Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-28
FAMILIES rLEn Fnca1 FIRE.
Hundreds of People Driven Out At New
YOrIi-LOsses $4,000.

NEW YORK, May 27.-1he vast furni-
ture factory Of II. Herman Bros, at Man
gin and Tompkins streets was discovered
to be on fire at 80 O'Clock this morning.
1t is tiye-story brick building, and oceu-
pies whole block, fronting 200 feet on
Delaney and l50 feet on other streets. 1t
was an old building occupied by the
Singer sewing machine factory, and was
saturated with oil. rhe whole building
is surrounded by miserable tenement
houses occupied by the poorest classes in
the city. The fire was lntensey not.
100 FAMILIES DRIVER OUT.
Nearly 100 families rere driven from
their homes. They rushed out in their
night clothes aud were compelled to camp
On the river side, where they shivered in
the chilly winds OF The morniug. AT
O'Clock the whole buildine was IN flames
and there was no nope of saving any of
the property, and the iremeu directed
their efforts TO make The M sprable people
as comfortable as Iossible At 4:30
o'clock alarms were sent our for extra EN-
gines and IT looked as though the whole
surrounding neighborhoca would he de-
stroyed At 3 o'clock alarms were still
being sent our for extra engines. The
reason the flames spread So rapidly was
on account Of the oil on the floors.
THE LOSS $392010.
The factory was filed with furniture,
and it is estimated that the loss will
amount to $392,000. This is busy
season of the year and the loss will
be still heavier tor the company for this
reason. over 300 men viii as thrown out
of WORK. The streets at $40 o'clock were
f,1 a ~
citement prevailed in the nwighbOrhOOd,
as everybody in surrounding tenement
houses was moving furniture and seeking
TO escape from the flames, which were fast
spreading in all directions. Superintend-
ent PinOn, of the factory, said that it
was impossible to say where the fire origi-
mated, but it was believed that 1t had
started in the enginerOOm. Al $3.50 % clock
this morning special calls for extra engines
were being sent out.
A HARD FIGHT FOR THE rIREMEN.
Though the entire available force Of the
fire department was summoned it was
two hours before the flames we're fairly
under control. The hAmes burned
fiercely in the ruins all the morning, but
all danger of their further spread had
passed. The factory, tive-story brick
building, is a total loss. Mr.. Herman
estimates his loss at about $2j0000, which
is covered by insurance in a large num-
ber of companes. The loss asthe build
ing, which is owned by an estate, he
estimates at fully 100000. Tlis, too, is
covered 20 a large ext aG y Insurance.
Five hundred skilled workmen were en-
ployed in the factory and lose all their
tools, the aggregate value OF which is
about $4,000, and on these there are only
scattered sums of insurance.
The damage to adjoining property is
$22, 900.
MIR. Herman stated that his loss is in
sured ia a way entirely satisfactory to
his firm.
DANGEROUS BUILDING.
The burned building had for years been
looked upon as dangerous by firemen and
insurance men. Extraordinary measures
we're taken TO protect it at night time by
means OF special watchmen. How the
fire broke out is mystery, but Mr.. Her
man gives II as his opinion that it was
the work of incendiaries, but of this there
is no evidence.
A TENEMENT BLAZE.
Shortly before 10 O'Clock tonight fire
broke out in the double tenement house
No. 9S East FOrtieth street. The struc-
tare was occupied by twenty families.
The blaze originated in the basement, and
at single bound spread through the air
shaft TO the roof. Some of the inmates
were taken out by the fremenr with
ladders, and some used fire escapes. One
man was carried out insensible, but so
far as reported no life was lost.
A HARRoDSBURG BLAZE.
HARRODsBURG, KY, May PA sup
posed incendiary fire this morning on
Main street destroyed HaTvey's block, in
which is the Mercer National Bank. Cook
a. Lewis drug store, A. Robinson Il Sons
dry goods store. besides other buildings
The total loss is $4,000. The bank books
were saved, and the money is thought to
be secure.
BURNING OF A CARRIAGE SHOP.
COCHRAN, GA, MAY 27.-The carriage
shop of O'Berry Il Rntter was entirely
destroyed by fire at l O'Clock this MOI n
ing. The fire was Of ncendiary origin
Ihn Inaa Ia 2I onn n.,L 1hn a.,a.1rn 40 alnn