Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-04-24

The biggest and fercest fire New
Workers have witnessed in this genera
ton on the 10th swept the east bank of
the North River clear, from Fifty ninth
Street to what would be Sixty-fifth
Street, if that street ran to the river.
1t destroyed more than a million and
half of property belonging to the New
York Central Railroad and half million
dollars worth of lard, -four and the
like belonging to other persons, notably
n. K. Fairbank, the great Chicago
lard merchant. The flames destroyed
the two big elevators ga" and ''B" Of
building stretching from Fiity-ninth
Street to Sixtieth Street, and occupied
jointly by the Fairbank Lard Refinery
and the Rossiter stores, and wiped out
the dock property of the New York
Central Railroad system from Fifty
ninth to past Sixty-ftth Street. At
least one man was killed in his
headlong flight from the fire at
the first outbreak. A number were
injured jumping from windows of the
burning building, but in the wild terror
of the confagration no account was
kept of them. The police have a rec
ord of the following casualties: Henry
Benning, single, 694 Tenth Avenue,
workman in Fairbanks refinery, killed
by jumping from third-story win
dow; John Johnson, SIT West
Forty-second Street, likewise
workman in Fairbanks, severe
ly injured on the back by
jumping from window; Charles Brown,
SOB West Forty-third Street, severe iniu-
ries about the head from the same
cause; William J. Noble, fireman Of en-
CINE No. 2, Frustrated by the heat while
at work at the foot OF Filty-ninth Street;
Edward FL. Tobin, fireman, likewise
prostr ated by the heat. Rumors were
rife all the evening that number of
workmen had been caught and burned
In the FAIRBANKS refinery, but it has
been thus far impossible to ascertain
the truth of them.
The elevator "a" had scarcely 1OO,OOO
bushels of grain, chiefly oats, at an av-
erage of 40 cents bushe. The two
elevators, with 6 capacity of 100000
bushels, had barely 10000 in them,
worth less than 100000. Elevator "A''
was worth $4,000. 1t was built thir-
teen years ago; "B' was worth $500, 900.
They were of brick to the third story.
"B'' was built three years after "a"
n ld1EO pdlC VI TIC OADGuS6 WIS
in the solid foundation. which may be
saved. The New York Central also
owned the building in which the fire
broke out. It was leased to Fairbanksa
year ago. 1t was six stories high, 20Ox
200, and was of brick. A hundred
thousand dollars may cover the loss up
on that. What the losses are on the
Fairbanks building and Rossiter stores is
conjectural. Putting the formers loss
at $500, 900, Rossiter q Co. lose indi-
vidually little or nothing. The mer-
chant who used the store-rooms had
goods there, chiefly -four, lard. straw
board and a1ch, worth easily $3.50, ZOO.
The individuals insured their goods,
and at least this loss was covered. So
it was said was Fairbanks The rail-
road loss is at least 81, 100000, also COW
cred by insurance, it is said.
Another estimate of the loss in detail
is given below: The Rossiter stores,
contents, 5000, 900; the Wilcox Company
stock, $3.50; elevator "a" 100000; ele-
vator .'B," $4,000; dock cd" ICON
tents), $500, 900; deck "a" s25, 900; the
Wilcox building, 1920, COO; total, So, $780,
600. The loss to property of the New
York Central Company is covered by
insurance in the London and Liverpool
and Globe Company. The Wilcox Com
pany's stock was injured for 100000
Chauncey M. Depew said that ne
New York Central's loss would be about
81, 900, 900, with no insurance to speak of.
While the fire would inconvenience the
there would be no delays in
the conduct of business.