Evening journal., 1911-04-07
GARBAGE PLANT
PREY OF FIRE
Fame Hose Fjremen Close to
Death in Blaze That Causes
$4,000 Damage
ORIGIN OF FIRE
PROVES A MYSTERY

Fire of unknown origin, which
started about o'clock this morning
at the garbage plant of the Whining
ton Sanitary Company, at the foot
of Liberty street, destroyed the build
ing Nothing remained standing but
the four walls and valuable machinery
on the interior used in reducing the
garbage, was either destroyed or bad
ly damaged. A conservative esti-
mate of the loss is placed at $4,000.
While fighting the fire, five members
of the Fame Hose Company, had a
narrow escape from death in the
flames. Edward H. Woodward,
treasurer of the company, who was in
charge at the plant today, said that
he could not fix the loss, as the exact
damage done to the machinery had
not yet been ascertained. He said,
however, that the loss was partly COW
cred by insurance.
The blaze was discovered by Patrol
man Morris Finn, who was patroling
his district, and saw the flames from
Front and Madison streets. He struck
an alarm from box No. 26, at Mary
land avenue and Linden street, and
shortly afterward other alarms came
~ ~ AdRAHAf lndA many DtAEO
thought a general alarm had been
struck. Somebody pulled No 26 box
the second time. and another person
sent I'm an alarm from Dox No 80 at
the plant Of the Harlan and Hollings-
worth Corporation, and this caused
some confusion.
With the destruction Of the plant,
the city faces a problem as to what
to do with the daily collections Of
garbage. Just how much is collected
at this time was not learned, but in
the summer months as much as
twenty tons a day-has been removed
TO the crematory. Il was thought
that it would be necessary to send the
garbage to Philadelphia where the
local company is said to have an in-
cinerating plant. and destroy It there.
Mr. Woodward, however, informed
President c. A. Anthony Beck and
Secretary c. William Malcolm, of the
Board Of Health, and Chief Engineer
Alexander Taylor. of the City Survey
ing and Engineering Department. who
went 10 the scene Of the ire, that the
company would be ready by tomorrow
- accept all garbage and dispose OF
II. II appears that a portion of the
old incinerating plant which the city
operated is still intact, and until the
ccmpany rebuilds its plant, it will de-
stroy the garbage. This. Of course.
will cause a loss to the concern, as
il has been reducing the garbage and
abstracting the tallows and oils and
other residue of value
Mr.. Woodward said the origin of the
fre is a mystery 10 him. He said it
started on the roof, and when the sug-
gestion was advanced that sparks
from a passing train set fire to the
structure, he said he could not see
how that was possible. as the roof was
OF slate. The blaze did not start
near where the boiler was located as
was first said, and makes the origin
all the more mysterious
The fire reflection could be seen all
over the city and several thousand
persons who thought that either Har-
lan's plant or the Blumenthal COM
pany's big industry were on fire hast
ened TO the scene. A loud kissing
sound was heard during the progress
of the fire. This was probably caused
by a water main bursting and tho
water coming into contact with the
flames.
Firemen in Danger.
The members of the Fame Fire
Company, who had a narrow escape
from being crushed to death at the
plant were VIM. J. Lutz, VIM. Corson.
James Maquire. James Houghton and
r. Harlan Smith. These men I'm or
der to get to the seat of the blaze,
took up stand in a narrow passage
way between the boiler in the plant
and an immense iron tank. While
they were directing the hose the floor
under the tank gave away and it sank
six feet. The tank started to fall
toward the wall Of the boiler and had
It not become wedged would have
crushed the fremen. Two of them
went down with the floor. a distance
Of several feet, but managed to catch
themselves. They we're Houghten and
Smith. The men quickly got out Of
this death trap and we're forced to
abandon their hose which became
wedged under the tank as It sank
Into the floor.