Year: 1869

BURNING OF THE REPAIR SHOP OF THE NEW


YORK AND NEw-HAvEN RAILROAD COMPANY


Loss 100000.


NEw-HAvEN Jan. 2.-About 10 O'Clock last
night the night watchman at the machine department. OF
tho repair shop OF the NewHaven Railroad was going
his usual rounds when he thought he smet SMOKE
while he was in the lower shop but unable to tell
whence lt came. The superintendent OF the motive
power was in the building and the watehman at once no
titled him OF tho fact On gong upstairs he discovered
smoke Issuing the email paint shop, on the second
floor adjoining the Round House,, and also from the
Office OF the superintendent When he unlocked the door


the flames burst out with great force nearly shocating
him. he called ut once for help and attempted 10 put
out the FIRE with few buckets Of water, which stood
near by AS no did 3d. there lond explosion that
threw him of his feet with great force against the part


on OF the office. He made another effort to throw on
more water but the fire under too much headway'
and II spread tho main room with great rapidy ana
soon the entire buidmgl2O feet in length. and stories
hIg-was in flames The outside watehnan Ia the yard
heard the alarm and mt once gave the signal
for the Fire Department, which responded with
nlacrlty The roads almost In an im'
passable condition. but IL was not long before the
four steamers hose carts tie hook land ladder COM
pany were hand to fight the deyourng clements 1he
heat ON the south side was uand several of the
rremen had their faces blstered, 1t was so hot while
standing by the pipes Of water. Many appeals were
made TO the Chief Of the Fire Department TO direct
stream here and there, but like good officer he relied
upon his own observations the best eourse to pur
sue aud directed all his forco against the spread OF the
flames BY this the paint shop Tcarpenter shop
and tho Round House" saved. We never saw the
Department work faithfully Every one, from The
Chief his three Assistants TO the smallest nose py
worked do not often work. The men at inc pipes
were wet through and retiring from Tie intense neal
their clothing would freeze almost In an instant About
the time the Department got O work the interior OF ne
Round House" presented lively appearance Ihe hre
King WAS caping toward the mammoth structure III Whlch
housed Of the best engines that DeOngeu 10 tue
road, They all their pits ana 10 get tnehl
on on 10 tho turningi table was no snll matter Dut
the citizens turned out mdsSe aud assisted III geths
the eines ont OF the building it was hard work. an
the flames eaping on but fortunately tne WIN ,
yecrpd round to the hi'e aud sending the
ira n through the round house towards the nre pew ~
hack The greaeat loss Is the machinery some OF which
war tho finest I'm New England, and Is probably totally
iuiuod ard those who familiar with the same Ray
thnt machinery alone VIII be near SOO out
even greater loss will be the delay aud suspension oi
work which Il always pressing during the Nliler
months officers OF the road arrived here TINS inoF


Ing and will probably arrange for the removal OF part
of tbe works destroyed the machine shops of the city,
the propretors OF several having rendered the use of
theirs 10 the Company until they rebuild Inc origin
OF tho fire Is unknown, but is supposed TO have Dee
caused y spontaneous combustion, as there had never
becu any fire In where II broke ont, nor ad any
one been In IL during the day with light so FAR AS Is
known The property destroyed WAS insured Tor SOL
Robert Iatfy and Mr.. Bradley, wofknlen Iii the SHOP
were slightly injured by falling wall