The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-20
A RACE FOR LIFE.
Gardner Operatives
Flee Before Rag
ing Flames.
A 100000 BLAZE.
Central Oil and Gas Stove
Co.'s Main Building
Burned Down.

Gardner, April 19.-'The main build
ing of the Central Oil and Gas Stove
Co.'S factory, 2O5 School street. which
was in operation at SS.i5 o'clock, this
morning, was mass OF ruins two hours
later. 1t was the first large fire since
January, 1898, when the Art Publishing
Co.'S plant on Chestnut street, on the
present site of the Burrage block, went
| up in flames.
The corporation employs about eco
hands, men and women and nearly all
were at work this morning. At about
| SIS Ernest Green, an cmploye, dlscov-
cred a blaze in the testing room, direct
| ly back of the main office on the south
side of the building.
The members of the company and
their employees are feticent about Civ
ing out any facts, but it is believed that
| the fire started from an overhcatcd
stove.
AS soon as the blaze was discovered
the employees were notified and hur-
riedly made their exit. The front pas
sageway was in flames, so nearly every
body went out through the rear doors
| George B. Morley, a clerk, started for
fire alarm box SO, but Robert Dawson
!
Hardly had the first alarm sounded
| than a general call for all the compan-
! les was sounded. Meanwhile the fac
| tory whistle blew necessarily. The
whole fire department arrived, but 1t
was impossible to do much to save the
| building The flames covered the inte-
rior of the main building, a four-storY
brick structure, and the heat was so
intense that spectators were driven
back to considerable distance.
The general alarm startled the whole
! town, and within a quarter of an noCr
fully 5000 people had crowded about
the neighboring streets, the railroad
track and the fields, about the burning
building.
At S.35 a section Of the south wall on
the top floor fell. Five minutes later
the front wall began falling until very
little of it was left standing. Nearly
the entire rear wall went next and the
north wall went down soon afterwards.
The building in which the oils and ia
pans are stored, and which contains the
boiler room, is separated from the main
factory by a brick wall with fire proof
DOORS Hose 4 had men on the roof of
this building and prevented the flames
from getting into it. The foundry near
by was also protected.
When the firemen arrived they were
! unable to do much as the streams of
water lacked force. Lines of hose were
| coupled to three hydrants on Chestnut
street. but the streams were so weak
that they did not have much effect.
Fire extinguishers were also used, but
nothing could be done to save anything
in the main building.
Clerks and laborers rushed out when
| the alarm was given, and did not stop
for their clothing which was consumed
in the flames. The elevator well stood
while the walls fell around it, and al
though it's walls were damaged it re-
manned standing.
The business was incorporated Jan
80. 1896, and has a capital of 5000, 900
| Charles w. Conant is president, w. w
Tandy treasurer, and H. N. Brooks sec
rotary. A Spy man inquired Of some OF
the members of the corporation and the
i superintendent, W. H. Wilder, what the
cause Of the fire was and the amount
Of the loss They all refused to give
/ any information for publication. The
Iloss is, however, estimated at 100000
| The buildings of the company, then
stock and machinery, were insured for
500, 600. The factory is assessed at $40,
loco and the machinery at $1,000.
The machinery, the dies and stock
lcontained in the main building, were. al
destroyed.
The company had been doing brisk
| business. and it is understood that pre-
parations for building will begin al
Ionce Before the smoke had cleared
away measurements were being taken
| probably in connection with the new
| factory.
/ The safes fell into the basement and
could not be drawn out. H. n. Brooks
| secretary of the company, was able to
save some of the books.