A destructive fire broke out in the afternoon at the Pratt and Company iron works near Buffalo, New York, reportedly thanks to a spark from a passing stream tug. The entire complex, and an adjoining railroad bridge, was destroyed in a matter of hours, causing at least $175,000 worth of damage and throwing three hundred men out of work. No serious injuries were reported, however. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
"Fire in Buffalo: Destruction of the Buffalo Iron Works," New York Times, July 4, 1865, p. 3.