Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-08

linen hose should be ordered 50
that the fremsn will be en-
abled TO easily carry the
hose to any height.
Il is mentioned that the Ere ran
from the lower part to the top Of the
buildinswith wonderful rapidity. The
construction Of the house was on the
order known among insurance men as
balloons. Tho open space or sky light
in the center, extending from the cellar
to the roof, acted like the funnel
OF ocean steamer or the smoke stack
Of factory. The upward draft through
the sky light was very strong, and a.
soon as the FIRE got start u increased
and drew the blaze up like whirl.
wind. In Cincinnati the Shillitc
building is Of the same order and
style, yet there . Waterman is Away.
kept on guard, aud special arrange
ments exist to check Ere should one
occur. For example, they have water
pipes on every floor. have tanks under
the root with wax articles to melt and
food the spot where a FIRE
may start, also have thermometer 10
liie by heat to l4O' farenheit, and
then souuo an electric gong to brine
out the fire department. In case Of
a FIRE at Shillitos more than twenty
steam fire engines could be at the work
OF extinguishment inside OF ten min,
utes, to say nothing of the special
appliances within the building, YET
here in Memphis, where the facilities
are 50 meagre, the pressure rate in the
LOewenstein building and contents
was only II per cent,
Shortly after two o'clock yesterday
afternoon Captain Cleary was standing
at the corner Of Main and Jefferson
streets when his attention was drawn
to number Of ladies and gentlemen
in the park waving their handker-
chiefs and acting in very excited
manner. He supposed the cause arose
from something occurring in the park
An instant later he heard small boy
yell out, "0h, Mister, look there
LOwenstseins is all afre" and at the
same time man yelled out, "Firel
Firel Firel" The CHIEF Immediately
understood the situation, and rushed
down to engine house No. l, and when
at the corner of Adams and Main
waved his hat, which signal was un-
derstood by the 6remen, and in a
trlce the alarm was turned 10 and the
engine, hose truck and hook and lad,
der we're madly tearing up Adams
and down Main. The exterior Of the
magnificent structure gave but little
evidence Of the terrible conalgration
that was raging within. The doors
we're Of course locked and they resist
ed the combined efforts of the fremeu
to break them. Chief Cleary directed
the glass to be broken and no sooner
was this done than a great mass Of
flames and smoke burst from the open,
ing almost completely enveloping the
6remen and scOrching several faces
By this time engine No. / was attach.
ed to the plug at the corner of Jeifsr
son and Main streets and stream wa.
thrown in the burning build
ing. A little later on engin,
number 2 was stationed at the
corner Of West Court street andMain
and cngineNo. A on jefferson, between
Main and Front. No. did not ger
the alarm, owing to the wires beinl
crossed, and the members Of that com
pany, observing the smoke, hitched VI
and went on free lances and took tn,
plug on Court, between Front ant
Main, but the most strenuous effort
of the entire fire department to saw,
the splendid establishment of b
LOwenstein & Bros. we're useless, ant
the small force directed their atten
ton to save the adjoining buildings
with results that merit the most un
limited praise. 0