Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-02-16
BIG FIRE IN CHICAGO.
Loss Over Five Hundred Thou
sand Dollars.

CnICAdo, February 04.-At a late hour
tonight fire broke ont in the Empire
warehouses, l9S and POI Market street,
which is still burning. The loss will
probably be heavy, but at o'clock no
particulars are obtainable.
Spreading Rapidly.
CuICAGO, February Is, . A. M.-The
fire alluded to in the preceding dispatch
has spread rapidly, and at this hour
threatens TO become one of the most
serious Tor many months. The ware.
house is occupied as store room for
seeds, dry goods, liqvors and foI bonded
goods. The free warehouse ID entirely
Quilted and the bonded section appears
eoomed. The losses are estimated as
follows, Wallace < kingman, seed mon,
SlJ0,0g0, Chaplin u Gore, liquors
stored, Sl50,0OO; Field, Letter 4 Co.,
dry goods, S2OO,OO0; J. V. Farnwell <
Co, S75, 900; Wilson Bros, SIS 700; and
large number Of smaller losses. The
insurance il not known, but il is pre-
sumed that it will cover the losses for
he most part. The loss ou the build
ing, which is believed 10 be Owned by
Wadsworth Il Dickinson, is $4,000.
Field x Letter have usually carried Il
stock OF about half million, and in this
warehouse the fire is burning at this
time, with FREQ Ient explosions of hquor.
Loss Over 100000.
CHICAGo, February l5--The lire in
the Empire warehouse discovered abOut
midnight last night had gained c0nsid-
erable headway before the first engine
was on the ground, and spread 10 sapid.
" among the intiammable material in
side that the engines were powerless TO
do more than prevent II from breaking
through the doors into the bonded
warehouse adjoining and which was
protected by a lire wall. Even this task
WAS rendered extremely difficult hy the
intensity OF the heat, aud up Ia . clock
It WAS doubtful il the bonded section
could be- saved. Shortly after that hour,
however, the tiremen prevailed and at
O'Clock had the fire practically under
control. 1t continued To burn, however,
until kaylight and has been shoulder
ing ali day. A revised list OF losses il
gwen below, all OF them occurring in the
free warehouse, which was worth
$4,000, and its machinery was
valued at $1,000. This building
was owned by Wordsworth 4 Dickinson,
and occupied by Wallace, kingInan n
Co, seed merchants, and 10y the Empire
WarehousIng Company. Wallace, King
man 4 Co, had in storage about sl52'-
go worth OF seed, mostly timothy, Of
which the firm owned s65, 900 worth,
but were secuted by warehouse receipts
and insurance. The other owners
Interested were Robt Colgate 4 Co,
New York, $1,000; McGovan Bros.,
steubenviile, ~ 90; Conklin 4 keeler,
Binghampton, New York, $4,000, and
various Chicago firms owned the rest
Chaplin 4 Gore had 5000 barrels OF
different brands of choice whiskies
stored and they put their loss at from
sl25 600 20 $4,000; T.. J.. Howell 4
Co. -four. 5000, Foster, Lee 4 CO.,
-four and seels, $1,000; sprsgue,
Warner 4 Co, dryed fruits, $1,000; O.
7. Gibbs 4 Co, seeds, 5000 Phoenix
Distilling Co, seed, sl3,OOa The soods
stored in the bonded house, a partial
list Of which vas given in last night s
dispatches, were not injured ia the
least The origiu ofthe fire is CON-
plete mystery.