The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-06
FIRES.
Destruction of the Nc Ma
sonic Temple-The Fire Fiend In
other CitInc

NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-At half-past O'Clock
this morning the roof of the Masonic Temple,
Iwenty-thlrd street aud Sixth avenue was dis
covered atire, and before the engines arrived
great volumes of smoke belched from the win
dows of the Knights Templar asylum in the
mansard story, Just below the roof and dome.
A thick volume of smoke also poured from the
roof, followed by sheets of flame darling high
in the air. The report that the Masonic Tenn
pie was on fire spread rapidly, and hundreds
of the fraternity hurried to the place. A large
force of police kept the crowd back from the
tremen. Patrick Lynch and Samuel Warren,
two of the foremost iremen in the mansard
story, were struck to the floor by heavy plas-
tering falling from the ceiling and were over
come by heat and smoke, but were quickly res
cued by their comrades and removed to the
hospital, restored to consciousness and sent
home. AS the building below the manSard
was fire proof, the firemen devoted their ener-
gies to saving the mansard story. The entire
building was water-soaked and much valuable
property destroyed. After two hours hard
work. a further spread of the flames was pre-
vented in the mansard portion, but were still
raging in the roof. 1t is thought the loss will
not fall short of 100000 as the costly frescOe-
ing and other decorations are destroyed in the
commandery room. The order of the Mystic
Shrine, largely composed OF MaSOnS, met last
night until a late hour, and it Is supposed a
cigar or match dropped on the carpet and
caused the fire, The commandery room was
extensively fitted up, and in the adjoining
closets were many costly equipments and uni
forms. Sir Knight AuStin's ROOM named in
honor of the deceased grand secretary, which
and beautiful pictures, which the order had
been so long in accommodating, were very much
injured, If not ruined.
IN CHICAGO.
CHICAGO, Dec 1.--At half-past this after
noon a fire was discOvere1 in the Farwell
block, the largest business building in the city,
bounded by. Adams, Market and Monroe
streets and the river. The fire was confined
to Nos. l6s and 10 Market street, the three
lower floors of which were occupied by MetZler
Bros. notion dealers, and the four upper floors
employs nearly 200 girls, all but about seventy
five of whom had gone home. A panic ensued
among the young women and their terror was
increased by the discovery that the main
doorway leading to the lower floors was locked
and barred. They made their way back to the
fifth floor, and number made their
way along the window edges to a
lire ire walls into an adjoining store
Two young women. Kitty Hilgert and Frances
Fairweather. made their way to the fire escape,
ing from the building Immediately below,
dropped to the stone sidewalk and both were
instantly killed. Great confusion reigned
in and about the building up to 9 o'clock, VIII
a statement was made by those interested that
| all remaining employees had escaped from the
with dense volume of smoke and as the fire
| men had been unable to search, fears were en-
tertained that further loss of life had occurred.
the Journal building on Dearborn street, is re-
ported on fire.
AT WESTMINSTER, VT.
WEsTSINs FER, VT, Dec. THE extensive
| barns and outbuildingS of George Campbell
| breeder of blooded sheep, burned last night
| together with sixty-four valuable sheep. Loss
| $4,000.
AT MECHANCISVILLE, IOWA.
| MECHANICsvILLE Iowa, Dec. lat 2 O'CLOCK
| this morning the Enterprise block, one of the
other buildings. Loss, $751; insured. $1,000
| AT S0MERVILLE, TENN.
SodERvILLE, Tenn, Dec. 1.-Hamblet's con
dictionary, Heinrieh's tailor shop Williams 4
Co.'S livery stable and three brick offices wer,
| burned this morning.