The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1903-07-06
10 LION DOLLAR
FIRE.
:. -
Pier H. Of the Lehigh Val
ley R. R. Burned Yes
terday Evening.
A MAGNIFICENT SIGHT
Flames Illuminated the Lower
Part of the City and Were
Watched By Thou
sands.
A MAGNIFICENT SIGHT

As an aftermath of the Fourth of July
celebration thousands and thousands of
residents of this city We're treated yester-
day to a spectacular pyrotechnic exhIpi-
tion that is not included in the pro-
programme and the exhibition will cost
some people nearly million dollars.
Pier II. of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
one of the series of half dozen OF more
mammoth ones that jut hundreds of feet
diagonaIly on the southern side of the
Gap, and stored with 100000 pounds
of flour in barrels and sacks and great
quantity of cement. was totally destroyed
by Ere. Pier / was considerably dam
aged by IRE and thousands of dollars
worth of aour and other merchandise
lower end in an effort to save the pier
and its contents. The lighter Jeddo, was
also DESTROYED, She was caught in the
run way near the burning pier Fl, and
fairly smothered with flames that leaped1
clear across the runway and set fire to
Pier l, beyond. The lighter Wycox, of
Perth Amboy was caught even behind
the Jeddo and men towed her to the up
-. o.,7 oe AL ~ - ~. Co. al
not reach.
The burned pier Fl. cost about $15O,O00
and was erected some years ago. 1t
stood JUS ,,aSt Fl Pier G, which was re-:
Gently re cost of $3.50. 900 and
is one of the handsomest of the series.
1t replaced the old pier G, which was de-
stroyed (also on Sunday over year ago.
The burned pier was over 500 feet long
by $50 in width.
The fire was first discovered by Watch
man Taylor Winands while making an in
spection Of the pier.--He saw a sheet of
flame suddenly burst out at the lower
end. This sheet of fame was also seen
by George w. Jones, who is in charge of
the pumping station. He gave the alarm
In moment every locomotive in the
yard and in that Of the Central adjoining
was shrilly screeching. The Company $
fire department composed of nearly all
men in the yard who can leave their posts
on such emergencies hurried in the direc-
tion of the burning pier. The Jersey City
fire department responded in a splendid
the spot for fire apparatus. They were
delayed by long lines of freight cars that
especially on Sunday block the yards and
were compelled to go a considerable dis
tance out of their way in order to reach
the scene. There were four alarms and
every engine in the city that could be
spared responded. Chief Conway was in
command. By the time the fire engines
reached the scene the big pier and its con-
tents were already doomed. The interior
was seething roaring mass of flames.
There were forty-ive plugs, each equip
ped with line of hose on the pier, but
not one of these could be reached owing
to the intense heat which scorched fire.
men and drove them back as they triQ1
to reach them.
The fire tugs We're also, delayed in
reaching the scene, but while the pier
was blazing and reeling off an indescrib-
able thick cloud Of smoke permeated with
sparks across the runway a dozen fire
tugs massed and fought the flames from
that side, while the Jersey City fremen
fought it from the railroad yards. The
terrific heat made the horses unmanage-
able. and they had to be unhitched and
taken further up the yard: The water
gauge of No. 8 Engine exploded and No
s Engine caught fire.
Meanwhile, the railroad company's de-
partment, assisted by tugs in the runway,
was deyoting its efforts to saving Pier l.
Forty-fve fire plugs on this pier were
used to wet down the upper structure.
which was saved The lower woodwork
and piling caught fire and burned for
hours. Water, however, damaged nearly