The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-29
Factory Largest Of the Kind In This Country
and Employed $50 Hands.
THE FLAMES SPREAD VERY rapidly.
Asils anos Sent From Taunton and MansfIs'd The
Absences Of Wind Probably savsd The Whole
Village From lssHuoton.

Foxboro. Mass. May 29.-The Union
straw shop, the largest i'm the country.
was totally destroyed by fire last night.
causing a loss OF $250.000. possibly more.
and throwing out Of employment $50
hands. The Dlaze at first was supposed
TO have been OF incendiary origin, but
an investigation showed the probable
cause 10 be due either to a defective
chimney or fire from an ironing ma
chine.
Fire was discovered i'm the ironing de-
partment on the second floor of the
main building, facing on Wall street.
shortly after o'clock.From that room
the flames ran with alarming rapidity
10 an elevator shaft ana TO the roof.
from which they spread TO several
other buildings, covering an acre and a
quarter OF ground.
Had there been any wind the whole
village would have been swept out OF
existence. AS IL was, several buildings
were ignited by sparks. A large stable
owned by j. +. Carpenter on the east
erly side of the plant was destroyed
and the homestead place partially
burned.
The straw shop at the present time
is owned by Albion II. Bemis, who does
business under the firm name of the
Bemis Hat Company. Mr.. Bems start
ed for New York an hour before the
blaze was discovered. The Foxboro
fire department was quickly on the
scene, but the Chief. realizing that his
force was Inadequate 10 cope with the
flames. sent to Mansfield and Taunton
for aid. The departments from those
places arrived In. an hour. and went TO
the rescue OF the volunteers. An hour
and half from the time the fire was
discovered the entire plant from Wall
street south. distanc OF sixteenth
of a mile. was roaring furnace.
The roof and walls OF the main build
ing fell before the flames were COM
municated 10 the structures in the rear.
In the buildings at the time was an
immense stock OF summer and fall
goods ready for shipment. and the firm
had on hand large number OF orders
TO bes.filled. The shop was not runeing
its fun capacity. which is 500 hands. but
IL was enjoying an excellent run OF
trade for this season Of the year.
The establishment was the main in
dustry Of the village. but not the only
straw factory there. There are four
other firms making similar goods, but
they are much smaller. The confiagra-
tion was visible many miles. and the
illumination attracted thousands from
distant cities and towns.
The district burned over was located
about the same as that burned over
in Attleboro two years ago this month
not get beyond the limit OF the plant
where IL originated was due to the he
role work of the firemen and villagers.
During the early stages of the blaze
an attempt was made to save property
but the fire travelled so fast the fire.
men and helpers were driven from the
buildings. Only. a few boxes of hats
We're saved, and nearly all of those
were carried away by relic hunters. The
police and firemen tried to prevent this
wholesale thieving. In an attack upon
the thieves one fireman was struck in
the head with a stone and severely in
jured
The main building was erected i'm 1852
and 1858. at the expense OF $780, 900. 1t
was erected by a union company. In
the plant was installed the most i'm
proved machinery, which cost a large
sum. A short time ago Mr.. Bemis be-
came owner OF the property and fitted
the plant with the most costly machin-
cry.
The Wall street building was four
stories in height. supporting two tow
ers six stories in height. This building
was 125 by 470 feet. The other buildings
were two and three-story structures
The plant contained nearly 40 miles OF
piping, and five pumps that were util-
ized until the flames drove the firemen
from their lines. Many firemen mar
rowly escaped being crushed under the
falling walls. A few were injured, but
not severely.
A relative OF the owner Is authority
for the statement that the loss will
exceed the figure given. He says the
plant is but partially insured. probably
for ,000 through the #. l.. Fisher
Insurance agency of Medway