The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-07
DISASTROUS FIRE.

Detroit Has Destructive Fire-The Well
Known Seed House of ID. NJ. Ferry
Burned.
DETROIT, MICH, January 2.-Shortly
after nine o'clock yesterday morning smoke
was observed coming from ID. NJ. Ferry &
Co.'s mammoth building on Brush street,
between Croghan and Lafayette streets.
An alarm was quickly turned in, second
and third alarm following in quick success
sion, there being promise of a big conhag-
ration in the heart of the business part of
the city. The fire department turned out
in force and surrounded the burning build
ing with hose. TIE flames had started in
the packing department on the corner Of
Lafayette and Brush streets and soon en-
velOped the whole building, which was a
mere she'll, having one solid wall inside OF
the outer wall. Bravely and intelligently
the fremen kept at work, but all efforts
seemed futile, the flames spreading rapidly
until at one time there seemed possibility
OF the whole district in which the burning
building is situated being destroyed. Build
ingS on the opposite sides of Brush and
Croghan streets caught number OF times,
but the department
MANAGED TO KEEP THE FLAMES
from totally destroying them. Across the
alley from d. NJ. Ferry & Co.'S building, in
the same square, facing on Randolph street.
were Whites Grand Theater and the Wes-
son block, and a smaller building used as a
restaurant. The flames leaped across the
alley and began to eat into the theater.
First the roof caught and soon fell with a
terrible crash, firing the whole interior of
the building after driving away the men,
who had been wording on the Ferry block,
through the windows of the theater. The
crashing of the window glass was the sig
nal for increased fury by the flames, which
seemed to laugh at the efforts of the fire.
men. An immense crowd blocked the
streets in every direction. and at times were
in the way of the department. By ten
O'Clock the Ferry block was a mass
menced to fall. creating some
thing of panic among the throng of idle
spectators. Numerous narrow escapes oc-
CURED among the fremen, who worked
close to the flames, wrapped in repeatedly
soaked but rapidly drying clothes. By
1920 Whites Theater had been consumed
and by eleven O'Clock the fremen were COM
PEELED to turn their attention to saving the
buildings on the opposite side of Randolph
street, although still keeping numerous
streams of water playing on the burning
building. At eleven o'clock the men of
No. Fire Company raised a ladder in
front of the theater to get n better chance
at the flames. Finding that the rapidly adj
vancing fire would prevent any effective
work at that part, the men were descending
the ladder and had about reached the ground
when
SEVERAL FEET OF CORNICE FELL
on the ladder wagon. Captain Richard
Philbert was struck on the head by the
bricks ard instantly killed, and Fireman
White was badly but not fatally injured
Soon after the fire spread to the WesSon
block on the corner of Randolph and
CrOghan streets, and that building was
soon developed in flames. Although the
buildings across CrOghan streets were
threatened and caught fire once or twice the
department managed to keep it within the
square named, and by twelve o'clock it was
fully under control. During the worst of
the fire the wind had been from the south
and the single building on the corner
of Lafayette and Randolph streets
was not seriously injured, but all
the rest of the square was total loss.
1t was prOvidentiaI that the fire occurred
on holiday, as otherwise the loss of life
would have probably been very great. Def
mite figures of the loss can not be given, but
the total will reach not much less than
81, 800, 900. The stock in ID. NJ. Ferry &
Co.'S building is estimated to have been
worth from $1,000, 600 to $4,000 and
their building was valued at $3.50, 900.