The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-04-12
The Great Fire in st. Louis.

=
Louis, Mo-, had been destroyed by fire on
the night of the 5lst ult. We find the fol.
lowing further particulars in the St. Iouis
Democrat:
ORIGIN or THE FIRE.
Many reports are in circulation in regard
to origin of the fire, but it seems that no
one knows precisely how it started-wheth-
er it was the work Of an incendiary or an
accident. Ar. Hatch one Of the proprietors,
informs that the fire was frs. observed in
the corridor of the fifth story, near the north
west corner, and had made considerable
Roadway before it was discovered, 1t is
matter of mere conjecture whether it caught
from defective fue, the burning of gas
pipe, Or was kindled by an incendiary.
TIE FIRST kLARAf.
When the news was first conveyed to the
Office, about o. clock, that the hotel was
on FIRE, it created but little confusion, as no
one dreamed that SO vast an edidce would
so soon be converted into a heap of rub
bish. The guests remained in their rooms;
those who were at the tea table continued
at their tneals the bell boys sat near the
office waiting for orders as usual, and par
ty Of bon u'ruRts in the bar room touched
glasses and slipped their wine as though
nothing of an alarming nature WAS trans
piring about them. Tia proprietors heari
the alarm given by the fire aalln telegraph
and summoning the walters, endeavored tn
stop the progress of the flames, by throw
ing buckets of water upon the floors. Their
efforts were inefectual. az the fire hal
spread rapidly, and nothing but contin-
nous stream could do any good.
USELESS WATER TANKS AND HOSE
Now was the time when the fire appara-
tus of the hotel, about which we had heard
so much when the building WIS completed.
would have been Of inessimable value but
from some unexplained ble reason, the four
large tanks anu the hundreds OF feet of hose
we're not brought into requsition, and the
terrible element was left master ct the
situation.
A GENERAL STAMPEDE.
When the Chief of the Fire Department
announced that the building could not BE-
saved, there was general stampede OF the
boarders and walters. Many of our wealthy
citizens had elegantly furnished rooms in
the hotel, and they endeavored to save
what valuables they could, but at least
S25, ,0CO worth Of furniture, wardrobe effects
etc, belonging to regular boarders. were
destroyed. One gentleman saved a box Of
jewels valued at $1,000, aud another 10 t
$4,000 worth of furniture Drays and fur
niture cars were in active demand, an
some of the laborers received IS an hour
tor getting out goods and furniture. X
great deal more might have been saved il
there had been more system used, and less
confusion Of tongues. Many Of THE walters
obeyed the orders of the pfoprietors, amt
carried out come valuable articles, bnt 9th
ers we're more anxious to rescue tn lr OWE
personal effects, aud get cut OF the acE Of
danger.
APPEARANCE OF THE CONTEMPLATION.
About 10 O'Clock the cupola caught, and
the flames bounded upward, real pillar
of fire. In half an hour from this time
the whole roof was ablaze. The large
cornlce on the west, east and south sides
became enveloped at different times, and
seemed full OF conbus,ible material l,
was made Of galvanized sheet iron support
ed by wood, and the flames crawied over it
like fiery serpents, kissing ana prouudirl4,
their devouring tongues. Along the corulcc
the flames rolled ike waves, or like inverted
cataractss flowing upwards. Occasionally u
mass of fire would dart through a small
window under the roof like heavy stream
of water rushing through vent, anu then
it would slink back and unite with the great
mass of fame in the centre
About IL o'clock there was an explosion
inside, and a fall of heavy body, apparent
ly from one of the upper stories to the
ground floor. at the southeast corner. The
IRE was now on the first floor, and ragged
in every portion Of the house. It
was dangerous to be near the walls, aa'
fragments Of burning timber and hot
iron were constantly falling. The police
moved the ropes further back, aud
warned the spectators to keep at safe dis
tance. a portion OF the wall on Green 81
fell with loud noise. About midnight the
central portion OF the vest wa'l on 7th st.
fell. Previous to those, the southeast corn
er of the east wall on sixth street came
down with a terrible crash. Aftcr the fall
ing of the walls the fire soon abated, there
being nothing left for 1t to destroy.
For some time before the walls FELL the
flames formed a crimson column, studded
with millions Of sparks. that shot upward
the height of at least four hundred feet
from the ground This was seen as We
learn at distance of twenty seven miles
from the city, and was Que of the grandc Z
spectacle ever witnessed. The air WAS al
fDOSt pciItCliy CuiiI, tHU the cOiuiD0 Oi uTc
arose II small coinrass, white the sparh.
hoa'ed upward, rapidly at first, and then
more slowly, until they paused moment,
and began slowly tC spread and descend in
showers Of cnders over all the northern and
northwestern parts OF the city.
MIsMANAGEMENT, &c.
All accounts agree that FIRE Was nriserably
managed. With prcmptness and vigilance
tho building might have been saved ami
property to the valne Of 81 500, 900 Afer
the fire was discovered il was nearly An
hour before much of an efforts was made
to extinguish it, The hose and engine be-
longing to the house could not be used, bo-
cause they had not been Kept in pertec. OF
der. The city FIRE department. was equally
mismanaged There was no water ia the
reservoirs, SO the Mayor had TO hurry to
the water works and order all the pumpins
engines ii motion to force water Immediate
ly. The hose was filed With water before
1t was carried up to the floor upon which
the fire was raging. The whole management
was so disgraceful that the calamity which
has hef.silpp St I,otiS l. ono IN a,,, 4ar~o..