Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-08
WORK OF THE FLAMES.
A TERRIFIC BLAZE IN THE
NORTHWEST.
The City of Racine Gutted-NearIy
HaIf a Million In Ashes-A Costly
Court House Burned az PIttsburg
Narrow Escape OF the Inmates of
the jail.

RACINE, Wis, May Ga fire broke out in
Goodrich's warehouse about 10 o'clock last
night, whence it rapidly spread to the lum-
Der yards and elevators. At 2:2O everything
north of Third and east of Wisconsin streets
was either In ashes or burning. A fierce
gale of wind was blowing. Engines were
sent for to Chicago and Milwaukee.
The following message was sent BY Mayor
Packard to Mayor Stowell, Of Milwaukee;
''Send us as many fire engines as you can.
The city is threatened with being wiped
out by fire.n
4:l0 A. M.-The wind has subsidized some
what, and there is hope that the fire may be
stopped at Fourth street. 1t has not crossed
tories are untouched. Something like if
teen acres are so far burned. The loss is
estimated at from one to three million dol
lars, and no figures can be got as to the in
surauce.
The outcome of the confagration Of last
night is as follows: Seven blocks were
burned, over forty-four buildings, and ten
million feet of lumber consumed. The loss
figures up about three-quarters of million
dollars, on which there was about quarter
of million insurance. That part of the
city In ashes was the Oldest and least orna-
mented, being largely composed of inferior
buildings, with here and there a fine one.
The citizens have not lost heart, but are
preparing to rebuild.
CHICAGO. May 6-The Daily Neacs' re-
porter sends the following from Racine as
the losses in detail: Kelly, Weeks & Co.,
lumber, 5000; Jones, Knapp & Co., $780,,
600; Onondaga Salt Works, $20,0 900; Racine
Silver Plating Company, stock. $45, 900; Her
zig & Roberts, Racine Star Mills, $40, 900;
Joseph Miller q Co., boots and shoes,
$6OO 900; Shoe Packing Company, Phil.
KroOk q Co., stock and building, $40, 600;
+. Ibing, furniture, stock and building,
100000; eight small frame buildings, $40,-
OOO; Congress Hall Hotel, owned by Senera
Raymond, $4,000; the building used as an
office by the Chicago, Milwaukee and st.
Paul Railroad, and owned by j. s. Moore,
of Jamestown, N. Y, SIG, 900; the elevator
owned by the Chicago, Milwaukee and st.
Paul Railroad, $40, 600; the Goodrich ware
house, s. 900, and the Union Hall block Of
buildings, $4,000. The total loss is $45S, 900.
PITTsBURGH, PA, May 7-The most de-
structive fire that has occurred in this city
since the memorable riots of 1877 took
place to-day. About 1920 O'Clock smoke
was seen issuing from the interior OF the
massive stone court house, and upon inves-
tigation 1t was found that the entire inside
of the building was In flames. A general
alarm was at once sounded, and
In few minutes the fire departments of
Pittsburg and Allegheny were at work, but
the flames had gained such headway that
the tiremen's efforts were almost futile, and
by four o'clock all that was left was the
stone walls. The fire created intense ex-
citement on account of the jail being at
tached to the burning building. Fears were
entertained that the prisoners would escape.
There was no occasion for alarm, how
ever, as the jail was not in danger,
and a close guard was Kept over the
inmates, who were not aware that fire was
in progress near them. AS soon as the fire
was discovered a number of officials and
others forced their way into the burning
building and succeeded in saving nearly all
of the records and the law library. While
endeavOring to save the records in the Jury
Commissioners office, Harry McDermott,
grandson of Jury Commissioner Hogan, was
killed by falling glass. Several fremen
narrowly escaped death by burning, and
number were more or less injured by falling
debris, but the accident to McDermott is
believed TO be the only one resulting fatally.
The building destroyed was of stone and
originally cost about 5000, 900, and many
thousands have been expended In improve
ments. The insurance on the burned pOr-
tion is $50, 900.