New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-12
S75O,O00 FIRE
WRECKS FOURTH
WUNITION PLANT
Roebling Sons Wire Cable
Shops at Trenton
Destroyed.

Trenton, n. j., Nov. 1.-THE fourth
fire within twenty-five hours which
damaged or destroyed important units
of big American plants engaged in the
manufacture Of munitions for the En-
tente Allies occurred here early to-day
when the new wire rope shop of the
John A. Roeblng Sons Company was
reduced to a scrap heap.
A four story building, 200 feet wide
by 700 feet long, built in 1910, equipped
with the finest machinery in the coun-
try for the manufacture Of wire rope,
was still smouldering tonight, despite
the seven streams of water that were
playing upon its sizzling, twisted gir-
ders. A plant that on Wednesday was
turning out enormous products with
great profit to its owners now lies
a mass Of junk. A million dollars gone
up in smoke. is the way the factory men
express the loss, but more conserva-
tive estimate puts the value of the
wrecked factory at about s75O,OOO.
The Roebing fire followed close upon
the destruction of the four-inch gun
shop Of the Bethlehem Stsel Company,
at South Bethlehem, Penn, and the
burning of the pattern shop Of the
Baldwin Locomotive Works, at Chester,
Penn, both on Wednesday. The third
fire was in the Skelly Bolt Works in
Philadelphia to-day.
In the South Bethlehem and Chester
fires there are reasons for believing
plots in behalf OF the Teutonc allies
were responsible, but little appears in
the Roebling blaze to suggest that the
fire was other than one Of those acci-
dents that might happen in any plant
at any time.
Deny Products Go to Allies.
Representatives of the big wire and
cable making company who walked
around the ruins yesterday were EN-
phatic in their denials that the COM
pany was making anything for any #
the European belligerents. They de-
clared that their entire output was
under contract for domestic purchase
and for use exclusively in this country
Barbed wire for the indispensable
entanglements Of the trenches was sug-
gested as a product likely to attract
the attention of an enthusiastic son Of
the Fatherland, but it was explained
that the company was not manufactur-
ing barbed wire. IL had been made
four years ago in the companys Buck
thorn plant, but the enterprise was
subsequently taken over by another
wire company. Officials Of .ho
company were confident, they said, hat
none of this wire was ever used in the
submarine netting that the British
have been using so effectively in the
English Channel in the capture Of Ger
man undersea raiders.
OF course, the Roeblings will inves-
tigate, and in time may reach a con-
clusion on the origin Of the fire. but
lust now they are content to sweep
up the ashes and build anew.
Several hundred men were engaged
Yesterday in picking up all debris that
was cool enough 10 handle and loading
il on cars which were run up to the
ruins on n siding. Much brick had
fallen outward as the walls collapsed,
and enough Of il was assembled 10 All
a long train.
Factory To BE Rebuilt.
n was explained that the destroyed
f.ctorv would be rebuilt. and that with
In ,wo months the same degree Of
CoptInued on page ., column