Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1892 — MILLIONS IN IT. [ARTICLE]

MILLIONS IN IT.

An Immense Cotton Fire at New : J Orleans. Eighty Thousand Bales of Cotton Burned --Four Squares of Residence Property Also—Loss, •3,500,000. Oneuof the most destructive cotton fires onßecord broke out at 10:30 o’clock, Sunday morning in the cotton on th® Sidewalk tn front of the fireproof compress on Front street at New Orleans. The fire department responded promptly, but the wind was so strong and the cotton so dry that it burned like tissue paper. The flames ran high, and in an almost incredibly short space of time had communicated to the press itself and were working their way along the wood work of the roof. The firemen worked hard to arrest the progress of the flames, but all their efforts were unavailing. Through the yards swept the fire, carrying devastation with it, burning cotton and wood as if they were so much paper. After three repeated alarms a general alarm was sent in, and all the engines in the city, with the exception of two or three, were called out. The fire proof press had about ten thousand bales of cotton stored in it, and in half an hour the building and contents were consumed. The flames in the meantime had communicatedto the upper press. The destruction here was as great as.at the flrsrone. In a marvelously short space of time the flames had attacked the building on all sides cutting their way through the woodwork with wonderful rapidity. In this pres 3 was stored fifty thousand bales of cotton some of which was taken out to a place of safety. The larger portion of the staple, however,was inflames in a short time, and it was impossible to save it. It required but a few minutes, with the high wind that was blowing, to destroy the press. The walls soon looked like charred pillars, tottering to and fro and endangering the lives of firemen, several of whom had narrow escapes. ... f __

The sight at this time was an awe-in-spiring one. For a space of at least two blocks a great sheet of flame was shooting upward. The smoke and sparks from the fire was carried down into the street by the wind and choked aijd singed the spectators, Suddenly a small flame was seen t,o leap skyward from a corner of the Independence press. In a second nearly the entire square was ablaze, and the flames formed almost a solid block of fire. In the yard was stored some ten thousand bales of the flossy staple. This proved excel lent fuel for the flames and in a little time it was consumed. At length four rows of walls were all that stood to remind one thatg large building had once occupied the site. The last press to catch was the Orleans. The place was gutted and its contents, consisting of about twenty thousand bales, were consumed. There was no chance to save any portion of the cotton, as the work of destruction was very rapid. For some time the firemen worked on the flames and when it becam t) apparent that none of the bales of cotton c ould be saved they devoted their attention to the surrounding structures. The total amount of cotton burned as near as can now be ascertained, is estimated at 80,000 bales, held by factors and commission merchants and covered by their open polices. Much of this cotton will besent to the pickeries and saved, so that the total loss will probably not exceed 830 per bale, making the total loss on cotton between two and two and a quarter millions of dollars. The loss on presses and at'-ftOS.ooo It is thought the fire started from a cigarette which some person threw among the cotton.

While the cotton-press fire was raging, an alarm was sent in for a fire in the residence portion of the city, it being bounded by Laurel, Annunciation, Second and Third streets At the time the fire de. partment, police and large majority of the residents of the burning district were at the cotton press fire. A gale was blowing and the flames were blowing in all directions. Chief O’Connor sent several engines to the scene, but before they couid get down to action, a dozen houses were in flames. All the engines on both sides of the river were summoned to the scene at once. The heat was intense, and for this reason it was almost impossible to get near the burning buildings. People who lived in the square bounded by Laurel, Magazine, Second and Third streets began to feel alarmed at the encroaching flames. At first they packed up a few valuables, but as the element refused to be subdued jthe alarm grew Into fright and a wild scene ensued. Houses were dismantled and tkeir contents carried away. House after house went down, and the efforts of the already overworked firemen seemed in vain in the face of the overwhelming odds. The fire spread in a southwesterly direction and swept across Laurel street with a rapidity that was at once alarming and amazing. Soon the section bounded by v First, Third, Lauro* and Magazine streets—four squares—was ablaze, and the wooden buildings were devoured as if they were so much chaff. Magazine street stayed the march of the destiuctive element westward and acted as a barrier on the south.

Every building in the four squares mentioneJ, except foot, were destroyed. Most of the houses were small but, some very handsome houses on Magazine street were destroyed. Hundreds of people have been left Ihome.ess by the fire, and in many cases n thing was saved from the burning buildings. The scene presented was truly one of desolation. Nothing remains of the many handsome buildings embraced in the four squares but tall, gaunt-look-ing chimneys, like huge spectral forms, stunding<guard over the blackened ruins. The losses by the fire are estimated at f2s!\fCO,ooo. It is believed that the buildings were mostly insured. « ■ The 'saloons of New York city were lightly dosed Sunday, and thirsty New Yorkers had to rdy on prohibition drinks. The police irsned an order Saturday to all saloon-keepers that they must shut up or standHhe consequences. The order, so far as known, was strictly observed.