A Big Factory Burned

Chicago, July 16.-The buildings of the Brighton Park Cotton Manufacturing Company, on the Chicago and Alton Railroad, just outside the city limits, were entirely destroyed by fire this afternoon. The factory shut down a week ago and nobody was on the ground except a watchman. He discovered the fire in the stables at 3:15 o’clock, and gave an alarm. A volunteer fire corps fought the flames with buckets till the Fire department arrived, when the flames had gained too much headway to permit the saving of the buildings. The fire spread to the main building, which was of brick and five stories high, and at 6 o’clock nothing was left standing of the factory except the tall chimney. The factory was erected in 1871, and with its equipment cost $150,000. It was valued at present at $125,000 and was insured in 40 or 50 companies for an aggregate of $88,000. It was owned by JOHN MCCAFFREY, JOHN S. HAYNE and JOHN MITCHELL, and when in operation gave work to about 20 men and 120 boys and girls. The daily output of carpet warp and cotton batting was 3,500 to 4,000 pounds. The fire is supposed to have been started by the sparks from a locomotive.

The New York Times, New York, NY 17 Jul 1885
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Transcribed by June. Thanks June!