The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-02-04
THE WIRE MILL DESTROYED
NEARLY THE ENTIRE PLANT CON-
 SUMED BY FIRE YESIERD4Y.


 SUMED BY FIRE YESIERD4Y.
 The Loss is Estimated at S4OO, ,OOO, Partly
 Covered by lnsurance-The Means oi
 Fire Fighting at Hand Were made
 quate and the Flames Were Practi-
 cally Unchecked-The Cause of the
 ofEmployment-AM Much Largea Plant
 May be Built.
 The New Haven Wire mill, owned by
 the National Wire corporation, plant
 which gave employment to about 525
 men, was almost completely destroyed
 by fire early yesterday morning, entail
 ing property loss estimated last night
 at $400,000.
 The plant was located on the bank of the Quinnipiac river, near Fairmount avenue and just east of the Ferry street draWbridge across the Quinnipiac river It was thoroughly equipped for the manufacture of wire and was one of the largest centers of industrial activity In this city. About two years ago it was purchased from the New Haven Wire company by the National Wire corporation, and after that purchase the new owners greatly enlarged and improved the plant until it was one of the largest wire mills in the country and was said to be the largest one not owned hyrt ha Ay,,ar iva company.
 The mill was located in the Fifteenth ward just outside of the limits of the city proper, and consequently just out side Of the district within which the New Haven fire department has juris- diction. When the fire was discovered it had gained great headway, and al- though the annex fire department did all that it could to stay the flames, the inadequacy of the facilities for fire fighing in that section of the city pre- vented availing work and the fire had practically unhindered sweep. Although there were three watchmen in the place at the time the fire broke out none of them knows the cause of the fire. The cause seems to be shrouded in mystery, and is only matter of conjecture. It was currently rumored yesterday after noon that it was believed to have been of incedniary origin, but William E. Hitchcock, assistant treasurer of the corporation the only officer ot the cor poration who oould be found yesterday afternoon, when asked for his opinion as to the cause of the fire, based on what he had heard from the watchmen and other men on the scene, said that he had formed no idea of the cause, and when asked concerning the report that 1t was believed to have been incendiary ing that report.
 The fire started in the engine room in the department at the east end of the plant known as the rod mill, and was discovered by Night Watchman Mark ham about 4 o'clock yesterday morning, | at which time, MT. Markham said yes- terday afternoon, the entire gable of the | rod mill department was aflre. There | has been an understanding with the an- nex fire department that in case of fire at the wire mill there would be given three blasts of the whistle. When the | fire was discovered, however, the watch man tied down the whistle and kept it blowing continuously. Some of the an- mex firemen hearing this thought at first that it was a steamer whistle and did not get out until it continued for several minutes
 An employe of the mill who boards near by, who was awakened by the whistle blowing and who was one of the first to reach the mill after the whistle was set blowing, said yesterday after noon that as soon as he heard the whis- Lle he threw on some of his clothing and hurried over to the mill. He said hat he went at once to the engine room md that the fire then appeared to be confined to that room and was between he two large engines which were in the 'oom, burning in the floor and in the 'oof. He said that had there been a 'mall hose with water supply at hand hen, he believes that the flames could lave been extinguisned in their incipi- ncy. Shortly before o'clock a request for assistance was telephoned to the New Haven fire department headquarters. Is the mill was located outside the linn of city fire service Fire Marshal Glad yin was called up and informed of the l equest. The marshal called up Presi- l ent Holcomb of the fire board, who instructed the marshal to take such fire ghting apparatus as he thought neces- ary and respond to the call. Marshal A iladwin accordingly took No. engine nd truck Mo- 3 and hastened to the re with that appara tus and the com- lement of men. When the New Haven firemen arrived =, hey found that the flames had swept !, yer nearly the entire plant and were r apidly nearing the main boiler and en- V inc room and the nail department al q 1e west end of the works, and that le annex volunteer f1remen were work lg strenuously to save the boiler room nd the nail department. The New aven firemen added their efforts to lose of the annex firemen and finally le flames were checked and the boiler i1 ,om and the nail shop were saved II unharmed by the fire U rhile at work there some of the annex II remen mad narrow escapes from seri- u IS injury William Maynard, of the le mex company, was on the roof of the H. eaning room adjoining the boiler room Ct hen he fell partly through hole burn- " through the roof. He was rescued | p' 7 other firemen and escaped with a ol Idly bruised and wrenched leg. D. urton Brown, assistant chief of the mex company, started to fall through hole in the roof, but caught hold of A te of the guy wires of the smoke of