Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-01

to the spot. Smoke was seen issuing through
the roof of Gerald Latour's warehouse in
small puffs, and, slowly wreathing them
selves, melting away into the murky atmos-
| phere of winters night. Denser volumes
of smoke were seen issuing from the crevices
of the doors on the basement, while the red
dened glow visible at these points showed
clearly enough that the flames had obtained
firm hold upon the lower portion of the
premises.
The excited crowd, which the policeman
on the beat had much difficulty in keeping
back until the arrival of reinforcements and
the fire engines. had barely time to note
these particulars, when dull heavy sound
as of an explosion fell on their ears, to be
followed at intervals by another, and vet
another. The crowd, fell back, less to give
way to the fremen as they came on the
scene with their engines than to escape the
danger from falling tiles and slates A hole
had been rent in the roof by the last explo-
sion through which immense volumes of
smoke now poured, as from the throat of
burning crater, followed by huge showers of
sparks. In moment the upper rooms were
lurid with flame through the admission of air
from the root, and there was the sound of
shivering glass as the flames burnt more
fercely, and the window panes cracked into
thousand pieces, broken by the burning
heat.
There was no hope of saving the building.
looking to the immense amount of highly
combustible materials stored on the premises,
and the energies of the fire brigades that mad
been brought together on the scene were
directed to minimising the danger which
threatened the adjoining properties. Sud-
denly, when the first excitement was at its
height some one roared out Som the crowd,
Where is Mr.. Latour? Is he in the
building?'
1t vas known that Mr.. Latour often slept
there, and anxiety was naturally felt lest
he should have remained there that night
and been stified by the smoke without op-
portunity to escape. But no one could tell
what had become of Mr. Latour, though one
here and another there among the crowd
we're heard to testify that they had seen a
light burning in Mr.. Latour's sitting room
upstairs not more than two hours ago.
If Mr.. Latour is in the building" cried
one of the firemen, seeking to allay the ex-
citement which the query had aroused, she
. is dead man by this time. No man could
be in that building and live a
The fremen worked hard that night,
strenuously assisted by the eager crowd of
helpers who were permitted to take their
part in diminishing the danger that threat
ened the homes of many of them, but from
the time of the arrival of the engines it was
too clear that the building was doomed, and
that nothing could save it. Happily, the
extension OF the fire was checked but all
danger was not over until the building was
completely gutted from the basement to the
roof, which had fallen in with a crash. fill
ing the air with sparks and dust and smoke,
which drove back crowd and 6remen alike.
Through. the long night the brigade men,
many OF them with scorched' hands and
blackened and blistered faces, continued at
their task, pouring water from the engines
on the smoking ruins and heated walls, un-
til as the sun rose the hotsteam rose in large
volumes and hung over the site where
Gerald Latour's business premises had once
stood, like mimic cloud spreading itself
out to the sky, until broken up by the
breeze it was carried of.
Among the first to arrive next morning
was Joe Gillett, Latour's head warehouse
man. who was followed shortly afterward by
Gerald himself All doubts respecting La
tours safety were set at rest by his visible
appearance in the flesh, and sense of re-
lief was experienced by his neighbors on
palpable evidence being afforded them that
he, at any rate, had not perished in the i'll
fated building.
Nothing could exceed the look of surprise
on Joe Gillett's face when he saw the
smouldering ruins, from which columns of
hot steam were rising, unless it was the look
of blank wonderment and CONSERVATION on
Latour's face. Gerald wrung his hands and
cursed in his anger the malign fate that had
placed an arresting hand on his business en-
terprise. Asked to explain the origin of the
fire he declined to express an opinion.
THAT must be matter for inquiry by the |
proper authorities" he replied
"Was he insured?" q sympathetic neigh
Dor inquired.
yes" with the Universal, {" he answered;
''but far below the value. The loss to me |
is irreparable I am not only heavy loser
from the fire, but, worst Of all, 1t stops my