 1895.
but the hosting engines and apparatus
have been in constant use and the coal
brought from the shaft was conveyed
to breaker No. >, back on the mountain.
William Harper, of Olyphant, the gen
cral superintendent of the company's
mines, reached the breaker at 1920
O'Clock. He could give no explanation
of the origin of the fire other than that
it might have been caused by the care
lcssness of boy who was directed to
oil the machinery and who might have
accidentally set fire to some part of
the works. and then gone away without
discovering 1t.
The fire was prevented from doing
,ti, ,,,"'t, " r"n,o iinsa % :, ] u,n DS ',,F f
Priceburg; Throon Hose company. Ex-
celsior Hose company, of Olyphant. and
the Wilson Hose company, of Peckyille.
They directed their efforts chiefly
toward saving adjoining property.
The breaker belonged TO the Johnson
Coal company. whose president and
general manager is o. $. Johnson. of
this city. The directors of the COM
pany are. besides Mr.. johnson. A. II.
Christy and T.. B. Sturges. of this CITY.
and Joseph b. Dickson and Jesse /.
Eddy. of New York city, The prcpcrty
formerly belonged to John Jermyn.
from whom II was bought last Sentem-
ber for $i5O,OOO There are 800 acres in
the tract and the estimated amount of
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