The Newtown bee., 1903-11-20

CHECK FOR S0UO.-SAVED WORKS FROM RUINS.-HAD BLAZE EXTEND ED TO BOILER HOUSE, SEVEN HUN DRIED PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT OF EMPLOYMENT.-
 LOSS, AS IT IS, ONLY $3, 800, FULLY
 INSURED.-HOW THE BLAZE sTART-
 ED.
 What threatened for awhile to be- come serious fire occurred at 33O o'clock, Sunday morning, in a large coal shed belonging to the New York Betting & Packing Co.,, adjoining the mill. The shed was destroyed, toyeth- CT with new conveying belt, recently put in for the company by the Rob- bins Conveying Belt concern. The damage is estimat ed to be $3, 800, fully insured. Only the splendid etfurtS of the fire department prevented the blaze from spreading to the boiler and engine house adjoining. Had this Oc- cured heavy losses would have result ed and 700 people would have been thrown out of employment for d month or more. In view of the departments success in contining the lire to the coal house, and as a token of gratitude, Superintendent B. J. Coughlin, of the New York Betting $ Packing Co. sent letter Monday morning to Chief Will Haul II IlLRCId dlu, WlUu Ct CuGCk 1OI UCOU. The letter follows:
 Passaic, N. J., Nov. g 1903. MT Wm. Fitzgerald,
 Chief Passaic Fire Dept,
 Passaic, N. J.
 Dear Sir: We wish to thank you and your assistant, MT Hall, as we'll as all the members of the Fire depart ment, for the magnificent work done at the fire in our coal storage house yesterday morning.
 We do not hesitate to say that if it had not been for the promptness in re- spending to the alarm, and the excel fire. our loss would have been very great.
 Enclosed herewith please find check for $500, which you will please accept with our compliments, and kindly See that it is diStrib ibuted among the vari- ouS tire companies.
 Thanking you again for your valu- able assistance, we are, Very truly yours,-[N. Y. B. & P. Co.,, Ltd, D. J. Coughlin, Superintendent.
 At 12 o'clock Saturday night the fire in the engine room had been banked, and large barrow tul!S of ashes kept had been dumped alongside of the coal
  ed the blaze. About 33O the night watchman discovered the entire north side of the shed atire. He ran to Box Is, but this box is in connection with the auxiliary system which had been placed in the mill. Although the sys- tem had been regularly attended to it was out of order and would not work. This Ca aused delay, it being necessary for the watchman to run to Box l5, which is in front of the Dundee engine house. From here the alarm was sent ift, but the lost time had given the flames considerable headway. It has been learned that the canal was dry, due to the fact that the bed was being cleaned, and this it is believed caused the trouble in the mill fire system. When the tiremen arrived, however, they went to work with will, for, it was feared that the flames would reach the boiler house, which is situated next to the shed. Meanwhile nearly thousand tons of coal was a roaring mass of flames in the coal shed, and it was thought necessary by the fire chief to keep stream of water continually upon the boiler building. It was not until an hour after the tire had start ed that the back tap was sent in. Two alarms had been rung and every com pany in the city had arrived on the scene except the Linden Hose.-[ Pas saic IN. J.) Daily News.