The daily gazette., 1881-10-29
A MASS OF RUINS,
THE DIAMOND STATE BREW
ERY FALLS A VICTIM TO
THE FIERY ELEMENT
SCENES AND
OF THE FIREMEN.
A Probable LOSS of S3O,OOO-Par.
tfally lnsured-Origin
OF the Fire.

About 2 o'clock this morning the
stiffness of the night was broken by
the Ominous sound telling of fire. The
alarm camo from box 81, corner of
Fourth and Madison streets, and was
struck by officer Pardee. Hardly had
the alarm on the City Hall ceased toll.
ing before the bells On the various en-
gine houses took up the strokes for
the purpose of calling together their
members as quickly as possible.
A LURID GLARE.
Almost simultaneously with the
ringing of the alarm bright light was
noticed to fare up in the western pa
of the city, which increased in in.en.
sity until the whole western heavens
seemed to be lighted up as though
hundreds of electric lights were in
operation.
1t was soon ascelta taine i that the
cause of the light was the burning of
the Diamond State Brewery, situated
on Fifth street, between Adams and
jackson streets, belonging to Joseph
Stoeckle.
OhISlN Of Ll1h FINE.
At the time the fire occurred no one
was about the building, and fifteen
minutes before it was discovered, Off
GERS Bernhardt and Farron passed the
building, and everything was all
right.
From what information that can be
obtained in regard to the origin of the
fire, it appears that it was first discov-
cred in the southwest corner of the
two-story frame building facing on
Fifth street. This building was what
is known as the brewery. The first
story was used for the storage Of hogs
heads and preparing tho beer to be
sent out to fill OF iers. The second
story was what is known as the COOL
ing pans, to cool beer after having
been run from the boilers. Here also
was the apparatus and machinery for
grinding the malt used in brewing.
Connected with this building, but
somewhat lower, and reached by two
or three steps, was the portion con-
tanning the large, new and improved
boiler and machinery used in boiling
the brewing, the vat where the beer
undergoes the purifying process ; also
the engine. Adjoining the above was
the boiler shed.
When the fire was first discovered it
did not seem to amount to much, but
in an almost incredible short space of
time 1t had spread with almost the
rapidity Of lightning. The fire COM
panies responded promptly, but before
they reached the scene, SO dry was the
wood work, that flames were issuing
from the windows and roof to such an
extent that 1t was almost next to uses
less to throw water upon the build
ing.
THE FLAMES SPREAD.
Situated Immediately in the rear of
the burning building was large two
story brick building used for the stor-
age of malt and hops and also at times
ice. The flames soon spread to this
building, and it was soon embraced,
despite the heroic efforts of the fire.
men. A large frame shed connected
with the old ice house next took fire,
and the firemen, to a certain extent,
directed their efforts towards saving
surrounding property.
THE NEW ICE HOUSE ON FIRE.
Situated on the N. w. corner of
Fifth and Adams streets was the new
ice house and storage room for beer.
This building is of brick, 3S by 65 feet,
and 80 feet high. This house had
only been recently constructed by Mr..
Stoeckle. The flames from the old ice
house and the frame shed soon stretch
ed out and enyeloped the ventilator
upon the new house to such an extent
that it was soon enveloped, thus Gauss
ing the most stubborn fire that has
occurred in this city for number
years.
The flames shot down the ventilator
and the inside woodwork was soon
enveloped, and then it was that the
firemen worked to a great disadvan-
tage. The building has what is
known as double lining, that is the
outside is brickwork and then comss
sawdust and plainings to the depth of
two feet, and an inside lining of wood
work. This woodwork communicated
the flames to the sawdust and despite
every effort they slumbered inside, the
firemen being unable to reach them.
In the upper story of the building was
stored several hundred tons of ice,
and in the lower portion between 1900
and 1000 barrels of beer. The latter
will probably be saved.
A TOTAL WRECK.
The buildings together with their
contents are a total wreck, with the
exception of the new ice house, a pors
tion Of the walls of which will proba-
bly be saved. At o'clock this morn
ing the place presented a scene Of
deselation, and The firemen were still
playing upon the new ice house and
the blackened ruins.
| So intense had been the heat that
two awelling houses on the opposite
side of the street had all the paint
scorched off of them, and In order to
save them streams of water were pour
ed on them.
What caused the fire is unknown,
but the theory is advanced that it was
incendiarism, as the fire commenced in
a portion of the building where there
was no fire.
The xvorkmen left The huildiHQ at