Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-11-11
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE!
Burrows Flour Mill IN Ruins


AlOsSsS CA0 9VVV
This morning. .. about half past four
O'clock, an alarm Of are sounded through
our streets, and the multitude that quickly
responded thereto WAS shocked at learning
that the extensive dsur mills .. the corner
Of Harrison and Fifth streets we're wrspt in
flames. The wind was blowing with con-
siderable force from the West, and the
building being Of frame work, wss soon be-
yond the possibility Of being saved BY any
human exertion. Owing TO the scarcity of
help in getting the engines into place, near
" half an hour slspsed after the alarm wss
sounded before the water was brought to
bear; and then all efforts we're directed TO.
wards saving the adjacent property. which,
from the dense hea. Of tho burning build
ing, was in imminent danger.
The lumber yard of French 4 Davies,
coming close up TO the south side Of the
usil, nothing but hard work, and the fac.
that the nearest piles were pretty green,
prevented immense destruction Of proper
ty. The wild carried the flames eastward,
and for an hour or more there hung over
the cAy, for the distance of quarter Of q
mile, . dense cloud Of burning cindsrs,
that rained down upon the roofs Of the
buildings, threatening . general con6ssra
ton, which Was prevented only by th'
prompt action Of the citizens.
burrows Mil was erected during thu
season OF 1861, upon the site Of the Fiji
Street Elevator that was burned the yea
before. The frame work and machincr,
was removed here from Atalisss, thougi
when completed was much larger and hat
greater capacity for milling than the eri
ginsl structure. l, WAS erected BY join
stock company, Of which u. b. Woodward
Esq, was trustee for the stockholders, mn,
was under the management Of J. NJ. D. Bur
rows, whose extensive mills on Front stree
we're burned down in July, 1861. Th
building vas 80 feet by $50. contained fou
run Of stone, with manufacturing capsci
ty Of 200 barrels Of flour per day. The es
tablishment. with the appurtsnances thers
unto belonging, cost about $l5. 900. whicl
WAS insured As follows:
Liverpool l. London. 900
Ina ....-.......- Z,"oV
Home, Of New Haven. ....... 1900
|
| IotAl.. ............ 49,. $7.OoO
In the mil! there was stock in -four an
fuel, together with other personal effects
the property Of Mr.. Barrows-smounting I
about 81, Gee. upon which there was insuI
ancs in the Liverpool 4 London Of 800.
French & Davies lumber was damage
to the extent of shout 5000 or k25o n
insurance.
The flames communicated to the Per
Coal Office across the street, burning it I
the ground. Loss about $3.50. No insul
anco. Fortunately, by The earnest efforts q
tiremen and citizens generally, the Goa
sheds containing several thousand bushel
Of c. al were saved.
The drifting sparks fell upon the hous
tops, and but for the persistent efforts G
the owners there would have been gencrs
eoutiagra,ion. The roofs Of several building
caught fire, but the flames were imme distc
checked. Among the narrow escapes v
aotice the 81. Anthony School Houses, an
the Second BAptis. Church The fif
caught in the sriw in the yard Of the Penn
sylvauia House stables, and but for promr
attention those buildings would have bee
burned down for third time.
Several other houses near the mill &C
somewhat singed. but upon the whole III
conilsgration was kept well within bounds
The loss falls severely upon Mr.. Bul
rows. This is the second MIL he has los
within the past few years. No man til,
ever lived has made more persistent cGlrt
to retrieve his i..-fortune, and no one nor
richly deserved success. lie he has n
idea hgw the fire orig mated, otherwise tha
By cendiailsm. The mil was stoppe
since las. Wednesday for repairs upon III
boilers, and 10 fire had been used in q
about the premises to his knowledge. lh
tire was first discovered ia the boiler hous :,
on the North side, where there lad been L
tire for Ave days. Ii is severe less-pa
ticu'arly SO at this season Of tho year, an
in his ndrersity M = deserves the gu,
stantial sympathy of the public.