Fire destroys plant of Canadian Glass Mfg. Company

Fire Destroys Flint Glass Plant.

The flint glass factory of the Canadian Glass Mfg. Co. at St. Charles, Montreal, Can., was destroyed by fire Wednesday of last week, causing a loss estimated at from $25,000 to $35,000. Starting about 10:30 the fire had almost completely destroyed the building before the firemen arrived from the city. The plant is situated on Wellington, opposite Charlevoix street. It employs in all about 300 hands, of whom 150 constitute the day shift.

As the force in the packing room was at work on Wednesday morning, flames were noticed rising from the floor. The engine room is beneath and presumably the blaze originated there. The alarm was given and in a few moments everyone was flying for the doors. There was a descent of a few steps only to a gangway. To reach safety required only a minute and nobody lingered, but the fire travelled faster. From the little blaze first noticed among the straw a volume of flame shot up, enveloping not only the packing room but the entire building. The place burned like matchwood, and dozens of the affrighted employes found themselves unable to reach the doors, and were driven to throw themselves from the windows of the second story. At the various exits the manager and his assitants rendered all the aid in their power to get the employes out in order and safety, and through good fortune nobody was fatally injured.

A few seconds after the fire was noticed streams of water were playing upon it, but they produced no effect. Alarms were sounded and the city companies were hurried to the scene. When the first company arrived, however, the entire factory was doomed and there was nothing to do but remain by until the fire had done its work.

The building was a long, two-story structure with a steel frame work. Its open interior gave way free scope to the fire. Within half an hour the walls were almost entirely down and the steel girders were twisted spirals of hot iron. The engine room was the only part of the building saved. At one stage of the fire the gas connections broke and there was a spectacular scene. With the exception of the engines, the building and works are an entire loss, and in addition to this there was a large stock of manufactured glass and packing. It is estimated that $2,000 worth of blown tumblers were in stock. The insurance will not cover the loss.