, 1864-05-12
HEAVY FIRE.
Burning Of 7. #. Baxter's Hill Furnishing
Depot,

List evening about ha1tpast seven o'clock the
Court House bell rang the alarm Of fro in the Thid
District, and few minutes af1ewxrds the sky was
lighted up with that furd glare which hetokens the
presence Of = great confagrstlon. Tho Fire De-
parsment speedily turned ont, and were guided by
the Light Of the llil Furnishing Establishment Of
T. ". Baxter, On tho corner Of West WAehiRston
and West Water streets, standing between ths
railroad track Of the Pittsburg and Fort Wayne
company and the river. The faetory occupies
block composed Of two buildings, the aggregate
eize OF which Is lo feet long BY b6 In breadth and
four stories in height. One OF these buildings IL
compoaed wholly Of wood. the bottom story being
perfectly open two sides, The other IL OF stono
with the upper story composed OF wood. In this
| iamoer, and It VA here that ths % nre commenced.
The engines Immediately on their arrival OBJ
tained good supply OF water, and t&peediiy threw
most energetic efforts Of the 1remen seemed futile
The flames had acquired etrnng hold, and seemed
to defy all efforts to bring about their subjueston,
inE up he % hes ieiy vita he 1s0 b1shsacss atf of
midday, aud rapidly and surclJ spreading On theu
Abonthalfan hour after the arrival Of the Depart
iuent, the roof, which was competition one, and
bad hitherto confined the flames, fell ia With =
lurd crash. lcattering showers Of sparks far and
creased 7,ror. Mt The 1femen worked brave!y,
theIr energetic Chleffom aeonspIcuous part Of tho
dangerous Pile, directed their efforts with his
their dangerous rositlons until lew seconds Be-.
fore the upper wooden wall Of the factory fell ont
to f I hnnt then 70
tending TO give the flames increased freedom was
| the desth blow to the combustion. Those puny
streams, y hich appeared but to add to the fury Of
the deveus1pg element were Its destined conquer
and could now pour IN on all sides; undeter1ed
and s 20 VII FL Teze they direetsd that before pine
hostihtles. t. burst Into active combustion.
saa @ Ra nn. S s
their work Was nearly accomplished, and tha mss
q The nre e1tinguishel when tbeJ only vnlsei 10
9ns Of ess ncptens signs Of cn
compoted q 1ood md psftiI Of s!one. ~ r.. ba IL
ID thu stone building, though .be flames extended
| along the whole 'roof, inllcting much damage to
the other portion: Tho block was owned BY =.
*sN0 to 5000. Tho Insurance doee bot s1csed
dsnsse. Tho danas: inateted TO NJ Bs1ter's 's
ttock Is severe and will probably not fall short Of
&l5 eco Or $4,000. He e. however, fully insured:
Ill kinds Of Grain Mill Furniture. besides some
very valuable mschiuer!. The upper story q the
building where the fro occurred, contained i lsrre
IN the lower storice the finished goods Of tbs frm
were kept, eonststing Of Bnrr Stones, Smut Nails,
Fans Of an kinds. SC These articles were much
the 1wo. though wholly composed Of wood lortu.
uateIy did not suffer extensive damage, except from
tht water which poured through al the roome In
! stt ams. The upper bofy was occupied ~ Mill
wright's shop. and IN the lower ones unfinished
burr stones were kept In the basement uhich nas
optn 10 the river and also to the railroad track,
Nj. Armstrong had large quantity OF coal THIS
| Of t1urEe, is AZ good Ae ever.
The origin Of the hro Is unknown. It CON
was no chimney or due in the Vicinity. Whether
IL theresult Of care1essncss In dropping spark.
ftcn pipe other article, or whether 1t orIsinat
ed from the bands OF an incendinry IL uuceFt4Iu,
| md probably Hi!l eIel remgIp uudetazmuad.