Source: North Manchester Journal, May 10, 1883

A Blaze

Last Thursday night this city was again visited with another disastrous and destructive conflagration. Between the hours of 12 and 1 that night, the flax mill of J.N. Brady, in the south west part of the city, was discovered to be on fire by the night watchman at the mill, and at once gave the alarm by blowing the whistle. Many of the people were awakened by this, and at once commenced the cry of fire, and hastened to the scene of destruction. The mill was an old frame structure and dry as tinder. It burned rapidly, and in but a few minutes time the entire building was enveloped in the devouring element. Persons living in the central part of the town started at the first alarm, and when they reached the ground the timbers were already falling down, it burned so fast. A large crowd collected but could do nothing but stand and look on. The wind was from the south, and varied at times slightly to the west, carrying with it great clouds of sparks over an open field adjoining the mill. At one time the wind veered around to the west, and it was thought that Dan. Strauss' old house, just across the road, east of the fire, was in danger, but fortunately the wind soon changed its course again to the north. It is thought the fire originated from the engine room, as they had been running the day before. The old building has caught fire several times in the past, but it so happened it was during the day each time, and the fire discovered soon enough to be extinguished without much damage. It has been used for flax mills for many years past, and it is rather a wonder it had not burned before this. The building burned completely up. Nothing remains but the foundations and piles of ruined and broken machinery. The loss is estimated by Mr. Brady at $3000. He had $900 on it in the Western Company of Toronto, Canada. The machinery, of which there was a great deal, there being two full sets, is an entire loss except as old iron. At the time of the fire there was about $300 worth of baled tow and other stock in the mill, which was also entirely destroyed. We understand that Mr. Brady has rented the old house of Dan. Strauss, and will fix it up and use it for the present. It will be rather close quarters for his business, but he will probably rebuild sometime during the summer. This is the third large fire we have had during the past six months. It is a strong argument in favor of a good and effective protection against fire.