Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1909-03-31
Three Buildings,
TreStIe and
Cars Burn.
WHISTLE HEARD
Thanks Extended to Perth
Amboy for Offer Of Aid
Sash Dept. Burns, Main
Part Safe-- NEARBY
Plants Menaced.

Flame damaged the plant of the Vul-
can Detinning Works, near Sewaren,
last night to the extent of 100000 and,
for q time, it was feared that the entire
factory would be consumed. The fire,
which started at 6:25 O'Clock, around
a cupola on the foundry building, spread
to the two other buildings of the sash
weight department, and, in spite Of the
efforts of the company's own fire de-
partment, they were consumed.
The sash weight department, which
consisted of the main building and
foundry, 160 by 100 feet, one story
high; a stock house, 100 by 40 feet, two
stories high; warehouse, 100 by 40
feet, one story high; and a trestle, over
which was stored considerable coke, was
burned to the ground and underneath
the debris are two charred freight ears.
one of the cars was loaded with new cast
iron sash weights ready for shipment
today.
General Manager Adolph Kern, of
New York, was at the plant this morn
ing, looking over the ruins and confer
ring with Local Manager Frank Bailey
In regard to the fire. Mr.. Kern told a
NEWS reporter that the fire had come
at very inopportune time, as the works
was rushed with orders He said that
the damage would not exceed 100000
and that it was fully covered by III
surance. Mr.. Kern stated that ne
burned department would probably be
rebuilt at once.
Other Factory in Danger.
The Vulcan DEFINING Works is sit
uated west Of the Central railroad, the
main part Of the plant being on Wood
bridge Creek, where scrap tin is unload
ed daily from scows. North of the main
part of the plant, about 300 feet away,
was the sash weight department and
about 100 feet to the northeast was the
plant of the Arsenical Ore Reduction
Company. The latter plant was greatly
endangered, as the wind blew the flames
towards it with such force that the fire.
men had to keep it wet to prevent the
building from catching fire. As one of
the ore reduction company's buildings
is high in the air, it was in more dang
er than any Of the surrounding prop.
elty, on account of flying sparks.
Discovered by a Watchman.
John Soltz, one of the three watch
men on duty at the sash works, dis
covered that the woodwork near the
cupola on the foundry building was on
fire shortly before $3.50 clock and, call
ing the other wstchmen, he tried to ex-
tinguish it with buckets of water. Their
effsrts were oA little avail, however, as
thesfa spread rapidly. As soon as
Soltz saw that the fire was beyond their
control, he sounded "44''on the fire
whistle at the main part Of the plant,
which called the employers Of the works
to the scene. Although the fire depart
ment Of the plant WAS efficient the fire
continued to spread, and "25, =" the call
for the Woodbridge. 4re department, was
sounded on be<whistle The workmen
of the .pfrtnt' soon had several streams of
water on the Are, the engines In the
main part of the works pumping the
supply from the creek.
Shortly after the call for the Wood
bridge department had been sent in,
the fire whistle sounded long blast,
which was the call for general assist
ance. In the meantime the fire had
spread to the other two buildings Of
the sash department, and the heat be-
came intense. The coke, which was
stored over the trestle, burned and made
he heat worse AS result several lines
of hose burst. The fremen, on account
of the heat, were unable to get close
enough to the flames to do much good
and, realizing that the buildings were
doomed, they devoted their time to-
wards saving the adjoining property.
Started from Spark.
1t is the general impression that the
fire was caused by spark from the
foundry in the cupola at the main build
.ng, as tin was melted thore for the sash
weights, and it gave out considerable
heat. Another theory is that the fire
was caused by an overheated fue.
The yard of the Boyton-Chalmers
Lumber Company, east of the Central
railroad tracks, was in danger of ignl-
! tion from the sparks, as was house and
barn north of it. The firehen kept a
close watch on these buildings and their
vigilance saved the structures.
The trestle work over the railroad
spur, adjoining the foundry building
was also totally destroyed, as were the
two freight cars underneath. There was
a large quantity of weights stored in one
of the burned buildings, but, being
made of cast iron, they can be used
again.
Perth Amboy offered Aid.
The blaze illuminated the sky 80 bril-
liantly that people came from all diree-
tions to watch It. The fire department
of this city was in readiness to respond
il the Woodbridge companies were un-
able to handle the blaze and Chief Meade
and number of other local fremen
went to the scene of the confiagration.
The chief offered Chief Hirner of the
Woodbridge department, assistance, but
tho Eatter, while profuse in his thanks,
did not need to take advantage of the
offer:
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