Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-08-26
Fire af Pnulshoro.

& Co. phosphate wo-ks at Mantua Poini
were destroyed, entailing loss estimated
at 1925, 900.
The plant, covering ten acres of ground
is situated on the hanks of Mantua creek
about mile and a half from the railroad
station, and is used for the manufacture Of
fertilizer, and its destruction at this time
means serious loss to the firm and en-
ploYes, as this is the busiest season Of the
years, and night and day forces have beer
working for two weeks past to fill orders.
When the flames were discovered the
only persons on the grounds were foul
watchmen. The whistle was quickly
blown to summon the employees from Their
homes, and in less than twenty minutes
nearly hundred workmen were battling
with the flames. Owing to the combustible
nature of the contents of the long line Of
buildings, it was impossible to stay the
progress of the fire, and the great plant
was soon roaring furnace.
The flames originated in pile of refuse
in the northwestern section of the grounds
Fire had been smouldeIing in this
for three days. and a watchful eye had
been kept on the smouldering bones and
hides. Sunday morning, shortly before 6
O'Clock, the Waterman patroling the
western section of the grounds noticed a
| or o~l1a ell hrA 90 hu
the time an alarm was sounded the flames
had inguited the acid house. The flame
ate their way through the frame roof, and
stiff north wind famed the fire until
the big frame structures were doomed.
Several lines of hose were attched to the
plugs around the yard, but owing to the
heat the volunteers were unable to get
close enough to the burning plant to do
effective work. Before Z O'Clock the
building, including the mixing depart
ment, boiler-room, acid house, engine
house and their contents were totally
Destroyed.
While the flames were at their height
the schooner Addie Bacon, loaded with
South Carolina stone, lying to the wharf,
took fire and the crew, consisting of a
captain, his wife, son and mate, had narrow
escapes from death. The flames ignited
the rigging and the sails and masts were
soon envoloped in flames. The crew
started for the deck from the cabin when
the masts gave way, and the burning
debris crashed on the deck, portion OF
the rigging falling on the fleeing crew,
who fortunately reached the side of the
vessel and leaped into the yawl boat.
The burning vessel was cut loose
from the wharf, and several tugs quickly
put in from the river and worked to save
the vessel from destruction. They sue
ceeded in extinguished the flames after
the craft was dismantled and her deck
badly burned.
A section of the wharf was also des-
tIoyed. The insurance is principally held
by G. Leeds & Co.. in these amounts ::
Royal Insurance Co., $4,000; the Phoenix
of London, $4,000; the Liverpool and
Globe Co., $4,000; National of Hartford
$500; Lancashire, $1,000; Fire Associa-
ton, Philadelphia, $1,000: American Fire
Association, Philadelphia, $500; the bal
ance is held by w. J. Adamson, of Pauls-
boro.
The plant was erected in 1870 and
prosperous business has been carried on,
with nearly 100 operatives Several addi-
tions has been made, and improvements
were contemplated at the time of the fire.
Good News for ChildIess Homes.
The New Jersey Children's Home So
ciety is DESTROYS of hearing from any
Christian family who may be willing to
provide home and education for little
child, with the privilege of adoption.
There are at present on the list of appli-
cants for homes and parental love and
care, the following:
Six babies, both boys and girls, under
one year.
Four boys and two girls from one to
three years.
Five boys from three to five years.
Five boys from five to eight years
Four girls from five to nine years
Two boys from nine to eleven years.
One pretty mulatto baby girl six months
old.
All these are desirable children. Many
are specially bright and attractive, ready
to grace auY home and bring sunshine to
the home circle.
! The Society appeals to the generous
public to aid them in caring for this host
of little ones, while they are waiting for
the homes to open to them, many of them
being boarded at the Society's expense.
Address all letters 70 Rev. w. L. Mayo,
219 Tyler street, Trenton, N. ]. or apply
to Mrs. Asa Colson, Cooper street, Wood
bury.
Board of Agriculture.