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| Lester and George Cooper rebuilt the machine shop and foundry after the fire. This photo from Grip's Historical Souvenir of Cortland shows a new building between the river and River Street as it appeared in 1899. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday,
November 26, 1895.
DISASTROUS
FIRE.
COOPER
BROTHERS FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOP.
Burned
at Daylight—Water on all Sides, None on the Fire—Loss $40,000. Insurance
$20,000.
One of the most disastrous fires which has
visited Cortland for a long time occurred shortly before daylight this morning
when the large foundry and machine shops of Cooper Brothers, on the bank of the
Tioughnioga river off of River-st., burned to the ground without a single thing
being saved. One of the most exasperating features of the matter was that while
there was water on all sides of the buildings it was impossible to get a drop
on the fire until nearly an hour and a half after the alarm was sounded. The
river itself is on the east, a canal and floom [flume] is on the north, a
branch ditch on the west and the outlet of the floom on the south. No hydrant
is within a third of a mile of the place. The steamer was needed at the very
outset, and it was delayed because no team could be found to draw it to the
fire.
The plant consisted of three large
buildings—a machine shop 40 by 30 feet in size and three stories high, a
blacksmith shop just south of the other 52 by 60 feet in
size and three stories high, and a foundry still farther south 60 by 76 feet in
size and one story high.
The machine shop was an old landmark, having
been built in 1820 by Nathan Spencer for a paper mill. It was afterward run for
many years as an oil mill. In 1881 Lester and George F. Cooper bought the
property and changed it into a machine shop. The other buildings have been
erected since. Only this
last summer large additions were made to the foundry, thereby about doubling
the capacity of the plant. The repairs and additions were completed only about
two weeks ago and only six heats [possibly castings—CC editor] had been taken
off in the new foundry.
It was not far from 5:30 o'clock this morning
when some of the night shift at the factory of the Cortland Forging Co. discovered
flames breaking from the north side of the machine shop. The big whistle of the
Forging company at once sounded its hoarse alarm and wakened all the sleepers
in the vicinity. Messrs. Lester and George Cooper at their respective homes on
River-st. were among the first to be roused and to reach the fire. The flames
were breaking out of the northeast corner of the machine shop and all the east
side of the building was a roaring furnace. Lester Cooper opened the main door
on the west side and tried to get into the office which was close by, but the
interior was so full of smoke that it was impossible to enter.
Some one sounded the fire alarm at about
that time and the department responded promptly, but when the companies reached
the scene of the fire it was at once apparent how fruitless was their errand
from lack of water. Chief Bosworth hastened to the nearest alarm box and sent
in the two taps of the bell which is the signal to call out the steamer, but it
did not come. Then he went up to the office of the Forging company and
telephoned for the steamer. He learned that the employees at that factory had
previously sent in an unofficial telephone message of the same import, stating
that there was no water there and no way of getting it on the fire unless the
steamer was there to do it.
Officer Parker was scurrying around town
trying to find a team. One of Garrity's men was at last found and roused and he
went to the stable, harnessed a pair of mules and started out. At two minutes
of 7 o'clock the steamer arrived on the scene all fired up and in three minutes
more Water Witch Hose company had two streams of water on the fire.
But it was then altogether too late to be of
any material use beyond extinguishing the fire in a shed containing about a
hundred tons of coal which stood near the blacksmith shop, and which was all on
fire. As it was the shed was almost destroyed and the coal was rattling down
loose as the enclosing sides burned. The wind was turning toward the east and
the sparks were blowing toward the barns and the presence of the steamer
allayed the fear that these too would go.
The origin of the fire is unknown. It seems
to have started near the northeast corner of the building, on the side away
from all houses and where it gained great headway before being discovered. The
proprietors and employees seem wholly unable to account for its starting. There
were no stoves in the building. There were two furnaces, but there was no fire
near them when the first people reached the fire. All waste used about the
machinery was kept picked up with great care and the thought of spontaneous
combustion is not accepted.
The wind was blowing a terrific hurricane
from the south. Those who first reached the place affirmed with great
positiveness that, though the fire in the machine shops had gained such headway
as to make it a foregone conclusion that that building must be wholly
destroyed, still they believe that had the steamer arrived as soon as did the
hose companies, the blacksmith shop and the foundry could have been saved, The fire
was half the width of the machine [shop]
from those buildings and the wind was blowing directly away from them. So hard
did the wind blow that an apple tree four hundred feet away from the burning
buildings was set on fire by flying sparks and nearly burned down. All of this
wind would have favored the firemen who could have walked up close behind the
fire and have fought it at close range.
The Messrs. Cooper find it very hard to
estimate their loss. Lester Cooper said to a STANDARD man that they had the latest
and best machinery in its line and that the inventory of machinery would exceed
$20,000. They were constantly adding to this. The latest purchase was a new
lathe which cost $800. They had patterns stored there for many of the factories
in Cortland and all over the state which would exceed $10,000 in value. They
had 5,000 feet of shafting all completed and ready for shipment for a new
electric power company at Oneonta. Other material finished and unfinished in
addition to the buildings would make up a valuation that would not fall short
of $40,000.
There is an insurance of about $20,000 on the
plant. Some of it is placed with agents in Cortland and some outside. The
policies were contained in the safe which was in the office, and Mr. Cooper
could not recollect just how it was placed.
It was very evident to all of the thousand or
more spectators who stood about the buildings this morning and saw the fire
go from one to the other and finally wrap them all in flames until the crash of
the falling frame came, and still not a drop of water or a response for more than
an hour to the often repeated call for the steamer, that there was some
dreadful lack and grievous fault somewhere, in that no arrangements are provided
to insure the fact that a team is promptly on hand to draw the steamer to the
fire.
Usually there is no need for the steamer,
owing to the great power of our splendid water works and to the effective
service of our very efficient fire department. This morning's fire which was
within the village but out of the reach of the water mains was the exception.
Possibly half the loss sustained could have been saved had the steamer arrived
with a team as promptly as did the hook and ladder truck with its team. Such an
exception is likely to occur at any moment. Steps cannot be taken too quickly
to guard against a repetition of this experience. It is a thousand times better
to have a team in readiness to take the steamer at every alarm if needed and
then not have it called out than to have it wanted and to lose an hour hunting around
town for a team and a driver with a result like that of this morning. Somebody
is responsible for this negligence, and it cannot be remedied too quickly.
Mr. Garrity, who has the contract to furnish
a team for the Hook and ladder truck at every alarm of fire, was with his
omnibus at the D., L. & W. station this morning waiting for the 6 o'clock
train when the bell struck. He ran his horses to the engine house and reached it
just as the second member of the Hook and Ladder company got there. The truck was
ready to go as quickly as any one was there to handle it. No time was lost.
Chief Bosworth wishes to extend his thanks
to Water Witch Co. for remaining at the fire until 10 o'clock this morning and
keeping the water on the ruins until the last spark was out. The other
companies were just as ready and anxious to help, but only one company was
needed and the others were excused.
Had the steamer not got there finally, a
hundred tons of coal in a shed would have burned up.
Cooper Brothers said to a STANDARD man this
morning that there is no certainty yet that they will rebuild. When running
their full force of men, about thirty-five are employed. If the business is not
continued this will be a severe loss to the employees as well as to the
employers.
Foreman Charles Kingsley and L. E. Blackmer
each lost about $125 worth of tools. Other employees sustained smaller losses,
as each one owned many of the tools he used.
BREVITIES.
—A new steamer is to be added to Ithaca's
fire department.
—The funeral of Miss Minnie Morgan who died
Saturday afternoon, aged 24 years, was held from her late residence, 26
Arthur-ave., at 12 o'clock to-day. Interment was made at Groton.
—The case of The People against Will Donegan
charged with violating the excise laws was called in police court this morning,
a jury was drawn and the case adjourned to Saturday morning.
—All Republicans in district No. 7 of the
town of Cortlandville should bear in mind that their meeting for organization occurs
to-night at 7 o'clock in G. A. R. hall. The call appears in another column.
—In Watson's window, corner Main and
Tompkins-sts. is represented the football game between the Oneonta and Cortland
Normal teams at Oneonta Thursday. The winning team is not named, but a placard
in the window asks the question, "which wins?"
—Seats for "The Boston Rivals" can
be reserved at the Candy Kitchen Thursday morning. This excellent company appears
in the Opera House Tuesday evening, Dec. 13, under the auspices of the Cortland
Athletic association. Tickets can be purchased at any time of any of the
members.
—The mouth
is a hotbed of toothaches, the bunghole of oratory, and a baby's crowning
glory. It is patriotism's fountain-head and the toolchest for pie. Without it
the politician would be a wanderer on the face of the earth, and the cornetist
would go down to an unhonored grave. It is the grocer's friend, the orator's
pride and the dentist's hope.—Exchange.
Edsel
Samuel Totman.
Edsel Samuel Totman, father of Mr. Darwin
Totman of Cortland and of Dr. David M. Totman of Syracuse, died at his home in
Solon, Saturday afternoon in the 85th year of his age.
Mr. Totman was almost a lifelong resident of
Cortland county, where he was born in 1811. About 1852 he moved to Chenango
county and 1881 he returned to Solon where he continued to reside until his
death. Agricultural pursuits engaged Mr. Totman's attention. Throughout his
long life, and in his later years he has been a frequent visitor in Cortland
where he had many friends.
Mr. Totman was the father of ten children,
of whom six sons and two daughters survive him. The funeral services were held
at his late residence in Solon on Tuesday morning and the interment was made in
Norwich.
DEATH OF
C. M. SWIFT.
It
Occurred at 3 o'clock this Morning—Funeral Friday.
Mr. Clayton M. Swift died at 3 o'clock this
morning after nearly three weeks' illness with typhoid fever at his home on
Harrington-ave. He was 37 years, 7 months and 12 days of age, the last eight
years of his life having been spent in Cortland. He was born in Summerhill. Mr.
Swift leave s a wife who has the sympathy of a large circle of friends in her
bereavement. He leaves two daughters—Edith, and an infant nineteen days old. He
leaves one sister, Mrs. Sylvina Brockway of Moravia, an adopted sister, Mrs.
Kelsy Fowler of Cortland, and a nephew, Mr. L. H. Swift of Cortland.
The funeral will take place Friday at 11
o'clock. Rev. M. J. Wells, pastor of the Homer-ave. M. E. church, of which Mr.
Swift was a devoted member, will officiate. Burial will be made in Summerhill.
PAGE
TWO—EDITORIALS.
Twenty-eight
Editions Daily.
Newspaper dispatches by telephone have been
suggested many a time, but only Budapest, in Hungary, is thus far up to date
enough to adopt that kind of a publication. The Telephone Herald is the name by
which this great moral engine is known. It has 6,000 subscribers, all of whom
get their news by telephone. The plan has its advantages, particularly when an
irate constituent desires to shoot the editor.
The dispatches come into the headquarters of
The Telephone Herald as into an ordinary office. They are edited, and prepared
for circulation. Instead, however, of then going to the composing room they are
placed in the hands of a strong lunged and sweet voiced telephone shouter, not
an ordinary hello girl, but an able-bodied man. There are ten of these, who
shout the news to the different quarters of Budapest 28 times a day. First the
foreign and domestic telegrams are hurled into the homes of the 6,000
subscribers. Then come the domestic news and gossip, deaths and marriages, as
well as the theater announcements. These recitations last from 5 to 20 minutes,
according to the time the listener can spare. The service costs 3 cents a day.
If important news comes between the regular
times of issuing the telephone bulletins, a tremendous preliminary clatter like
the going off of an alarm clock at 4 o'clock in the morning calls the family
around the receiver to listen to the thrilling tale.
PLACES OF RESORT.
With the closing of the liquor saloons in
this village comes a most important question. The class who have been
accustomed to go to the saloons must have places of resort. How shall they be
provided? Many who are anxious for the best interests of society are saying: "Let
these people now stay at home and devote themselves to their families. "We admit
that would be a blessed thing. Home and
community would be vastly benefited. But the people who have supported the
drinking places will not do this. Nor will they go to the rooms of the
Young Men's Christian Association, the readingroom, the parlor, the games, the
gymnasium, the bathroom and the associations of this excellent
institution will attract only the few of the class in question who are minded
to break away from saloon life. What is needed at this moment is places where men
can meet their old saloon associates amid the old attractions excepting liquor
selling, gambling and kindred lawlessness. A number of the saloonkeepers have
most strongly declared and promised that they would soon do away with their
bars and continue their business without, in any respect, violating the law. We
believe that these promises are made with good intentions. We hope that they
will keep their promises. Some of them have already removed their bars and have
invited Good Government people to visit their places. While we will encourage
them in doing just right in this matter they must know that it is impossible
that they should not be most closely watched. Without the profit on liquor the
number of places of public resort must be much less. We hope our people will
all help to meet this demand in some sensible way that will please all
concerned.
SUNDAY CLOSING.
The proprietors of the leading hotels of
this place have, of their own accord, prepared and signed a paper in which they
promise that their bars shall hereafter be closed on Saturday night and they
will furnish no one any thing to drink till Monday morning.
THE WORK DONE.
During the last two months nineteen saloon-keepers
have been arrested in this village for violation of law. About one half of
these have either been convicted or have pleaded guilty, the rest of the cases
are pending. There are other arrests to follow.
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