The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-27
A MILLloN.DoLLAR FIRE.
Immense Destruction OF Business Prop.
erty IN Chicago.


CmcWo, ILL.,, March % So. The Central
Warehouse, at the corner of Rush and
North Water streets, took fire at about
o'clock this morning and, with its valuable
store Of teas and coilees, was burned To the
ground, cntailing an estimated loss OF be-
tween 81, 10000 and 81, ,600,O 600. The fire
department had very hard task OF IT, but
succeeded In preventing the flames from de.
stroying the great Galcna grain elevator Of
Munger Wheeler X Co., and other buildings
In the ncighborhood. The walls of the
warehouse fell upon the engine of the elo-
vator, crushing II like an egg she'll Alder.
man W. II, Manniero grimly remarked, as
hc looked at the ruins of the warehouse, OF
which he is manager that Il was his tea
party and that everybody was invited.
In point Of fact rs the water from doE.
ems of engine nozzlcs soaked down the
contents OF the building the basement
was soon filled with water and when the
40, 900 cases OF tea began to brow streams OF
tea gushed from the windows and doors
The dock for distance OF 100 feet was
flooded with the nmbercolorcd liquid that
poured like small cataract into the river.
The steam arising from this periumcd the
air blocks away. The building WIS a six
story brick structure which cost when built
In 1872, $4,000. Alderman Mnnniorc il sat.
isfied that the fire was Of inccndiary origin.
because there was nothing In that portion of
the building In which Il originated 10 cause
II, aud because this is the third fire In the
structure within q year which can be- nc
counted for on no other hypothesis. About
~ per cent Of its value aud contents was tea
Ia bond, ~ IL was a Government warehouse.
Besides this, there were few thousand
packages Of coffee aud other miscellaneous
articles. The tea was owned by firms Ia
various large cities In all parts OF the coun-
try, which makes Il extremely difficult to
accurately estimate individual loss, M insur-
ancc was doubtless placed elsewhere IN some
eases. An effort was made 10 ascertain nj
the custom-house the exact value ul the
tea bonded In the warehouse 10y outside
firms Deputy Collector Jewell was seen
about the matter and said that the
custom house books showed that there
was not n pound Of tea In the building, ~
n permit for the removal of the last Of
IL had been issued. II was very evident that
this statement was Incorrect, ~ the olfac-
tories OF all who were In the ncighborhood
would testify. At the store Of Mcssrs Fitch
A Rowland Who are among the heaviest
losers, Il was stated that there were In the
warehouse between 3h,Op aud ln 900 cases Of
tea. The wide discrepancy between the
statement of the deputy collector aud that
of the merchant has not been ncconcilcd.
The following losses are known. Katherine
Dckny bronson, ON building $4,000, insur-
ance s30,O0H W. II. Mannierc, Chioigo, loss
tso, ,00O Insurance $1,000, Fitch a Rowland,
| Chicago, loss tl0'-ro ipsured til2. 500 e.
| y. Lnihrop loss sl300nn INSURED s0O.00o
! Hillycr a Co.. Chicago. loss S7GO0, In
| surtucc so OHi Robert JclIsry a Co gtia.
| 60 los. tis1,OO0 insured SiIaO0O Tho f0l.
lowing are estimated losses: Falkcr 4 Stern,
Chicago, 5000 Wincman Connnt 4 Co..
Boston, 5000. W. r. pcil & Co. Indian.
apols, sbO0O; Union National Bank, Chi.
cago, $1,000 Hyde a southworih, boston.
tS,OO0. y. \. Connnt a Co.. Boston. gtOO0.
Sicgiricd a Bromcnsicin, San Fmncisco,
Sii,0o0 Carter, llawlcy 4 Co, New York.
$1,000. Alhasdinc 4 Co., New York. Sii 900.
George W. Lane a Co., New York, t7,OOi.
W. l.. Roomc a Co, New York, Sl,u1O.
These are also probably we'll insured.