The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-07-26
Big Manufacturing Plant at
Be||efonte Totally Destroyed.
ORIGIN OF IRE A MYSTERY.
Buildings Were Located on Banks OF Paw
tulst River, but Fire Apparatus Was
lacklng-A Grand Spectacle.

Water and hose are the recognized
essentials in fire fighting on a large scale,
Used together they are OF incalculable
value in saving property. One without
the other is powerless TO do service. Last
evening crowds of curious onlookers saw
q disastrous demonstration OF this last
truth as the entire plant Of the Turkey
Red company. located on the banks Of
the Pawtuxet river at Bellefonte. burned
10 the ground. entailing loss Of up
wards OF 100000. This loss includes
buildings and machinery agsregating
$3.50 900, and stock on hand to the value
OF $40 600. How far this loss Is covered
by insurance is not known at the pres
ent writing
With thousands Of gallons OF water
flowing past within a stones throw, yet
wholly useless In checking the progress
Of the flames, IL seems the height of
irony to set down the extent Of the dis
aster as due to lack OF water-the same
kind OF water. too. that. had the blaze
been within the city limits would have
been pitted against the flames from the
nozzles Of myriad hose.
The fire was discovered at 1925 o'clock
by the night watchman. II started, so
ne says, in the can room and spread with
great rapidity TO the other portions OF
the buildings. ON discovering the blaze.
Fred whitcomb the watchman. blew the
whistle long and loud, awakening every
body for some miles about This long,
continuous shrek for help was kept up
until the fire, aggravated at the prospect
OF a squelching. made It's way TO the en-
gine room and took charge Of things.
The employees In the vicinity OF the
dye works were quick TO respond and set
10 work with vigor to overpower the
flames But there is much material con-
cerned In the operations OF a dye works
which is Of very combustible nature.
Carbcys OF chemicals exploded as the
flames reached them and added new ener-
gy to the general conia grafton. The fire
licked up the bales of new goods. gorged
itself upon the stores in the dye rooms
and after disabling machinery. engines,
etc. demolished the wooden walls and left
the brick ones worthless blackened ruins.
The Auburn Volunteer Fire company
arrived on the scene with all possible
speed and its members did much I'm the
work of rescuing portions OF stock, con-
tents OF the office and in leading the
work Of the fire fighters. The company
did not bring its hose, and as the fire had
destroyed the FIRE apparatus belonging TO
the dye works, the engine was useless
]. of Pawtuxet, came TO help In the
efforts OF saving the buildings. but the
fire was past control before they arrived
By 1 o'clock the main building and all
other structures but the wooden case
storeho,se had been destroyed and the
flames were already making headway on
the last named building, The fire was
unaccompanied by accident of any de-
scription. though several OF the men en-
H., tNat ryftb hA 40
placed in positions OF considerable peril
at times.
The Turkey Red company Is n corpora
ton engaged In the manufacture OF cloth
OF the peculiar shade known TO trade as
turkey red" and familiar In the shape OF
table cloths napkins. bandanna handker-
chiefs, eto The head OF the corporation
ie William f. Whittle of Edgewood who
by his we'll directed efforts during the
past eight years had established the b,Isi-
ness on basis OF unprecedented pros
perity. For the past few weeks the
works had been operated during the even
fngs In an endeavor TO catch up with the
rush of orders The fire Is made all the
more calamitous in the face OF this fact
Mr. whittle was nearly overcome by his
loss and was unable last night to make
any statement as to insurance etc.
The location OF the works was on tho
north side of the river at the edge Of
the town-of Cranston and close 20 the
upper railroad bridge near silver Hook
A dye works has been situated there for
many years. and several misfortunes have
from time to time retarded the develop
ment OF the property. Fires and foods
have visited the place and never had II
enjoyed such prosperity as during the
past year of Mr.. Whittle's energetic con-
troll Now the work OF eight earnest
years and the prospects and hopes of
lifetime are reduced TO ashes and the
devastation more comp ete than at any
former disaster.
night, visible for miles around. and great
numbers of people came from all direc-
lions TO watch the wrecking Of one of tho
most prosperous Industrial institutions OF
the state.