Hemingray Glass Company - Muncie, Indiana

HEMINGRAY PLANT

DAMAGED BY FIRE

No. 2 Factory Practically Destroyed

by Sunday Afternoon Blaze.

Loss estimated at $30,000 resulted yesterday afternoon from a fire which almost totally destroyed No. 2 factory at the Hemingray Glass Company, which is located southeast of Muncie in Macedonia avenue. The company manufacturers insulators.

The fire was caused by a flame leaping from a sand damper which was being regulated. It is thought to have ignited gas which was escaping from a nearby pipe used to supply the furnaces. Firemen from the central station and station No. 2 answered the alarm and were aided in their fight by volunteer firemen, many of whom were factory employees.

Will Be Re-Built.

The loss is understood to be partly covered by insurance. Philip McAbee, 416 East Washington street, general manager of the plant, stated that the work of re-building would be started at once and that the employees who wish to aid with the construction work would be given employment until they can resume their former positions.

Factory employees discovered the blaze but not until after it had gained considerable headway. They ran from the building and turned in the alarm at box No. 64 at the same time that some other person, who evidently saw the same fire, sounded an alarm from box No. 61. Owing to this confusion, the alarm was delayed greatly in reaching the central station. For a time the firemen thought the wires had been short-circuited.

Firemen Battle Two Hours.

The alarms were sounded at 2:22 o'clock and after a battle of nearly two hours the firemen had the flames under their control. Six streams were played on the flames. The fire fighters were handicapped in progressing with their fight because of their delay in reaching the scene of conflagration. A large part of their time was spent saving the surrounding buildings.

The flames were fed quickly by the dry timber and, fanned by a slight breeze, threatened destruction to all adjoining buildings when firemen arrived. Persons who reached the scene after the blaze was discovered say the factory building was enveloped by flames within a remarkably short time. Officials of the glass company, last evening, highly praised the firemen for their efficient work.

The glass tank in the building was not damaged by the flames, it is thought. However, the pressers or moulds used in making the insulators are thought to have been badly damaged.

The work of clearing away the debris was started by the factory employees shortly after the fire had been extinguished and it is not thought that a large number of employees will be idle as a result of the conflagration.

The new American-LaFrance pumper accepted a few days ago by the city for use by the No. 1 department was given its first test at actual fire fighting at the fire and it gave excellent service. The members of the department stated that the blaze would have been much more disastrous had they not had the new engine. The pumper was received from the American-LaFrance Fire Engine Company, of Elmira, N. Y., a week ago.