Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-30
THE FIRE FIEND'S WORK.
A MILLION DESTROYED AT ONE
SWOOP.
A Mammoth Print Mill in Ashes-Fires
at Other Points.

FALL RIVER, MASS, October 2S.-About
3:30 p. m. fire was discovered in the picker
house Of the Flint Mil. The flames were
issuing from belt box OF the main belt in
the engine room, in the lower story of the
picker house, and spreading with lightning
rapidity along the belt to the upper story,
was soon bursting forth In every story. The
mill WAS a magnificent structure Of granite,
five stories high, built in 1872, and con-
structed and equipped at a cost of over
$500, 600.
The main building was 300 feet long by "a
feet wide. The picker house, which ad-
Joined the centre east side of the mill, was
also OF granite, and three stories high, with
engine and boiler house on the first floor.
When the fire was discovered what few en-
ployes there were in the mill Immediately
made every effort to extinguish the flames,
but without success.
IL being Saturday afternoon, all the en-
ploYes had gone home nearly an hour be-
fore, and so the regular fire department of
the mill was not available to handle the
force pumps'and. hYdrauts, with which the
mill was supplied. In fifteen minutes after
the alarm sounded the upper story of the
main mill was burning fiercely and the
flames issuing from the roof and
every floor OF the mill on @he
side next to the picker house.
The flames followed the main belt through
every floor, caught on the belts In every
room and flew along the floors, the oily
waste, lint and cloth adding fuel to the
flames. Fifteen minutes after the first alarm
a second was sounded, Immediately fol-
lowed by the third, calling out the entire
fire department, and extra horses were sent
for the reserve engines and hose reels not
in active commission, and every piece of
fire apparatus In the city put in service. In
less than half an hour after the first alarm
it became apparent that the mill was
doomed.
Directly opposite the burning mill was
the Wampsncag Mil, another massive gran
ite structure, separated from it by only one
hundred and fifty feet. A strong northeast
wind blew a cloud OF burning cinders
straight against 1t, ard the mill began to
blacken with heat. 1t seemed at one time
as II this mill also was doomed, and word
was telegraphed to New Bedford, Taunton
and Newport for assistance. The fremen
worked heroically. and deluged the sides of
the mill with well directed streams Of water
and saved IT.
Meanwhile the fire raging in the Flint
Mill gained headway in spite of efforts to
check 1t. Soon after o'clock the entire
south end of the mill was burning, the
floors began 10 fall and the walls fell in
Then the wind changed to the east, and the
fire, which had been bursting in fitful jets
from the north half, leaped from every win
dow, and the entire structure was in blaze.
Although 1t was evident that no human
effort could save any part of the mill, the
firemen continued to pour floods of water
upon the fire, to hold the flames in check. In
this they were successful, and the Wampa.
noag mill was saved with only slight dam
sge, as also were the tenement houses. the
nearest of which were less than 200 feet
from the burning mill. At 7:45 the north
end OF the mill fell in. The entire roof and
every floor had then fallen, and at o'clock
only fragments OF the bare walls
of the main mill were standing.
The firemen werestill at work at 10 O'Clock.
The total loss, including mill, machinery
and goods in process of manufacture, will
be very near $1,000, 900. and certainly not
less than $S00,000. There Is insurance
amounting to 100000, all 10 mutual COM
panies In Boston, Prov dence and this city.
The mill employed 500 hands, and had
nearly $4,000 spindles, and had an annual
production Of l. 300 pieces of print cloth.
SAN FRANCISCO, October 2S.-A dispatch
from Truckee says: "A fire last evening de-
strcyed q considerable portion of the busi-
ness part of the town, including the Ameri-
can Hotel, the Sheriff. House and the Odd
Fellows building. The loss IS probably
upwards Of 500 900, tWo-thirds OF which is
covered by insurance. The fire started in
Menke's brewery, and was thought to be
attributable to his carelessness. This is the
fourth general fire that has occurred within
a few years, and under the excitement con-
sequent upon this confagration there was
some talk OF lynching Menke.
PETERSBURG, VA, October 2S.-A large
brick tobacco factory on Washington street,
occupied by q. w. spicer, was destroyed by
fire tonight. together with the machinery,
fixtures and stock. Loss about $50, 600, par
TALLY covered by insurance. The fire origi-
mated up stairs.
MARGATE, ENG, October 2S.-A fire to-
day burned the Assembly Rooms, Royal
Hotel, the Vicarage and the whole south
side Of Cecil square. The flames are spread
ing rapidly, bus at noon the fire had been
eXtinguished. Loss 10000
CHESTER, PA, October % THE exten-
sive works OF the Eureka Caststeel Com
psny, at Lamokln, were DESTROYED by fire
this morning. Loss about $150,000, fully
insured.
EAST BRADY, Pa, October 2s.-A fire last
night consumed q number of buildings in
the business part OF the town. Loss SIS, 900.