Bridgeton pioneer., 1905-07-06
100000 FIRE AT
MORE.JONAS co.

Fire attacked and destroyed $1O0, 0OC
/ |or more of the proper6y of the More.
Jonas Glass Company, in fact this es.
|timate is known to be under the actual
5loss by several thousands of dollars.
1t was but a little more than five
O'Clock in the afternoon when a small
Eblaze was discovered at the ware shed
|of the plant, and an hour and half
Halter practically one. half Of the great
glass plant was entirely destroyed.
1t was one of the most fierce and
4deyasting confiagrations ever in
Bridgeton, and the fire ceased wiping
Tout property when there was nothing
/ to feed upon.
The More. Jonas plant is on Bank
street, the extreme north end, and ex-
1 tends across a large piece of property
Ito the West Jersey railroad. On the
south Of the property is the store and
pne large factory. A wide space ex-
lends then north, and above this was
mother large factory known as the
mber tank, the great ware sheds, the
batch house and the barn.
This part Of the plant north of the
iividing space was entirely flame
wept with the exception of the barn.
There was strong wind blowing
from the southwest while the fire pro-
sressed. Fortunate indeed was this,
for if the wind had blown the flames
louthward the entire plant would have
been destroyed as we'll as many houses
|n that immediate vicinity.
When the flames swept through the
ware sheds they caused the greatest
loss. Every available inch Of the big
bouse 260 feet was filled with manu-
{actured ware made up for the summer
Prders. These goods were being
Phipped out upon order Of the people
Demanding them. There was among
Pthers $4,000 gross Of snuff jars. A
Freight car had been run into the
packing house Monday to be loaded.
Chis was destroyed. Indeed the ca.
pacity OF the ware sheds was not suffi :
fient for the glass made up, and there
was great quantities piled up outside.
all was lost. 1t is estimated that
there was more than $75, 600 worth of
manufactured glass destroyed.
u The flames leaped from the packing
house to the big factory STRUCTURE.
This burned like tinder. Then the
ire crossed over into the big batch
house and this was soon wiped out.
The barn was fred in several places,
but the structure was saved.
Every effort was made to prevent the
hames from spreading to the other big
tank and the oil tank directly along.
side of it. This was not difficult from
tile fact that the wind carried the
flames northward.
There was very little protection
from the Fire Department. In the
first place the department. was very
tardy, inexcusably so, in reaching the
fire, and second, there was little water
when the department. at last got to
work.
It may be better to be entirely
frank. The future protection of the
city demands it. To begin with, on
this Fourth Of July day, a time when
every fire department should be made
especially efficient owing to the added
danger of fires, the Bridgeton depart.
ment was deplorably weakened. When
the alarm was struck there were two
hosemen in the building. Driver Jas.
Neal was at supper. Driver George
Green was down at the race track
driving race horse. Chief Kinkle
land Second Assistant Chief Paullin
were at the race track as police off,
|cers. One of the engineers was there.
1t took them long time to get to the
fire although every effort was put
forth to reach the scene. The Chief
came up with VIM. H. Miller's auto.
mobile, Mr.. Miller using all possible
speed.
Many minutes were spent in getting
|out an engine. The La France could
not be taken out because the work Of
putting new steel doors in the house
blocked its passage. The Silsby had
to be used, and only two horses to pull
it, SO that slower progress was appar-
lent.
All attempts upon the part of the
nremen to use plug stream were
Futile. There is but six inch main
|up Bank street. far inadequate. It
was more than twenty minutes before
there was water turned on the blaze.
Then there was but an inadequate
tream. When three lines were at
ached from the engine, none of them
We're effective. The six inch pipe
IMPLY could not supply the powerful
Piisby engine. An illustration was
post effective. Hoseman Howard