Evening journal., 1899-10-05
BLUM6NTHAL' S ABLAze.
Portion of the Big Morocco
Factory Burned Last Night.
$l5O,Ooo WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE

KNOWN AND LARGE CROWDS
COLLECTED AND A GENERAL
ALARM WAS SENT IN.
A large portion Of the morocco fac
tory Of F. Blumenthal & Co., at Reed
and Adams treets, was destroyed by
fire last night, nearly $15O,OOO worth OF
damage being done by the flames.
1t was shortly after o'clock when
the alarm was sent in from box No
III. Lancaster avenue and Monroe
streets, and when the district compan
les arrived the entire third story of the
western section of the building was
ablaze, and it looked as if the whole
plant would be consumed. A second
alarm was at once sounded and the
whole Fire Department was soon on
the scene.
WHERE THE BLAZE STARTED.
The flames originated in what is
nown as the oiling room, and was dis
covered by watchman George Mccoy
ern and Frank Wigglesworth, who, af.
ter securing the box key from a nearby
saloon, pulled the box. With the flames
shooting high into the air the fremer
went to work with a will, and were
soon battling with the flames. The
companies were located as follows:
Chestnut and Adams
streets.
Reliance-Front and Adams streets
Fame-Maryland avenue above Chest.
nut street.
Friendship-Maryland avenue below
Front street
washington-Front and Monroe
streets.
Liberty-second and Monroe streets
Water witch-Second and Adams
streets.
! Phoenix-Front and Jackson streets
EMPLOYEES RENDER AID.
The workUen employed at the fac
tory who were attracted to the seen,
by the blaze joined the fremen ant
rendered valuable assistance. As sooI
as the smoke had cleared away on tn,
second story, men rushed in and, find
ling the large doors on the Reed stree
side Of the building closed, threw
them open in order that the firemeI
could gain access.
After an hour and a half's hard worl
the flames were under control, but
was necessary to keep water pouring
upon the building for several hour
longer.
}, ORIGIN UNKNOWN.
The origin of the blaze is unknown
as no fire is allowed in that portion
Of the factory where the fire started
, The only theory that can be advance,
is that the flames were caused by cleo
trio light wires.
; In the burned part there was s7O,O
r worth of machinery, most of it new
In the drying room there were 1900
dozen skins, the work of one day. Thes
were valued at about s35,OOO. 1t 1
thought that most Of the machinery
/ ruined, and as the skins were on tn
l third floor. they we're burned. Richar
( Patzowsky, the manager of the plant
= was one of the first to arrive on tn
E scene, but he said it would be hard t
: estimate the loss. He gave the abov
. Figures, however.
S The whole plant is insured in bull
i for s1,OOO,OOO.
= Alr. Patzowsky watched the work c
I the fremen with interest. He said
e the entire building on the south sid
d of Reed street had been destroyed tn
loss would have amounted to $500
S 600. The burned part was the leas
S important section Of the factory. o
g the first floor was the putting-out do
l. partment, and on the second floor tn
valuable machinery was located. TIL
: third floor, where there was the mos
O fire, was used as an oiling-off and steal
S or drying room.
o A NUMBER EMPLOYED.
Beside the loss incurred to the stru'
ture, the 1 400 people who are emplo!
ed at Blumenthal's will be thrown Of
IS Of work for some time. In the burne
e section were the putting-out, finishin
/ coloring, drying and oiling room
rel About 45O persons are employed in tn
l. section.
b, REFLECTION PLAINLY SEEN.
" The reflection from the fire WI
re plainly seen throughout the city. ar
hundreds of persons hurried to Il
scene of confagration. Street cars {
the Maryland avenue line were taxi
90 to their utmost capacity. The loc
er theatres were almost deserted, peop
rt leaving when the second alarm can
he in.
m Fortunately there were no serio
Mt casualties. Mr.. Patzowsky was owe
D. lcome with the heat and. after beil