Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-05-30
READING WORKS
ALMOST DESTROYED
Sweeping Destruction by Fire in This City
Late Thursday Night.

Our town Thursday night was again
visited by the fire tiend, the flames this
time selecting as their prey the Read
ing Iron Works, and but little more now
remains of the large plant which for
wears past has been the main depend
ence of our town but mass of blacken-
ed ruins. The fire broke out about 1880
O'Clock in the l6-inch or bar mill. When
discovered the flames were eating their
way into one of the beams of the tower
around the upright boiler at No. d heat
ing furnace. The mill hose was at once
was situated conveniently near. But ow-
ing to some cause there was woeful de-
ficiency of force and although the burn
ing timber was not more than twenty
FIVE feet from the ground, the stream
could not be made to reach it within ten
or twelve feet. The flames gained rapid
headway and were soon beyond control.
The town was alarmed by the hoarse
whistle of the mill Loud and long it
blew and never before did whistle
throw into its tones so much of warning
and desperation. The different engine
houses of the town took up the alarm,
while each company hurried to the
burning mill, which by this time was
partially enveloped in flames, while lur-
id drifts of smoke ascended skyward.
The fire department rendered good ser!
vice service which under ordinary con-
ditions would have been etfectual III
subduing the fire, but unfortunately
here they were contending against con-
ditions which rendered their labors next
to futile. In connecting the hose the
plug on Northumberland street south of
the creek was broken; the water welled
up from its base and escaped from the
plug III heavy stream, which it was
impossible to stop, the flow materially
weakening the general pressure of the
water, so that it was only at intervals
that a stream could be made to reach
to the roof of the burning mill.
Meanwhile the fire spread. 1t original
ed in the new portion of the 16-inch
mill, which was built of North Carroll ma
pine This was doomed in less than tif-
teen minutes after the first alarm. The
flames easily communicated to the 2Oinch
or skelp mill, thence to the roll shop and
on to the old or No. puddle mill. The
timbers along the roof on the interior of
the mill were heavily laden with de-
posit offine dust of a highly combustible
nature. Once communicating to this
dust the flames ran along the timbers as
if fed by a stream of gun powder, envel-
oping as they swept on the dry and sea-
soned woodwork that supported the
roof. No human power was able to stay
the onward rush of the flames.
To add to the difficulty there was an
element of grave peril attending the
fighting of the fire owing to the danger
from bursting steam pipes, if not the ex.
plosion of boilers. No one realized this
more than the tiremen themselves and
the employees of the works who labored
most heroically to save their plant from
destruction. Yet men took desperate
chances.
By II 80 o'clock it seemed evident that
the entire plant was doomed, with the
probable exception of the new puddle
mill. The greater part of the mill was
a mass of flames. AS section after sec
tion of the roof fell in the. massive
steam pipes were rent in twain which
caused the steam to escape in immense
volumes sending great masses of
flames and sparks far into the sky, pro-
ducing a scene of indescrbable splend-
or.
About this time the water was cut off
from the broken plug, which increased
the pressure somewhat, although it was
still too weak to cope with the fire ow-
ing to the numerous strea ms in service.
Shortly before mid night the borough fire
engine was called into service. 1t was
placed on the bank of Mahoning creek
between Northumberland street and the
ID. L. q w. railroad where it could be of
service in preventing the spread of the
fire toward the south eastern part of the
works. The engine drew upon Mahon-
ing creek for its water and soon had a
strong and steady stream at work.
From this moment things took a turn.
All hands bent their energies toward
confining the fire to the 16-inch, the 20
inch and No. puddle mill which were
already practically reduced to ruins. So
heroically did they work that before /
o'clock it was apparent that the No.
puddle mill, and the l2-inch mill would
be saved. At 80 o'clock the fire was
practically under control. the onward
sweep of the flames being arrested be-
fore they had fully devoured the old
puddle mill. A portion of the roof Of
this is still standing, but the interior, ii
is feared, is a general ruin, Elsewhere
the destruction is complete. The bal
and skelp mills, the roll shop and GER
tainly greater part Of the old puddle
mill are literally wiped out, the massive
engines, the furnaces, boilers and rolls
all being included in the general ruin.
Fifteen minutes after the first alarm
one thousand people had assembled al
the scene of the fire; in half an houl
there were three thousand people OF
the spot. On the faces of all, lit up by
the glare of the confiagration, wa