Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1910-03-28
GAS HOUSE
ROYED
BY FLAMES
Spectacular Fire at C. Par
dee Steel Works Early
Yesterday Morning:
DAMAGE Is SAID TO BE
ABOUT $1,000

Damage estimated at $4,000, re-
suited from fire at the steel plant
OF the G. Pardee Works early yes
terday morning. A building on the
easterly side Of the blooming mill,
which contained a gas producing
plant, was totally destroyed and a
partition and window castings on one
side of the mill were burned. The
efficient work of the city fire depart
ment saved large coal trestle con-
tanning several cars in the southerly
side OF the gas house from being
consumed. That the blooming mill
and other nearby buildings were not
burned is due to the fact that they
are of steel construction. The fire
was discovered about o'clock by
one of the employees OF the plant.
The flames scared high in the air
and made a spectacular blaze.
The gas house was a frame build
ing about forty feet wide and sew
enty-fiye feet long. 1t directly ad-
joined the blooming mill on the east
The latter plant, with its valuable
machinery, was saved from destruc-
tion only because it's structure is of
steel. The gas producers, four of
them, supplying all of the gas for
the mill, were located in the burned
building, and were considerably
damaged from the intense heat. A
gang Of men labored all day yester-
day repairing them In order to have
the mill running today as usual
No one seems to know how the
blaze started. 1t was discovered by
one of the stationary engine firemen
at the plant. He saw flames issuing
from a large box or bin in which
coal was stored, and he Immediately
called out the company's fire appara-
tgs. The small corps was unable TO
cope with the blaze, and after a
quarter of an hour-spent in trying to
extinguish it, the city GssrneIt Itment
was called. James Baker, nigft
watchman at the gate house, turned
and Sheridan streets.
When the companies arrived the
building was mass of flames. The
shed was roaring furnace, and the
reflection in the sky overhead could
be seen for some distance. Three
streams of water were thrown on the
burning building, but such head
way had been gained by the flames
that they were of little use. 1t was
impossible to approach within thirty
feet of the blaze, SO intense was the
heat. Windows in the partition sep
arating the gas-producing plant
from the blooming mill we're
cracked and melted out, large iron
pipes through which the gas passed
were bent and torn. Several tons OF
coal in a bin where the fire was dis
covered were also consumed.
A trestle upon which were several
freight cars, was directly in the path
of the fire and was only saved by the
heroic efforts of the flremen. All of
the apparatus in the blooming mill.
with the exception Of few pipes,
was also preserved.
For an hour and a half the fire.
men battled The fire virtually
burned itself out, however, for when
the last ember died out, the building
was a total wreck Had the depart
ment been called sooner, the plant
would probably have been saved.
Hook and Ladder Com
pany was held up for fully five min
utes at Market street and the Cen
tral railroad crossing, TO allow a
freight train to pass.
The damage is estimated at be-
tween two and three thousand dol
lars, although no statement could be
obtained from the officials at the
plant.
The gas generator was repaired
yesterday and is being operated to-
day.