New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
LARGE MALT HOUSE BURNS.
FIRE DESTROYS PROPERTY OF FARM

ERS' FEED COMPANY WORTH 100000.
The big. six story maIthouse of the Farmers
Feed Company, of New-Jersey, which extended
from Seventy-ffth to Seventy ninth st. at the
East River, destroyed by fire last night
Only the walls remain standing. A high wind
was blowing at the time, and the sparks were
sent far the East River, while the light
from the blaze lighted up the city's buildings
on Blackwelrs Island. The sight was wit
messed by thousands of people living in the
vicinity and by those who had come from
distance, attracted by the glow of the flames in
the sky. For two hours the building blazed like
furnace. At the expiration of that time Chief
Croker said the fire was under control and he
felt sure it would not spread beyond the build
ing itself
The malthouse numbers $50, 532, 534 and $50
East Seventy-siXth-st. and go, 531, 533 and $50
East Seventy-ffth-st. It was six stories high
with a tall chimney on one corner, and was built
of brick over iron frame. The company
which owns the premises has since 1891, when
the place was built, conducted the business of
! buying malt from brewers, drying it and selling
it to farmers throughout the United States and
Europe It is said to be the largest company Of
its kind in the world.
few minutes after o'clock last evening
Patrolman Mchaels, of the East Sixty-seventh-
volumes
from the windows of the fourth floor Of the
building on the Seventy-sixth-st side. He turned
! in an alarm and then, with Patrolman Fay OF
the same station, and Patrolman Fogarty, Of the
Bicycle Squad, went into the building There
We're several men working on the fourth floor at
the time. The policemen warned them Of their
danger and then took the company's books from
the office. which was on that floor. to a. place
Of safety Bicycle Policeman Fogarty. who was
| formerly an engineer, turned off the steam in
the boiler room and raked the fires in the fur
| naces.
On the arrival Of the first detachment Of the
Fire Department Captain Barry Of Engine
! Company No. 80 turned in a second alarm and
Chief Croker. on reaching the scene ordered
| two additional alarms TO he sent in. Before
/ long eleven engines, two fireboats-the Have
meyer and the Van Wyck-and the fire tower
were deluging the burning structure from everv
side but the blaze was so fierce that the streams
seemed 10 have little effect for more than an
hour. From the first It was plain that the build
| ing was doomed To prevent the flames from
| spreading to other structures near by was one
| of the chief aims of the fire fighters Directly
| back of the burning building was the East Side
! House. a social settlement of which Everett p
! Wheeler is president. with its Fairgrounds for
! the children Of that neghborhood, and the
| building Of the Webster Free Circulating Lii
! brary connected with the settlement house. In
the rear, in Senevty the buildings Of
the United States Cigar Company and Blumer's
cheese factory. From the roofs Of these struct-
| ures the fremen sent streams of water into the
| blazing buildings. at the same time putting out
any blaze which showed itself on the roofs
where they stood.
Clarence Gordon, secretary and resident
ager Of the East Side House. who lives there
With his family was one of the first to discover
the blaze. and his way to alarm box
when he met Patrolman Michaels. who had just
turned in the alarm Another structure within
the danger line was the small house occupied by
John Bumer proprietor Of the cheese factory.
Frederick Walters of No 215 East Seventy
secOnd-st. the superintendent Of the malthouse,
arrived few minutes after the fire discov-
cred. He had just come from HobOken. where
a lighter filled with malt belonging to the COM
pany had been destroyed in Saturdays
1agration He said the company employed
about thirty-five men in handling the malt and
grain, and about fifty drivers. All of these men
will be thrown out of employment.
The loss is estimated at 100000, divided
equally between the Building and it's contents.
The loss is partially covered by an insurance Of
$4,000.