The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-17
A FACTORY BURNED.
Otis Establishment Entirely Consumed,
and Other Buildings Destroyed.

Last evening" o few minutes before o'clock
q nile of shavings In the rear Of the boiler II
Otis box factory, on Peters, between Notr'
Dame and Julia streets, was discovered to b.
In flames. Immediately upon the discovery
OF the fire an alarm was turned In from boz
No. 65, corner Of Levee and Julia streets, by
Mr.. Hoffman. foreman OF McCan's foundry
Before the fire department reached the scene
the whole Of the extensive establishment was
completely enveloped In flames
Chief Engineer OConnor placed his engines
in position, but the finder like material witt
which the fire was fed rendered all theil
efforts to quench 1t unavailing. A genera
alarm was therefore sounded, and soon the
entire department was on the scene.
The fire had, however, gained too great
Roadway to be checked and everything In.
Hammable in the vicinity was soon burning
The box mandatory OF Henry Otis occupied
two buildings. Ole n tWo-stOry brick ware
house, wherein was The latest improved ma
chinery, such as planners, buzz saws, etc, was
used In the manufacture OF cigar, shoe, dry
goods and medicine boxes, and was owned by
Mr.. Otis.
The adjoining three-story brick building,
owned by Mrs. Franck, was also occupied by
Mr.. Otis as o paper box factory, and between
and boys we're employed in this industry. AT
the corner of Julia and Peters streets was an
empty lot, In which stacks Of thin planks
lay piled until thoroughly dry and seasoned.
Tn the rear portion of this yard is where the
fire was first discovered, and the dry planks
readily kindled and burned with rapidity
equal to that Of prairie fire under the influ-
ence of strong gale of wind
1t is supposed that the fire originated either
from spontaneous combustion or from an
overheated journal, setting fire to the pile OF
shayings, which were not In such close prox-
unity to the boiler as to lead to the belief
that the fire underneath had communicated
itself to them.
Mr. Otis stock and buildings are insured
In toto for $2s, 900 in domestic companies, the
largest policy being held by the Hope Insu-
rance Company. The building, owned by
Mrs. Frank, Is also fully covered by insu-
rance, but In what companies is not known.
The rear Of the building, occupied by Mr.
Burke as steam coffee mill, was damaged
by fire and water; the stock had however,
been removed before the fire reached the rear
ed the store. Charles Burke, in removing his
stock, fell fainting to the floor, nearly stit1led
with smoke, but on being carried into the
air, revived.
The corner building, known as the Old
United States Hotel, was also slightly dam
aged. 1t Is occupied by P. Ford as o black
smithshop and Is the property OF Messrs. A.
ROcherean IL Co
Alta quarter to o'clock the smouldering
alarm was rung for 1t. The fire department
then went to work and extinguished the last
visible spark OF the fire. leaving but pile OF
ashes to mark the spot where once stood one
Of the most furnishing manufactures In the
State. The total loss is estimated at $40, GOO.
a late hour last night so as to prevent q re-
neWal OF the fire.