Destructive Fire in Jersey City.

Three alarms brought the greater part of the fire department of Jersey City, under Chief John Conway, to the Lafayette section of the city recently, where fire had been discovered in the boilerroom of the New York Veneer Seating Company’s building. It was a twostory frame structure, 150×100 feet, 20 years old, with frame partition walls and containing a stock of dry varnished veneer seatings, which the flames caught rapidly and created a very warm light. Chief Conway realized that he had a bad blaze to deal with, and at intervals of a few minutes he sent out second and third alarms that brought 6 steamers, 3 ladder trucks, a chemical, hose wagons and full crews of men to the scene. There was a 16-inch main in the street alongside of the building, and a 6-inch main on the other. There were three 4 1/2 and two 2 1/2 inch hydrants on the 16-inch main from which a good pressure was had, but on the 6-inch the pressure never exceeded 48 pounds. Ten engine streams from 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch Callahan shut-off nozzles were directed on the flames at one time, but they had only moderate effect. Three thousand feet of cotton, rubber-lined hose were stretched, of which two lengths burst during the fire. The efforts of the firemen were unavailing to save the property, and in one and a half hours it was completely destroyed, as will be seen by the illustration. The lumber piles in the yard, however, were saved. The total loss is estimated at $80,000, of which $10,000 is apportioned to the contents, consisting of veneer seats for chairs and settees.