The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-05-07
Midniphf Fire.

The plant of Kaplan Brothers, on King
street, manufacturers Of caps, was totally
destroyed by fire of unknown origin on
Wednesday night. The flames were dis.
covered by Henry G.. Hall shortly before
~ o'clock. The officer called up the tele-
phone exchange, the fire whistle got
busy and the general alarm that followed
was responded to quickly by the firemen,
who lost nearly 5000 worth of hose. They
could not save the cap factory, as the
structure was doomed when the engines
arrived on the scene.
The loss has not been learned but 1t will
be considerable. Kaplan Brothers car
ried s., 900 insurance on stock and ma
chinerY, placed by agents In the county
There is said to be other insurance bring
ing. the total to 500, 900 on the contents of
the factory. Owners of the building had
81, 800 insurance. Stored In the building
was about 5000 worth of fittings belong
ing to Abraham Saltzman, on which there
was no insurance. These were the count
ers and shelves purchased when Martin
81. Girven retired from the dry goods
business.
On Monday Kaplsn Brothers, consisting
of Max, Nathan and Charles, received an
order for 800 dozen caps from jobber at
Indianapolis. They were rushed with
work and are reported to have carried
large stock of cloth. The fire consumed
100 dozen caps that were ready for ship
ment. The firm Is anxious to start
again and they are looking for a suitable
building.
While the fire was raging Max Kaplan,
who boards with Morris Nolan, on Pine
street, was SO overcome that he tainted.
He was removed to the home of his fore.
man, Charles Allen, on Cherry street.
The fire became very brilliant in the
northeast corner of the building. This
was due to the burning of metre, which
permitted a large flow of gas to escape
An engine stream operated at the rear
Of the Kaplan place, saved the curtain
factory of Staheli, Reitman & Co. On
the east side nearly all the windows were
blazing at one time, but free use of water
saved the structure from further damage. |
A line of hose taken into the building
did small damage to some stock.
Interest In further disaster was appa.
rent by surging crowd on learning that
the catsup and pickle factory of R. G. |
Chances Sons was on fire. Before lad
ders could be raised some young men
climbed a water spout like squirrels to
the roof, where hole was burning near
the chimney. The trouble was soon set
lied.
During anxiety concerning this extern
tive plant, an order was given to take
line of hose across the creek While en-
gagged in this work the north side of the
zap factory fell, knocking down Harris
a. Glover, who was in boat, covering
him with debris. He was afire when res
,ued, and to extinguish the flames he was
Ioaked with stream of water.
There was so much heat during the fire
hat opposite houses on King street were
The occupants prepared for a
TASTY exit, but the necessity for such &C.
ion did not arise.
Slight damage was done to the building
o be occupied by the Keesey Hosiery Co.
The Office cat in the cap factory was
,urned.
Charles Kaplan was In Mount Holly
yesterday and paid wages due the en-
'loYes.
In regard to securing new location, he
tated that Alcott's foundry on Washing
on street and the former Kiner shoe
uilding on Water street would hardly
nswer their purpose. The firm has re-
uested that special meeting of the
League be called to see what
an be done toward getting building so
hat work may be started again.