Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-05-04
DH6TRUCTNE FIRE.


y
Great Ouantaey Of ksaf Tobacco
Destroyed.
Between and 3 O'Clock this morning
the large brick tobacco warehouse belong
ing to Jacob X. Shirk, and situated on
North Christian street, was badly DAM
aged by fire and the contents, consisting Of
600 or 100 cases of leaf tobacco were badly
damaged by fire, smoke and water.
The fire was tho work of an incendiary,
who applied the torch to a small frame
stable belonging to Mrs. Magdalena Heit-
shu, and adjoining the warehouse on the
south. AS previously reported. an attempt
was made to burn this stable Tuesday night
of last week, but the fire was discovered and
put out before any damage was done.
Last night between II ard 12 o'clock
another attempt was made, but the fire
was again put out. Between 2 and 8
o'clock this morning the torch was applied
successfully and the stable was all in
flames when discovered.
At first the warehouse was thought to
be in no danger, and no uneasiness was
felt regarding it, as the walls are twenty
three inches thick, and the one that faces
the burned stable contains no windows. 1t
appears. however, that sparks or embers
from the burning stable found an entrance
under the caves of the warehouse and the
dry pine timbers that support tho roof
were soon in flames. The roof being of
slate and the windows all closed it was
some time before any water could be got
upon the flames. In consequence the roof
was almost entirely burned nff, and then
the building was flooded with water. The
fire was then soon got under control and
finally exJihguished, but hundreds of
cases OF tobacco on the second and third
floors were badly damaged, as was
also the balcd tobacco ON the
first or basement floor, in a portion
of which the .water this morning was
nearly two feet deep. The tobacco be-
lOnged to Esbcrg, Bachman & Co., tobacco
packers, for whom Mr.. Shirk hal been
buying for several years past. The ex-
tent of the loss cannot he accurately stated
as yet, but it is covered by the following
insurance Phoenix Of New York, $1,000
Hamburg Masdeburg, $1,000; Westches
ter, N. v, $500; Home. N. Y, $4,000
National, Hartford, Conn.,, $1,000
Springfield. Mass, $1,000; Norwich
Union, 5000 Hartford, $1,000; Lon
don & Lancashire. 5000; American
$1,000; Royal, 5000; Girard, $1,000
Insurance Company Of North America
$1,000. Total, $4,000. Messrs. Rife 4
| Kaufman are the local agents Of all thu
above companies except the last named
of which Mr. II. S. Cara is agent. 1t il
believed the insurance will more thar
cover the loss.
Joseph II. Shirk. son of j. X. Shirk
had seven cases of tobacco damaged BY
water. He had no insurance.
| Messrs. Esberg, Bachman & Co. S book
were saved in damaged condition, though
the office was dclugcd with water. Til
tools in the packing and sorting rooms
were also more or less injured.
| Mr.. Shirk had tho warehouse insured
in the Royal Of Liverpool for 81, 600 and i,
the Home for 5000. The loss on the buildin:
will not exceed s., 900 and may be consid
erably less. The building, which is 10;
feet long and 80 feet wide. will be re
paired as rapidly as possible. The wall
and floors are but slightly damaged.
Mrs. Heitshu's stable, which was al
most entirely destroyed, was not insured
1t was an old frame building of littl
value and contained nothing valuable.
An interesting test Of the value Of til
patent elevator used in Shirk's warehous
was made during the fro the heavy rop
used in raising and lowering it was burne'
off near the roof, but the elevator scarcel
fell an inch, being kept in place by tn
spring and rachel arrangement attache'
to it. The elevator was built by Mr..
'C. Wclchans.
1t is said that while George Stalcy wa
ringing the bell Of the Washington fir
company, some one called to him to stO]
ringing, and as he did not do so, threw
piece of slate at him, cutting him badly il
the face.
While the Friendship was in service tn,
steam chest piston rod was broken and tn
machine had to stop and will DO out @
service for q day or two.