Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-03-27
| CHICAGO'S GREAT FIRE
THR IMMENSE CENTRAL WAREHOUSE
BURNED TO THB GROUND
Tia Total Loss Will Reach Si,50000O-A Fierce
Fight With the Flames Alderman Manniere,
ths Owner Satisfied That The
Fire Was Iucsrdi4ry.

CHICAGO, March 26.-The Grand Cen
tral Warehouse, at Rush and North Water
streets, this city, was burned to the ground
this morning, and the building and con-
tents are a total loss, the aggregate Of
which is now placed at s., 100000.
A singular feature of the affair is that
twice before in a comparatively short time,
the building has been on fire. Two weeks
ago there was slight blaze in the struc-
ture which, though easily extiDguished,
was very suspicious in its circumstances
Alderman Manierre, owner of the build
ing, said to-day that be had no doubt that
the three fires were all Of inoendisry
origin.
The building Was a huge six-story and
basement structure on the north bank of
the river at Rush street, and the fire was
discovered about four o'clock this morn
ing. The blazs originated in the engine
room in the basement, and by the time the
frat engine had arrived had obtained such
hold that eecond alarm was turned in
In very brief space of time the fire had
burned through the building and dock to
the waters etge, the blazs finding ready
food in the piles of furniture and other in
tlammable material with which the great
building was filled. The fire-boat Guyser
played on the structure from the south,
and two dozen engines from the east,
north and west The flames ran down to
the wster's edge, igniting the schooner
Waukesha This was quickly extin-
guished
Soon the flames burst fIon the windows
of the great structure, and rolled up in
huge volumes, Illuminating the entire
North Side. The Galens elevator, but a
short distance TO tine west was ablaze twice,
but both times the fremen put it out A
fourth ard then n general alarm was sound
cd, and the entire department surrounded
ths furnace-like building About 4;30 the
flames flew across the streets, and set fire to
buildings n block away. These small side
blszes ware with difficulty stopped, as O
stiff breeze had sprung up
Several fremen were overcome by the
fierce heat on Rush street, and were car
ried away back on the bridge while their
places were filed by Others. ToTeriDg
flames swept down and licked the build
ings across Kicze street repeatedly
Goods were removed from bouses for near
a block away, and the streets were filled
with the frightened people. When it was
apparent that nothing could be done to
save thu warehouse, the fremen bent their
beat Efforts toward the protection CT the
Gsleua elevator, and at five o'clock, while
the warehouse Wps still blazing furiousy,
and was in fact completely wrecked, the
fremen were satisfied that the GAlena was
out of danger.
The Grand Central was a government
bonded warehouse, and 80 pr cent. of its
contents were teas aud coflees in bond for
the import duty. Their ownership was
widely distributed. Perhaps the heaviest
losers are Fitch, Rowland q Co, of this
city, who had $3.50, 600 worth of teas in
the building. Other Chicago firms who
had properly In the building, but the
amount of whose losses is unknown, are:
G. b. Lathrop & Co, Hillyer q Co, Fa'-
ker & Stern, Wineman. Consnt q Co, Peel
& Co., Robert Jeffrey & Co. and the Union
National Bank. Outside firms which lose
by the fire are. Hyde & Souihworth and
f. S. Conant & Co botn OF Boston; Sieg-
freid & Browndenstein, Sln Franciscoi
Eppers, Smith, Winjman & Co., Carter,
Hawley & Co, Geo. W. Lane " Co. and
W. P. Roome & Co.. all of New York
City. The building was worth $50, ,0OO,
and was insured for $40, 900