St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-22
Pierce Planes, Famed by the Winds, Al
most Sweep Wilmington, N. G.,
Out Of Existence.
a TASTY Estimate Places the Total Loss
by the Confagration at
S1,500000.
TWO Ocean Steamers and Numerous
Private Dwellings Succumb to
the Fiery Fiend.
Serious Distress Anticipated Among
the Poor--A MuniGcent furse
Already Raised.
Tho Fiery Dem OH.

WuyIEGToN, \. c., Feb. 27.--The steamer
Bladen. plying between this city and
Fayetteville. Y. c., caught fire this
afternoon abont o'clock just before
reaching her wharf, and, owing to the
nAammable nature of her cargo. consist
of rosin, turpentine and cotton, was i'm
mediately enveloped in flames. The pilot
headed her for the nearest available
wharf, and the passengers succeeded III
escaping, some by boats from adjoining YES
sells, and Others by jumping overheard. when
they were quickly rescued. The steamer
landed against the wharf of tine \ ew York
and Wilmington Steamship company, and
the fire was quickly communicated to the
sheds and warehouses thereon. All the
wharves and sheds being saturated with
rosin and turpentine, the spread OF the fire
was rapid. and despite the efforts OF the
iiremen became disastrous coniiaGraton.
There was gale blowing from the south
west. and soon the blocks on the water
front were burning furiousy. At about
o'clock the fire was gotten
UNDER CONTROL,
but not until it had destroyed a million and
a half dollars worth of property. Starting
from Chestnut street the New York Steam
ship cOmpany's wharf and warehouse were
burned. next the store Of w. +. Kerchner
and the store and Offices Of Kerchner and
Calder Bros. S. II. Shatter ~ Co., A. ID.
Vessel. Worth & Worth, 0. q. Parsley,
Alex Sprunt d Son, Chadburn's lumber
mill. G. {. BOnney d Co., Il. Wright
-four and grist mills, the Champion Com
press Warehouse company, the freight
warehouses Of the Wilmington d
Welden and Wilmington. Columbia &
Augusta railroad companies, and several
boarding houses were also destroyed, and
i'm addition to the steamer Bladen. the
steamer River Queen of the same line was
burned to the waters edge. The American
schooner, Lille Holmes, was also burned
and will prove total loss. Over $3.50, 900
worth of goods were burued in one ware
house Owing to sparks waited by high
wind, numerous private dwellings caught
fire and were
BURNED TO TIE GROUND.
including those Of Hon. George Davis, Col.
!. r. Brink, Mr.. Solomon Baer and about
thirty others. In addition, a block of small
tenements occupied by cOlored people was
completely swept away, although mile
distant from the main fire. Tie general
Offices of the Atlantic Coast line were de
Gtroyed with numerous valuable papers and
records. The Front Street Methodist
church was also burned and is total loss.
Owing to the general decentralization Incl
dent to the tire it is impossible to ascertain
might the individual losses or msur-
ance. The telegraph wires in the
streets were pulled down and cOmmunca-
ton is difficult, though the management is
using every possible endeavor to keep the
service intact. SO many poor people are
burned out that fears are entertained of Sc
riOuS distress on this account, and active
efforts are being made to relieve all suffer
ing. Quite handsome sum has already
been raised. and others are contributing.
The guests of the Orton House alone raised
a munifcent purse, which is being distrib
uted TO those most in need.
FURTHER DETAILS.
Special to the Globe.
PETERSBURG, Va, Feb. 21.-The Sun
day quiet at Wilmington, n c., was
broken about noon to-day by the cries OF
fire, and in an incredibly short time thick
and dense clouds of smoke and flames were
seen issuing from the storage house of the
Clyde Steamboat company, On the wharf.
in which an immense quantity of freight
was stored. The fire department soon got
to work, but as the wind was blowing at the
rate of so miles an hour it was pOWerleSs to
stay the flames. The fire spread with great
rapidity, immense sparks being carried III
every direction by the strong gale OF wind.
which continued until dark. The ware
hous was about one hundred feet long. and
was about seventy-tive feet wide, and was
valued at about So, SOC. The fire next spread
up Water street, destroying nearly all
the houses and stores on both
sides OF that thOroughfare. 1t next took in
its course Main street, the principal business
portion Of the town, destroying most of the
buildings on both sides of the street
Located on Main street is the freight ware
house of the Atlantic coast line of railroad,
and also the Office of the president of the
line, that of the
GENERAL PASSENGER AGENT,
general manager, general superintendent.
general freight agent, treasurer auditor
general engineers and telegraph offices. all
of which are in the same building. This
building, together with the warehouses. was
consumed with nearly all of the contents.
There was of the Western Union telegram
office on Main street were burned in two.
and in order TO keep up their connection a
force of hands is now at work two miles
outside of the town putting in temporary
Office for connection north. AT O'clock
this afternoon GoldSboro, town on the
Wilmington 81 Weldon railroad, eighty-four
miles south of Wilmington, was appealed to
for help at $50 p. IN. A special train
with all the fire apparatus of the town, was
sent to the scene of cOnhagration. At s
o'clock tonight the fire is still burning, but
is believed to be under control. 1t is i'm
posS. BILE to estimate the loss or give
the names of the losers, but the
.oss cannot be less than S1,5OO, OOO
May Forever Remain There.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, Feb. 21.-The
officers of the Susquehanna Coal company
are very much afraid that the men consti-
suting the rescuing party at Slope No.
will, within the next twenty-fOur hours
quit work. as they have reached very close
to the point of the cavern, where there is
great danger ahead. They have no means
OF escape should another rush OF sand ami
rock come. Should they refuse to work it
is probable that no other men can be found
TO take their places. Therefore the twenty
SIX bodies of the miners who were en-
t0mDed on Dec. Is will forever remain in
the pit.