Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-20
TWO DISASTROUS FIRES.
PHILADELPHIA AND CHICAGO
HEAVY LOSERS.

HEAVY LOSERS.
Half a Block and Several Lives Lost In
the Former City-GrannIs' Block with
Two Banks Destroyed In Chicago
Blackburn Cotton Mills Laid in Ashes.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 10, 10 A. MA
destructive fire is now burning fiercely on
Chestnut street, between Second and
Front streets, locality devoted entirely
to large warehouses and business houses.
Three buildings are now in flames. Sew
eral persons are believed to have been
killed and injured.
At 1915 a. m. the fire had extended
from the Corn Exchange to Letitia street.
about half a block of very valuahle
buildings. The Corn Exchange National
Bank, on the corner of Second and Chest
nut streets, has caught Ire and is burn
ing in the upper stories. The flames
crossed Chestnut street, and many large
business houses on the 'Other side are in
imminent danger.
THE FIRE ORIGINATED
in some manner as yet unknown in the
five story brick structure No. 125 Chest
nut street, occupied by Stephenson g. Co..
GettZe ~ StrattOn, Richard Nj. Blythe
and Garsed Il Co., all dealers
was discovered and the flames burst
from the windows, the front of three
stories fell out and crashed down into the
street. The loud noise thus made caused
a rumor that an explosion had also oc-
Cured, but 1t is not yet known whether
or not there were any explosions in the
building. When the wall fell laborer,
whose name is said TO be John Mckay,
was engaged i'll removing a safe from an
adjoining building. He was
BURIED BY THE FALLING BRICKS
and instantly killed. A horse attached
to hose cart standing in front of the
building was also killed. The flames
spread rapidly to the buildings on the
east, and Nos. l23 ana l2l Chestnut street,
were enYelOped IN flames. The former
building is occupied by Irwin q. Beatty
II Co., dealers in worsted yarns, and the
latter by George IL. McFadden q Co..
cotton dealers.
SO far as known now two men have
been killed at the scene of the fire-John
Mckay or Mccormick, driver of hose
cart, and j. Il. Blyer, aged Is years.
AT ll:l5 a. N. the hremen were conf
dent that they had the fire fully under
control and that it could not spread any
further.
THE LOSSES.
The losses will aggregate about $3.50, 600,
divided among about twenty firms. The
heaviest losers are as follows: 5. b. Stett
4 Co.. commission merchants, $l00, 600.
insurance 100000; NJ. Homer g. Co., toys,
$4,000, insurance $4,000; McFadden &
Bro, wO0len yarns, stock and buildings,
$40, 600, insurance 50,000; l. G. Beatty d
Co., yarns, $4,000, insurance $4,000. The
other losses range in amounts from $1,000
to $4,000, and are generally covered by in-
surance.
THE FIRE IN CHICAGO.
CHICAGO, Feb. ia fire is raging with
great fury in Grannis' block, on the east
side of Dearborn street, just south of
w ashingtOn. The fire started at 5:45
o'clock this evening, ana half an hour la
Jer ii was found necessary to turn in
general alarm. Twelve engines and
are playing on the flames and an
immense crowd of people is watching it.
The apparent destruction of one of the
inest office blocks in the city seems GER
ain. 1t is impossible to estimate the
oss.
At the time the fire was discovered the
employees in the various offices were pre-
pairing to leave for the night, and as far
as learned all escaped safely. The fire is
said to have originated at the bottom of
5he elevator shaft, where during the past
week new boiler had been put liz, and
other improvements made.
One hour from the discovery of the fire
it was plain that
THE WHOLE BLOCK MUST GO.
The flames then burst through the roof
and brilliantly Illuminated the scene for
blocks around. Twenty engines were
now pouring enormous volumes of water
into the burning building, yet the flames
seemed to defy all attempts to suppress
hem. AT 1:l5 the roof tell in,
sending showers of sparks
Up, and it was rum0red that tie walls
we're on the point of falling. This, how
ever, was untrue. The flames poured out
If every window in front above the second
story, and it was feared it would be i'm
possible to save the Portland bloc6, on
he corner of Washington and Dearborn
streets, adjoining the burning building.
IN account of the intense cold, it was
impossible to employ the engines to the
'est advantage. Occasionally
PIPE WOULD BURST,
md it would be several minutes before
he water could be again brought to play
where most needed. The stand-pipe did
rood service in drenching the adjoining
walls where there was danger of. the fire
catching.
In Grannis' block are two banks-the
Continental National and the National
Bank of Illinois. The vaults were all fire.
proof, and the only inconvenience will be
the delay while waiting for the safe to be-
come cooled off so as to make access to
them possible. The building is for the
most part occupied by lawyers, archi-
ects and insurance agents, many of
whom will lose everyth1eg e -.aess1z-1
N their offices. Two of the most valuable
aw Libraries in the city are totally de-
'trOyed, besides valuable papers which
me occupants of the offices had not suffi-
;ient time to put into the vaults.
THE GRANNIs BLOCK.
was erected three years ago by w. G. u.
Irannis, President of the Union National
Bank of this city, at cost of about
5175,000. The building was insured for
$4,000. Its location was most desirable
or office purposes, and it was
according to the most
approved plans as to convenience.
It's tenants for the most part were
prominent in their professions, and
having their offices eXpensiyely fitted UP.
The fire was practically under
control at O'Clock, and fears as to the
safety of the adjoining blocks were no
onger entertained.
COTTON MILL DESTROYED.
LONDON. Feb. 19.-The Knugden Cotton
Mills at Blackburn were burned to-day.
rhe loss is 100000. Two cOnstables were
Iilled during the progress of the fre by
walls falling on them. Several of the en-
)ioyes of the mills who were within the
a fha ba cf