Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-02-10
BIG BLAZE
Total Destruction Of the South
arn Oil Works.
Loss. Si75,OOO; Insurance, ai2S,-
O5O-slOOO In Memphis Conn
PaDieg.

The most destructive fire which hai
occurred here during the past fifleer
years broke out early this morning il
the stock room Of the Southern oil
works, near the Louisville railway
depot. The entire property, valued
at $175,O 600, was totally destroyed.
The mill building was a brick
structure, and formerly known as
Eagle Touring mill property. The
Southern oil company purchased il
some twelve years ago, put in expen-
siye machinery and have beer since
then operating it as a cotton seed oil
factory. 1t has been in operation day
aud night during the past winter, en-
ployed 100 hands, half Of whom we're
in the mill when the fire alarm
sounded. So quick did the flames
spread that many of the workmen got
out barely in time to save their lives.
The capital Of the company was
fixed at 5000, 900, and its president was
J. j. McComb, of New York, the
manager here being Mr.. j. H. Child
ester, while the superintendent was
l1r. Davis. The latter, ON duty at the
time the fire occurred, has no idea Of
the cause. 1t was first seen in the
stock room on the lower floor, and
whether started by accident or design
is a mystery which is not likely solved.
The alarm was first sounded ten
minutes after five o'clock, and just be-
fore daybreak. The entire fire force
with engines we're quickly at the scene
and did all that could be done, but
their work accomplished little, except
to save the adjoining property.
The flames shot several hundred
feet into the air. at each burst
ing Of a barrel or tank Of oil
and the scene was most exciting, as
we'll as Of i~ndescribale spectacular
grandeur. At one time it was feared
the county Jail would kindle, and the
heat Of the flames in and around that
institution was so intense that the
thirty or forty persons within were in
danger of roasting. As the propriety
of attempting to remove the prisoners
was being discussed by the keepers,
the heat oftto great blaze diminished
the fire fell off and the necessity fol-
such action was happily at IN end. II
is more than probable that the prison
ers could not have been kept under
control by the guards at command.
had the Jail doors been opened, and
the larger number would perhaps have
escaped.
The blaze was at its highest inten-
sity for perhaps an hour, and il
reached its maximum in hal
an hour after the alarm went forth
The entire area for nall a mile oil
more was as light as the middle Of q
suushiny day, and for several miles be.
yond the southern limits of the city
il was plainly visible to all who haC
risen from their couches. No fire o.
so great a magnitude has occurred
since the great cotton shed fires jus.
after the war, when large quantities o
government and Confederate cottor
was destroyed.
The property destroyed, as near a
can be a%scertalned, included the build
ing and its valuable machinery, abou
1900 barrels Of oil, also 400 barrels il
q large tank, about 1000 tons of OF
cake and 1000 tons Of raw cottol
seed, besides other material not emu
merated The company only a coupl
Of days since was in the act Of nego
tiating a sale Of their manufacture
product. Had this been accomplishel
and the property removed, the los
would ave been lighter. AS it is, tn
estimates give it at about 1880
uIoa which the insurance, IS note
tdow, is Sl23,O5O all in solvent com
panies, situated in various parts Of Flu
rope and America. Our local com
panies arc exceedingly lucky, onl.
$1,000 having been placed therein.
The capacity of the mills was be
tween iorty and fifty barrels Of OF
per day The works were in I'm
order and bad been kept steadily bus
throughout the past season. 1t /
believed that nothing Of material valu
will be saved from the ruins. Tn
machinery will be worth little, if any
hing more than old ircp, Will