The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-14
rATAL FLAMES.

A Louisville Building Falls, Takes Fire and
Causes the Death of Two Prominent Citi-
zens-Fire In Oberlin CoIIege-A Mobile
Blaze.
LOUISVILLE, January e-Late yesterday
afternoon. during a snow storm, the front
and middle part of large four story ware
house occupied by Il. P. Farwood & Co.,
Trabue & Co., and j. B. Balmforth & Co.,
all cotton and commission merchants, fell
suddenly, and oVerturning stove started
destructive fire. The building was filed
with cotton, tobacco, molasses and dry
goods in storage, and the flames spread all
over the place instantly, and covered by the
debris Of the building, it burned fercely.
The building is the center of a fine block
OF large wholesale houses, and it looked for
time as if there was to be grand confla-
grafton, as the fire department was unable
to get at the flames on account of the wreck.
1hey soon got to work, however, and kept
the LANES confined TO the fallen building
and at eight o'clock the fire was out The
third floor was stored with cotton and it
was inns that gave way, falling on the sec
ond floor, which in turn fell Then after
tOtterng moment the whole front and
middle part Of the building fell toward and
blockaded half the street. There were
eleven persons in the building when the
third hOOr fell. Peter Perkins, a porter
heard the crash and gave warning to seven
men on the second floor, who escaped by
jumping from back window onto a shed.
Charles StamfOrth, colored porter. gave
the alarm on the first floor and started for
the front door. 1t is thought that he was
caught and killed by the falling walls.
M. ii. Wright, the manager of the place,
and j. u. BaImsfOTth, one of the proprie-
tors, were in their offices on the first floor
and started FOR the door, but it is believed
that they are still in the wreck, as they
have not been seen and can not be found
At ten O'Clock last night there was scarcely
a doubt but that Major Wright and Mr..
BalmsfOrth had persisted in the wreck.
Their bodies have not been recovered. but
men are at work removing the debris Both
were leaders in commercial circles here.
The loss on the building is estimated
at $4,000 and is insured. Fifty
thousand dollars worth of cotton be-
longing to the Louisville Banking Com
pany, Trabue IL Co. and BaImsforth Il Co.
was destroyed. 1t Vas insured for $40
00G. Bamberger. Boon & Co.'S loss on
dry goods is S25, 0C0 but the firm was in
sured. The miscellaneous property of
Trabue IL Co. and BaImsfOrth & Co. was
valued at $50, 900; insured. The total loss
is $40, 600; the insurance sos 600. This is
the third time the building on this site has
been burned. During the war it was a
Government hospital and was destroyed
il is thought, to go get rid of some records.
The city barely escaped a conhagration a.
the time. II was rebuilt and burned acct
dentalIy a few years later.
CLEVELAND, o., January AT 1890
O'Clock this morning fire was discovered in
the third story OF ladies' hall connected
with the college at Oberin, O.. The build
ing is brick structure three stories high.
and is owned by the college. \ man named
Hatch manages il, and accommodates $50
female and 100 male students. The men
board At the hall. while the ladies' lodge
there. The fire rapidly spread. but all
the inmates OF the building es-
capped without injury. There was
great excitement, and the stu
dents rushed from their rooms into the
street, clad simply in their nigh: garments.
The night WIS very cold and it was diff
cult to get water into tie building. Two
steamers are now at work and it is thought
other buildings in the entity will be saved.
The hall is a wreck. The fire at this time
has consumed the two upper floors. The
building IS worth $4,000 including con-
tents and is insured. The fire originated in
the attic. Last night the people on the
upper floors Smel.ed smoke, but a vigorous
search failed 10 locate whence it came.
MOBILE, ALA, January "A fire broke
out yesterday afternoon in the wholesale
grocery house Of T. G. Bush & Co. There
was heavy wind and the department, O'v-
inc to an error in the ALARM went to the
rear of the town before locating the fire
The fire quickly consumed all the store
houses in the block bat one. and Damaged
the store on The opposite side of Michael
street, occupied by Little, WTkers0n 4 Co.,
grOceTS and commission merchants.