The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-09
LOSSES BY FIRE.
Collapse of Louisville Warehouse-M. III.
Wright and j. b. Balmsforth Killed.

Collapse OF q Louisville WarehOuSe-M. III.
Wright and j. b. Balmsforth Killed
LOUISVILLE, Jan. Slate this afternoon,
during heavy snow-storm. tho front and mid
die part of the large four-story warehouse occu-
pied by FL. p Forwood g. Co., Trabue g. Co. and
j. B. Balmsforth e. Co., all cotton and commits
sion 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. Covered by the debris of the
building it burned fercely. The building is
the center of fine block of large wholesale
houses, and it looked, for a time, as if there was
to be a eonfagration, as the fire department was
unable to get at the flames on account of the
wreck. They got to work. however. and
kept the flames confined to the fallen building,
and at o'clock the fire was out The third
foor was stored with cotton. and it was this that
gave way, falling on the second floor which In
turn fell, and then, after tottering moment,
the whole front and middle part of the build
Ing fell outward and blockaded half of the
street
There were eleven persons in the building
when the third floor fell Peter Perkins, por
ter, heard the crash, and gave warning to seven
men on the second floor, who escaped by jumping
from a back window to a shed. Charles
Stamforth. colored porter, gave the alarm on
the first floor. and started for the front door, 1t
is thought he was caught and killed by the fall
Ing walls. NJ FL. Wright the manager of the
place. and j. B. Balmsforth, one of the proprie-
tors were in their Offices on the first floor, and
started for the door. bu. it is believed that thew
are still in the wreck, as they have not been
seen and cannot be found
At 10 o'clock tonight there is scarcely doubt
that Major Wright and Mr.. Balmsforth persisted
IN the wreck. Their bodies have not been recov
ered, hut men are at work removing the debris.
Both were leading men in commercial circles
here. Major Wright was graduate of West
Point. and had charge of the confederate ord
nance works In Georgia during the war He was
about fftysix years old. and leaves wife and
several children, one being son, now at West
Point. Wright was member of the once large
cotton firm of McNiel d Wright Balmsforth
is about thirty-five years old, and belongs to one
of the wealthiest families in the State. He
leaves family
The facts in regard tosthe losses are very
meagre. The loss on the building is estimated
at $25 0OO and is insured. The goods stored in
the warehouse belonged to many parties, and
the total loss is estimated at $4,000; partially
insured. This is the third time the building
this site has been burned During the war it
1t is thought, to get rid of some records. The
city barely escaped conflagrsvion at the time.
1t WAS rebuilt and burned accidentally few
years later
LATER.-Fifty thousand dollars worth of cot
ton belonging to the Louisville Banking Com
pany, Trabue 81 Co and Balmsforth & Co. was
destroyed; insured for 0,000 Bamberger,
Bloom Co.'S loss on dry goods $25 900; in
sured. Loss on peanuts. moses and mis-
cellaneous property belonging to Trabue q Co.
and Balmsforth e. Co., $40. 900; insured The
total loss is $l10, 900; insurance 800, 900.