The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-08-17
A Bad Fire.

1
5 they started seems to be matter c
5 conjecture. Some say they broke out il
the stock room over the private Office
while Others insist they came from tn
shipping room in the center of the build
: ing. Nor can it be definitely learne,
who first discovered the fire. The plac
was closed owing to the employees being
given half holiday on account of tn,
merchants picnic at Rancocas Park
! There was Waterman in the place, bu
! it is said he was in the concrete building
located near the factory at the time
! the alarm was given.
Il While large majority of the male
population had gone to the picnic there
were still enough to get into service
The two chemical engines, running on
automobile power, were the first to get
i to the place, but they we're useless. The
entire structure was mass of flames
The steam engines got out, but Relief
was long delayed being unable to get a
team to haul the engine to the fire.
There was plenty Of water, butea dozen
engines could not have saved the factory
which was seething mass of flames
when the apparatus got to work. 1t
seemed to go up in burst of fire all
over the place at once. The contents,
consisting of cotton material, manufac-
tured and not made up, together with
the oil that was used on the machinery,
contributed towards making the place a
finder box.
From the best information it seems
that a gang of Pennsylvania railroad
bridge builders, working near the MILL
first saw the flames. One OF them
broke into the building and blew the
whistle. Two engines of the railroad
company backed opposite the mill and
threw streams on the flames. but they
were powerless to stop the fire.
Fortunately the wind was blowing
away from the neighboring houses,
otherwise there would have been another
story to tell. But here is where the
chemical engines stood ready for good
service, for they would have been able to
stop any fire that might have started on
the buildings nearby, and the men in
charge of those machines carefully
watched the large sparks that flew in
many directions.
The buildings destroyed were the
power plant, the sheds used for weaving,
the storehouse with thousands of dollars
worth of goods and material, the Office,
and other small buildings. The main
building was of brick When the
Sword roofing plant, which was within
short distance of the Royle-P ilkington
plant, was burned, the latter company
purchased the land and built concrete
factory in which are many looms. The
construction of this building undoubted-
ly saved it from taking fire.
The Royle-Pilkington Company was
engaged in the manufacture of tapestry
curtains, furniture coverings and similar
goods. When working full time the
force consisted of from one hundred to
one hundred and fifty hands, men and
women, who will be thrown out of work
The mill had not been working full time
or with full crews for some time, but the
fire will be great loss not only to the
owners but to those who had been able
to make even short time About seven
ty-fve hands were employed in the
burned building at the time of the fire.
When the fire broke out the picnic at
Rancocas Park was in full swing and
when the news reached that place there
was general scampering to get to
Mount Holly. Charles Coles, connected
with the company, was among the first
to reach the spot and he was Mortified to
see the plant going upin flames. While
efforts had been made to get to some
papers and books that were not in the
safes they were not successful and the
documents were burned The loss
it is thought will reach nearly
100000. He said that arrangements
would be made to put in electric power
and begin operations in the concrete
factory as soon as possible.
The insurance amounted to $82, 900.
This covered the building, raw material,
and manufactured goods. There was
about $1,000 of the latter, packed, adj
dressed and ready for shipment.
Mr.. Royle, the head of the concern,
was on visit to Canada. A telegram
was sent to him informing him of the
loss of the mill, and the sad news GER
tainly put a-damper on what was inten-
ded for rest from the cares of business.
MIR. Royle reached home on Saturday
noon and he at once began to look the
over. AS soon as the insurance
men can be got together plans will be
formed for the rebuilding of the plant
The company feels able, at present, to
goods in the concrete build
ing that was not injured and they can
send the products away to be finished.
When the concrete factory was built it
was SO arranged that an addition could
be put to it. 1t is now expected to add
so feet to the building and to build
power house entirely separate from the
factory.
When the news of the fire reached
MoorestowD, Relief chemical engine of
that town was sent up with large force
of men. They were not able to do any
thing with their engine but they did
good services in aiding the local firemen
in handling hose and coupling new hose
to places where the hose in service gave
out, and there was plenty of work in
that line, for number of sections of hose
were not able to stand the pressure put
upon them by the steamers.
Several accidents occurred during the
fire. George A. Linton was engaged
coupling some hose to be connected with
the Relief steamer when a trolley car
came along and gave him bump that
rendered him unconscious and injured
him to such an extent that it was con-
sidered advisable to take him to the
hospital for treatment. Fortunately nc
bones were broken Linton was badly
bruised about one arm and leg, but the
physicians who examined him on Thurs
day night could find nothing serious
about his condition.
Asher Marshall had one arm fright
fully lacerated when he was struck by 8
ragged piece of metal that some fire
men threw from one of the burning
L ntf !.