Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-02
CONFEDERATION.
The Elevator and the Steamer Capitol
City Destroyed by Fire, Together
with an Immense Quantity
OF Freight.
Several Lives Supposed to Have Been
Lost-OrigiH and Progress OF the
Fire-Incidents Of the Blaze
Dangers Escaped.


steamers at the wharf sounded the alarm OF
fire, caused by bright fame shooting from
boat lying at the elevator, which proved to be
the Capitol City, of the st. Louis and Vieks-
burg Anchor-line, which had ar
rived about dark from Vicksburg, and was
to have remained at this port till five clock
this evening, when she was to have contin-
ued her voyage to st. Louis. The engine
house bells Immediately took up the alarm,
and all the engines and the hose carriages
fastened to the scene so plainly indicated by
the red glare of the fire against the clouds.
THE CAPITOL CITY.
The Waterman, Lewis Seeberger, discovered
the fire at the after end of the boiler, on the
starboard side. He gave the alarm and every
body aboard was awakened and made safe
escape by the elevator. The boat was
allowed to remain at the elevator.
the fire spreading with frightful rapidlty un-
til the elevator was completely wrapt In
flames. Every effort was made with the ele-
vator fire-machinery, but the flames spread
SO rapidly that 1T is said dozen men were
unable to get out. Mr.. Wash Floyd, who
was among the first to get the alarm, was
among a number in the elevator at the time
the flames burst out, and says he knows sew
eral men we're caught in the building, he
only escaping by tying handkerchief over
his mouth and eyes.
1t is reported that thousand barrels OF
cotton-seed oil were stored in the elevator,
which fed the fire to one vast sheet OF lu-
rid flame, shooting up hundred or more
feet in the air. The DeSoto and Orlole and
transfer Fivrson uere at the scene in few
minutes after the fire was discovered. and took
the Capitol City in tow, but too late to save the
elevator. The wreck was fastened to the shore
about hundred feet below the elevator,
where she burned to the waters edge. All
attention was devoted to saving property
about the elevator and adjacent buildings.
The entire fire brigade was on the
ground and at work, but the
streams of water had little or no effect on the
burning oil, which was rapidly con-
sumed, as a stiff breeze blowing at the time
aided in spreading the flames. The river
was crowded with skiffs, the occupants keep
ing diligent look out for any one who may
rivers surface was covered with oil on hire,
which gave it the appearance of sea of flame,
faom which everything had to steer clear.
The four steam fire engines of the city, and
the river tugboats, were diligent at the scene OF
the confagration, and numerous streams OF
water were thrown into the burning building.
The Elevator building was Kissing, roar
oe hn Mt
heat drove the fremen back some hundred
feet for a time. On the platform in front
of the elevator were stored under tarpaulins
several piles of freight. The platform and
piles of freight were soon wrapped in flames
and destroyed.
At half-past two o'clock nothing of the
elevator building was left above
the water save few charred piles and
posts, all else had been destroyed.
Between the steamer Capitol City and the
shore to which she hoated some hundred
yards below the elevator, several fishing and
trading boats were moored. These were also
destroyed by the devouring element. The
landing and bluffs near the elevator
were crowded with people, and at one
time stampede COOk place, ~ OOinS AoAAoA0N'
that large amount of powder was In the
elevator, and that the boilers of the Capitol
City were about to explode. Men and women
ran in every direction, but no explosion o.
CURED. Shafts of flame and myrlads OF
sparks few hundreds of feet into the air,
and it seemed as if the fire became
even more fierce as the minutes passed by.
The little steamboat Wagner lay near by to
where the burning Capitol City aoated, but
the Wagner was cut loose and towed away
safely. The flames lighted up the entire
city, and the Arkansas shore, for miles away,
appeared like panorama, each
tree, limb and lear pelng
distinctly visible from the bluffs.
The loss is at present impossible to estimate.
The elevator building cost originally about
one hundred and twenty-five thousand dol
lars. The building contained quite an amount
of freight-value unknown at present. The
losses on the Capitol City and freight are inn-
possible to estimate as we 60 to press this
morninO