Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1890 — A HALF-MILLION BLAZE. [ARTICLE]

A HALF-MILLION BLAZE.

A Big Manufacturing Block in Chicago Burned. Chicago dispatch: Thick concrete fire walls prevented a *10.000,000 lire in tho immense building known as tho Farwoll block, occupying the entire space between Adams and Monroe streetsjind tho river and Market street. Five minutes before 7 o'clock a morcurial alarm located in the sixth story of tho building, on the Adams street side, gave the first intelligence of the blaze. A second alarm brought to tho spot thirtytwo steamers, seven trucks, and as many chemical engines, besides two fireboats. Work Bros., manufacturers of clothing and uniforms, occupied nearly ail of the gutted portion of the block, extending sixjy-six l feet on : Market street and 175 on Adams, and being six stories in height. Tayiorßros., hat and cap factory,. run in connection with the Work Bros.’ plant, occupied the third floor. Mpndal & Co., dry goods and notions, in the basement, lost heavily on their stock, which is almost totally destroyed by water Smoke thick enough to cut filled all streets in the vicinity of tho fire, and a crushing, struggling, and anxious crowd of people, who stopped on their way to work, gave Capt. Lewis and his squads of police plenty of work. Thousands of gallons of water literally drowned the fire out. Mr. J. Work says Ids concern had about $335,000 worth of stock and Taylor Bros. $50,000. This Is fully covered by Insurance. The block was built in separate risks, each divided by tffick concrete walls, making it almost impossible for a fire to spread. The burned portion is one risk, and is valued at oneninth of the whole cost of the building, or SIOO,OOO. M. Glmbel & Sons, occupying the next portion north of the burned section, suffered no loss. A rumor was set afloat while the fire was raging, to the effect that an old man who opens up the building had perished in the flames. This was denied by the Pinkerton watchman, who made his last “pull” just as the fire was discovered. By 8:30 o'clock the lire was under control. As near as can be learned the blaze originated in the pressing department, where perhaps an overheated steam coil ignited some old rags. C. M. Henderson’s boot and shoe building, on the northeast corner of Adams and Market streets, received frequent drenchings, and a great many windows were cracked. A careful estimate of the loss made after the fire was under control places the total damage at $485,000. The distillery plant of J. B, Mattingly’s Sons, one of the oldest firms In Kentucky has been sold at auction in Louisville in consequence an assignment some months ago. The price paid for it was $125,000.