Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-27
BLAZING PAINT AND OIL
RAILWAY PAINT AND SUPPLY
SHOPS BURNED,

Destructive Fire at the Savannah,
Florida and Western Yards -Three
Coaches and Baggage Car Burned
Tho Estimated Loss S23,0Oo-Sup-
posed Origin of the Fire Burning
Timbers Fail on the FIremen.
The Savannah, Florida and Western
railways paint and oil shop, IN the CON-
pany's yard south OF the foot Of Liberty
street, was burned to the ground last
night. Boss Switchman r. Fl. Freeman
was the first TO discover the flames and
had an alarm turned in from box IS. 1t
was then about 7:35 O'Clock. Engine
Companies l, and responded to the call.
The burning building was south of the
rOundhousa and southeast of the repair
shop, quarter of mile from the depot.
There were six cars in the shop when the
IRE broke out, The employees who first
reached the fire made every effort to save
the coaches and managed to get out a
Pullman sleeper and a passenger car.
THE BURNED BUILDING.
The building Was large one.story
wooden structure 200 feet long, 40 feet
wide and % feet high. A double
track ran into it and the track leading to
of it. Tue frame building and the paint
and oil blazed up rapidly and burned
tercely making an intense, heat. The
sky was lit up 50 that the reflection was
seen long distance.
Those who got to the fire first say that
II seemed 10 have started about a car in
the southwest corner OF the shop. So
herceiy did the lire burn thatIn a few
mInutes every one was driven from the
q at sn ri a cf he no ~.
had 10 be given up. Ali OF the compa-
ny's officials who were in the city hur-
RED to the yard. Although there was
hardly breath OF air stirring sparks
scattered ell around and threatened the
olEer buildings.
THE FIRRMEN AT WORK.
Chief Fernandez mad his men playing
on the burning shop, but il could not be
saved. A bucket brigade was organized
and under the direction OF Superintendent
X. q. Fleming kept the roofs OF the repair
shop aud nelgh60gine buildings wet In
less than an hour the south end of the
paint shop fell IN and the rest OF it soon
followed.
The building was put up two years ago
and was valued at $4,000. Three passen-
ger coaches and baggage car that were
burned were estimated at $4,000
Besides the cars aud the building. $1,000
worth, O; supplies were destroyed. making
the Total loss about $23 900. Everything
was fully covered by insurance in com
panies represented by Mr. Z. 4. ReiTze.
SUPPOSED ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The origin of the IRE is unknown. Dur
ting the afternoon some yorkmen were en-
Eage1 IN burning the paint of OF coach
and it ia supposed that the blaze started
from that. 1t had not been burning long be-
fore something that was believed TO be a
part OF a barrel OF turpentine exploded
with loud report.
/ When the building sank in one Of the
timbers fell among some railway en-
ployes who were at work, and clerk
named Ward was hit on the head by a
piece Of timber and right painfully hurt.
LONG LINES OF HOSE.
The fire engines could not get close to
The shop, and line OF hose was stretched
across the main track. That prevented
trains from passing for some time and the
Jacksonville train was DELAYED.
The wharf track was warped and
twisted all out OF shape, but was repaired
during the night.
President Plant, General Manager II. s.
Halnes, apd Traffic Manager c. p. Owens
are in Cuba.