Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-10-07
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE
The City Compress, Grain Elevator and
Many Other Buildings at Dallas,
Tex, Besides 1000
Bales Of Cotton and $4,000 Bushels of
Wheat Totally Destroyed-Loss
Over 81, 200, 900.

DALLAS, TEX, October 6.-Probably tn
largest and most destructive fire that eve
occurred here is now Il o'clock pm.
raging. At ii o'clock this morning fir
broke out in the engine-room of W. G
! Howard & Co.'S elevator and soon afte
the flames were issuing forth in all direc
tions. The elevator is situated right at tn,
Texas and Pacific depot, one block nortl
CT Elm street. The flames spread rapidly
and soon the cotton-yard of the City Com
| press, occupying block of ground imme
diately adjoining the elevator, caught fire
and was rapidly consumed by the devour
ing element. A strong breeze is blowing
| from the southeast, and the heat from the
BURNING DISTRICT
is frightful. At 80 o'clock the elevator
fell with crash. A brick building ad
joining it, occupied by Sinker, Davis &
Co., containing boilers and engines, is also
total loss, and burned both to the ground
cotton around the City Compress across
from the elevator caught fire and is being
rapidly burned. 1t is hoped that the
compress will be saved with but little
damage, as all efforts are now being used
in that direction. AT 12:45 o'clock pm.
the
FIRE is STILL RAGING,
going in a northerly direction, and has
just caught and wiped up the electric light
works and a livery stable. That part of
the town in which it is now spreading is
composed of small frame structures, and
there is no telling where it will stop. The
elevator contained wheat and oats to the
amount of $4,000 bushels, all of which was
destroyed. There are also probably 1000
bales OF cotton consumed. Thus far prom
lnent insurance men estimate the loss at
ONE MILLION DOLLARS,
and the insurance at three-fourths that
amount. OF course this is mostly guess
work, as nothing definite can be obtained
Business is almost suspended, and the
whole town is excited. The fire depart
ment responded promptly, but it was
nearly half an hour before they got regu-
larly to work, and then the water supply
was inadequate. One of the engines
seemed to be nearly worthless. Where
the fire broke out there were some twenty
five or thirty box and fat cars lying
around on the track, and as the hose tried
to cross the firemen were delayed until
switch-engine could come up and remove
them. Fort Worth has been telegraphed
for aid, and the engine and department
are expected in few minutes.
Later.-It is said there are nearly $1,000
bales of cotton in the yard and around the
compress, and fully half that number has
been consumed.
Another Account.
GALVESTON, October GA special to the
Western Associated Press from Dallas
says that at II 80 o'clock this morning a
fire was discovered in the engine-room of
the Texas Elevator and Compress Com
pany, an immense building occupying an
entire square in the business part Of the
city. For fifteen minutes the flames
burned fiercely in the boiler-room. When
the iron roof fell in the fire rapidly spread
to all parts of the building. In the por-
tion of the building used as warehouse
were stored 5000 bales of cotton, and in
very short time the whole thing was one
mass of flames. The large compress OPP
posite the elevator was on fire
at least fifty times, but was as often ex-
AT l o'clock the flames leaped
the walls of the warehouse on the north
side, crossed the avenue, burned an en-
tire block, composed of the electric light
mandatory, livery stable, wagon yard
and grocery store. At Collins street it
crossed Lamas, burned three residences
and several small business houses. At
O'Clock Mayor Cabell telegraphed to Fort
Worth for help, and in little over an
hour they We're here and at work. The fire
was gotten under control about O'Clock
at Collins street, having burned three and
a half blocks. The wholesale grocery
house of Henry Loeb, which occupied one
corner of the Elevator block, was, by he
roic efforts, saved. The loss is estimated
at from $4,000 to $4,000. 1t is impos-
sible to give the insurance or the actual
losses. The elevator was owned by
of New Orleans men.
with John 7. Hardie as president, and
leased to w. G. Howard & Co., of Dallas.
The National Hotel opposite the elevator
and across Pacific avenue caught fifty
times, but being one of the finest blocks
in the city, and having favorable wind,
was drenched by water and saved. The
Texas and Pacific depot, by the hard work
of their employers, was saved.
10 O'Clock p. M.-The cotton is still
burning, with three engines playing on it.
That in the warehouse will be complete
loss. Some at the compress will be saved
The elevator was filed with grain, which
is total loss. The underwriters held a
meeting this afternoon and adjourned till
tomorrow. 1t is estimated the loss will
not be less than 81 100000. Strange to say,
there was no one hurt, although thousands
of people thronged the streets for hours