Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-04-17
SWEDESBORo.


The shrill notes Of the whistle at the
Swedesboro Glassworks at three o'clock on
Monday morning denoted trouble, and al
most before the people could spring from
their beds the whole town was illuminated
| by the fire, which was consuming the
works, and in less than an hour the glass
factory, together with the stoppering room
in which the fire was first discovered, the
packing house and small dwelling house,
owned by the company, were destroyed.
The first alarm brought out the Fire De-
partment, the owners and employees of the
works and splendid effort was made, but
it soon became apparent that the factory
must 90, and the firemen and citizens, who
worked with all their might, directed their
efforts toward saving the ware sheds and
surrounding property. The sheds, packed
with crates of glass, took fire but were
saved from utter destruction, although the
loss on ware destroyed is estimated at
thousand dollars. The heroic work of the
firemen and helpers saved the engine house,
the mould and pot rooms the Office of the
company, the batch house and other build
ings connected with the works. The dwell
ing house, owned by the company, and oc-
cupied by j. G. Flitcraft under shearer,
was destroyed, but the family of little
children, one an infant, was gotten safely
out, and a part of the furniture was saved.
Mr.. Flitcraft himself had a narrow escape,
having to jump from the second story win
dow, when the flames were almost upon
him. The fire was first discovered by
master shearer, Harry Keen, in the stopper
ing room and is a mystery, as the watch
man had been his rounds only few min
utes before it broke out and found every
thing all right Signs point to the work of
an incendiary. The big furnace with its
pots full of motion glass was uninjured,
the fires having been banked, and the glass
will be worked out as soon as possible. The
estimated loss on the factory, tools, ware,
i etc, is put at $40, 900 to 1000, with, we
understand, an insurance of 81, 900 covered
by four companies The factory was built
in 1885 and was purchased seven years ago
by the present owners, and has been run
under the cooperative system, with marked
success eighty-ive men and boys being on
the pay roll. The company will rebuild
Immediately. The splendid work of the
firemen and citizens saved the residences of
John Zirkenbach and Mrs. Katie Gallagher
from destruction, as they were just in the
line Of the fire. Sparks ignited the grass
in the Episcopal cemetery and for time
there was lively blaze there
The bill for the incorporation of Swedes-
boro was signed by the Governor on We'd
J nesday of last week. and the proper certif-
cate filed with the County Clerk. Tuesday,
April 29th, is the date set for holding the
first borough election, when mayor, six
councilmen, assessor, collector, justice OF
, the peace and three commissioners of ap-
peal will be elected to serve until next
Spring. when under the law they will be
elected for the full term. Who the first
Mayor will be is problem. Several good
men are spoken of. The office for the first
! year will not be a''bed of roses"
The benefits of fire department. and
water plant were plainly made manifest at
the fire on Monday morning.
B. B. Weatherby, of Millville, spent
Tuesday with his brother, l. H. Weatherby
Mrs. Sarah S. Smith left on Tuesday fol
Bridgeton where she expects to reside.
Jacob Ware spent Tuesday with friend;
at Monroeville.
: Miss Emma Hildebrand spent last week
with friends at Franklinville.
Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. M. Ashton have beer
visiting at Collingswood and Trenton.
TIduk ItyuOluS, Jf., Vi CdIAuoH, Spen
Sunday with his grandmother, Mrs. Re
becca Reynolds.
The friends of Mrs. A. r. Talman will bt
, glad to learn that she is steadily improving
with the prospect that she will soon be able
to leave her room.
Louis Madara is recovering from dan
gerous attack of pneumonia.
Rev. W. S. Mitchell, who has been ser
iously ill, is slowly improving. His friends
hope for his complete recovery.
Scarlet fever has again broken out herr
and eight or ten cases are reported.
Contractor Charles Nicholson is building
nice home for himself at the corner o
East Ave. and Thompson street.
Mr.. Louis B. Moffett, business manage
Of Peirce's Business College, Philada., ha
gone on an extended trip to Cuba in the
interests of the college. Mr.. Moffett i: tn.
: son of B. r. Moffett, of this place, and his
! ''comings and goings' are always interest
ing to his many friends here.
l. I'll. Stratton removed his office Oh
Tuesday to the room in the Howell build
ing, second floor, formerly occupied by DIR
M. J. Doolittle, and the doctor will occup,
the room over Hendrickson's store, vacated
by Mr. Stratton.