The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-21
TheParisian Wrapper
Co.'S Loss
FALLS TO $4,000.
Fire Started in the Cutting
Room--BuiIding Little Hurt

1t was generally considered yesterday
that the loss resulting from the fire in
the factory of ythe Partisan Wrapper
Company, yesterday morning, would
reach little more than half the original
estimate. Still others estimate the loss
as low as $4,000.
The appearance from the outside of
the building, while the fire was in prog
ress, was that the whole interior of
the building was burned out. The fire
seemed to work steadily UP from the
basement to the roof, leaving the mere
shell of brick standing.
The interior of the building, however.
presents decidedly different appear
ahce, from the impression gained by
most people during the progress. of
on the building proper at less than
$1,000. Aside from the basement and
stairWays at the front and rear of the
oulldlng, the woodwork of the strrc-
ture suffered little damage from fire,
Inc principal damage is to the stock
an immense quantity of which, in the
piece ana made up % in process of
manufacture, was stored in the build
machines with which the floor space Of
me factory is taken up are damaged
70 any extent, and taken as a whole
the 1re is far less serious than was Of
first supposed. 'iA was d.
IN Iact there are several things de-
Heloped by an inspection of the build
ING. one of them is that the elevator
snaIt old not play as prominent a part
IN the flre as was at first supnosed
The enclosure which looked during tbe
IRE Is though 1t was acting as a sort
VI nue. and aiding the flames materially
"a tnelr progress from floor to floor of
ne ne puiidlng, is found practically un-
togched by fire on the inside.
me stairway at the rear of tbe
pulluihg, however, is badly burned ont
showing how the fire made its wev I'm IN
through the building. The statement
~ me Spy, that the fire originated in
ne cutting room, which is located in
the basement, and not in the hoilar
ROOM as has been enormously stated
pofne out by the Investigation and
me statement made yesterday by las
Wars 10 The Spy man, which was
3.j,,td1 IN confirmation of the story
morning. yesterday
4He Investigation conducted vestar-
aay forenoon by Chief Vaughn ana Ala
| 10 state Fire Marshal Robert n NTolt
points conclusively to the fact that tba
| lal1es originated in the basement and
ways anu iedi STAR
| The direct cause of the fire is s+i,
shrouded in mystery, althoueb ona
thlng is certain, and that is that if was
mo- from the boiler. The statement Of
w aecnfnan James Mars, who was
burned before he could escape from tho
nuildlng, confirms this point, in addi-
Lon eion 10 otner evidence. Mars was con-
llIled 10 ms home yesterday. sufferin ..
taI - III ne ouFns ana the attending men
TAI strain of the affair.
He consented to talk of the affair
however, and while he is unable to give
an explanation of the matter. he is
posltlVe that the fire did not start in
tIe poller room. He was sitting in the
smoke. siheliea
me boiler room is located about mid
way, on the east side of the basement
and When Mars suspicious were rousaG
py Inc smell of smoke, he went to the
door opening out of the boiler room
toward the elevator we'll AS has heen
toid, ne was driven back by the smoke
and flames, and finally obliged to make
ms escape from the building through
| a window. q -
When asked whether the fire was
well
as the rear, Mars says he is unable to
say, as he did not open the door lead
| ing from the room to the FROM of the
building. He recalls the circumstance
| OF being met by the wave Of smoke and
flame very distinctly but says ali he
couiu compare it to was a whirlwind
| ne remembers distinctly hearing a
morse that sounded as though doors
| were being slammed, but whether this
| was caused by some sort of a smoke
tTploslon or not, he is unable to say.
| another fact developed Yesterday is
| rat there is $4,000 additional insurance
| 70 what was first stated. There is $50
| OV0 on the stock and machinery, and
| $iS,OOO on the building, all placed
| Grant
solomon Kunitz, principal stakeholder
IN the company, was interviewed at his
| home, and says he places his loss al
| about $4,000. He will have a meeting
| with his partners in Boston today, and
at that time decide definitely what thew
VIII do about securing new quarters.
Mr.. Kunitz is of the opinion that the
rooms in the I. x. Earle factory, form
erly occupied by the Bon Marche
| Wrapper Company, will be utilized.
| 1t is impossible to tell at present how
many of the machines in the burned
building will be available, but Mr..
| Kunitz thinks it will be necessary 10
purchase $50 new machines. Work of
repairing the factory will be com
menced as soon as possible after the
| insurance is adjusted
| The company has a lot of orders
| ahead, and are anxious to get started
as soon as possible. Scores of girls and
women employed in the factory We're
about the building yesterday, anxious
to know when they could return to
| work.