Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-01
S3,500,O00 Fire
Hits JerseyCity
Wafer Front
Two Grain Elevators,
20 Cars Destroyed;
Warehouse Damaged


JERSEY CITY. N. j.. May 31.-A
spectacular fire that darkened the
sky with smoke for miles around
ragged through the Erie Railroad
yards tonight, destroyed two grain
elevators. railroad equipment and
merchandise. causing damage I'M
officially estimated in excess of So
100000.
United States Coast Guard head
quarters at New York said that the
blaze was brought under control at
800 pm, Eastern Standard time,
more than four hours after it broke
out.
A high official of the Erie who de-
clined to be quoted by name said
that a 100000 estimate of damage
to the elevators and grain would be
conservative" and indicated the
total loss would exceed S2500,000. At
least two men were injured
100000 Damage to Stockyard.
Arthur Madin. treasurer of the
Jersey City Stockyard Co, said
damage to property of the company
and facilities leased by 1t from the
Pennsylvania Railroad would ap-
proximate S100O.000.
At least two men were injured in
the fire the cause of which was
not determined.
Comdr. j. S. BayliSs. Coast Guard
captain for the Port of New York.
said there was no indication of
sabotage"
The blaze, the second within a
week in jersey City railroad yards
and the municipalities biggest fire
since 1917, came amid Nationwide
precautionary measures to safeguard
vital defense plants and terminals
after reports were received of threat
ened sabotage during the long Me-
mortal Day weekend.
20 Freight Cars DESTROYED.
The fire DESTROYED the eight-storv
filled grain elevators. about 20
freight cars. many filled with gen.
eral merchandise. at least four
barges and 400 head of cattle in the
Jersey City stockyards south of the
rail terminal.
The Coast Guard said the fire was
brought under control when it was
confined to a section of the seven
story Mid Hudson Warehouse. Po-
lice and railroad officials said the
warehouse was filled with s25,000-
900 worth of bone. creosote. alcohol,
crude rubber and pulpwood
The Coast Guard said all but five
of the boats it sent to the fire were
returning to their bases. It's radio
message indicated that barges and
lighters loaded with war materials
in the area had not been damaged,
although some tugs caught fire.
The general alarm fire summoned
all Jersey City fire apparatus. The
Coast Guard sent five tugs. two
lighthouse tenders, two 125-foot
patrol boats. one 75-foot patrol boat.
picket boat and speedboat. New
York City dispatched marine fire.
fighting equipment.
Flames Rise 400 Feet.
The fire sent huge clouds of black
smoke believing over the entire
New York metropolitan area. The
flames shot 400 feet into the night
sky as they raced through elevators.
One of the elevators, owned by the
Erie. was crammed with 100000
bushels of grain. The other, OPP
Grated by the Carscallen e. Cassidy
Grain Co. was filled with $4,000
bushels of feed.
Fire Capt. Leo Duffy was treated
for heat prostration and P. C.
Harmon, president of the grain
company, received finger burns when
he and Police Sergt. Mark Fallon
ran into the company elevator and
raced to the top floor to get COM
pany funds from safe.
An estimated $4,000 spectators
crowded thoroughfares and vantage
points near the yards, which cover
three block area.
The flames apparently started in
or near the adjacent elevators, and
famed by moderately strong south
wind. ignited several nearby piers
and tied-up barges.
Harried railroad crews hastily
wet down long strings of passenger
See FIRE, Page A-3)