Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-08-20
From the Chicago Democratic Pres
IMMENSE COME adVgaTrn--

Michigan Southern Railroad Freight Depots De.
stroyed-Rock Island In Freight Depot De.
.stroyed-Tremendous Destruction of Freight
Rock Island Hotel Burned-A Train OF
Freight Cars on Fire-Several Warehouses,
Factories ond Dwellings Destroyed-Probable
Loss Estimated at sl50,00O.
We regret to announce that last evening our
city was visited by one of the most destructive
fires, if not tile most destructive, known in the
annals OF our history. About halfpast eight
o'cloch, while thousands were listening to the
speech of the Hon. Arson Burlingame, of Massa-
chusctts. the alarum bell sounded for the Second
District, and Immediately the whole armament
told too truly that the work of destruction had
begun on no small scale. Clark street was soon
crowded by thousands hnrrying soethward to
the Rock Island and Mich gan Southern Freight
depots. When our reporter reached the fire the
Rock Island House, the out and in freight de-
pots OF the Michigan Southern depot and De-
Witt Robinsons Freight and Commission ware
house, were all in one terrific blaze. The fire.
men had Just arrived, and were enersetically at
work preparing their pipes and engines and in
tearing down out houses and in removing goods
and furniture, but before anything had been
done to check the flames, Goss IL Phillips Sash
and Door Factory was in flames and the fire
crossed Clark street, and caught the in-Freight
/ t scorched the large new grain warehouse OF
the Rock Island Railroad, burned up fifteen or
TWEEN freight cars, and. threatened to destroy
the large warehouse of Messrs. Flint q Wheeler
Northwardly it scorched the commission ware
house of Messrs. Pomeroy g. Co., and the Lum-
Der, Sash and Door Establishments of Messrs.
Wood, Henderson g. Co. Eastwprdly the Rock
Island ln-ireight Depot was entirely destroyed,
several cars scorched, the Eastern Exchange Ho-
tel threatened, and also the Machine and Car
Shops of the Rock Island Railroad etasnn
Through the energy and perseverance Of the
fremen and employees of the Railroad Compa-
MES, the progress of the flames was here arrest
ted and every effort made to save as much freight
as possible s..s .z:.s.sv -s.-.sets.r .aE -
The treightin the Michigan Southern Railroad
depots was nearly all destroyed The flames
progress so rapidly that before assistance could
be procured it was impossible to gain admitance
to the buildings. Probably two thirds of that
in the Rock Island depot was saved The loss
in freight alone cannot be less than 500, 600,
The Warehouse of Dewitt Robinson was fill.
ed with goods, which is said to have been who'll
ly destroyed. We are informed that charges
paid on this freight alone amounted to $4,000. ~
The Rock Island hotel was also entirely de-
stroyed, with most of the furniture. 1t was own
ed by Col Wilder, and is probably insured. 20
Goss l. Phillips, Sash and Door Factory, was
entirely destroyed. The stock on hand amount
ed to about $3.50, 000-most of which was either
burned or destroyed by breakage. They had
just piled up cargo of frat-class lumber, all of
which was burned. .s4....-. .s- s.
A Saloon next to the Rock Island House was
entirely destroyed. 1t WAS called the Walker
House. Here the fire originated, at least that
was the common rumor last night
When the fire was at its full height, the scene
was one OF most marked excitement Along the
railroad tracks which surrounded the fire. the
iron horse was most furiously screaming, while
it dragged away the burning cars, loaded WITH
goods, halt scorched, which had been rescued
from the depots. Railroad men and fremen
were dashing into the blazing buildings and
dragging out the freight that was being eonsum-
ed; while over all was the loud cracking Of fall
Ing tinbers.
at one Time 1t was greatly feared that the
splendid new warehouse of the Rock Island
Railroad would have been DESTROYED. which con-
TUNED about 100000 bushels of grain, and the
large warehouse of Messrs. Flint & Wheeler.
containing about 10000 bushels of grain.
The machine shop of the Rock Island Rail-
road was ON tire several times, but by dint of
great exertions it was saved
The furniture was moved from the Eastern
Exchange Hotel, but it was not damaged
? Aoio, naehouse was scorched, but no
injury to the goods.
Very fortunately there was scarcely a breath
Of air stirring, else there is no estimating where
It would have stopped, or what the extent of the
damage would have been
Nearly all the grain merchants in the c;tv |
were gathered around the TWO large grain ware
houses which we're scoched, ready to render |
every possible, assistance to arres, the flames
Inc following is list of the amount of prop
erty destroyed:
Michigan Southern In Freight Depot.
Rock Island In Freight Dept.
Book Island House
sRobinson's Warehouse.
6 Co.'S Phillips Sash Factory
Two Dwelling Houses.
Fifteen or twenty freight cara
large amour. OF freight, &c, DC. ss
We observed Mr.. Traey. s,,r.sr;n....e
'he Rock Island Railroad. among tile ,s,rsmos,
N battling with the fery clemens. ,t'Ss'S . ss'a