Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1889-05-02
AzALr-M11n OF RUINS.

HALr-MILH OF RUINS.
New YoaK, April l9.-The largest
aud fiercest fire witnessed here for years
swept the east bank Of the North river
to-day from City ninth to what should be
sixty.iifth street if that street ran to the
river. 1t destroyed more than 81 $780,
900 worth of property belonging to tho
New York Central Railway Company,
and at least 100000 worth of lard,
-four and the like, belonging to other
persons, notably, N. K. Fairbanks, the
great Chicago lard merchant. The
flames destroyed two big elevators Of the
Vanderbilt system. big brick building
stretching from fifty ninth to sixtieth
street, and occupied jointly by Fairbank
As lard refinery and the Rossiter stores,
and wiped out al the dock property Of
the New York Central Railway from
iifty.niuth to past sixty. 9Th street.
Henry Binning, workman in the
FairbaDk refinery, was killed BY jumping
from a third story window. Many
others were injured BY jumping out, but
10 the great confusion attending the con-
iiagration the names and extent Of their
Injuries Of but very few were obtained.
Rumors we're rife all evening that num-
Der Of workmen had been caught and
burned in the refinery, but it has been
impossible to verify them.
The FIRE broke out in the southeast
corner Of the Fairbauk refinery, but how
nobody knows Being soaked in grease,
tho old building was in flames in an in-
slant. The men in every story dropped
their tools and ran to save their lives.
The staircases were columns Of flames ana
the windows presented the only means
Of escape. Pursued closely by the fire
men flung themselves out headlong, and
how many there were nobody could tell
Many who came out were picked up and
carried away BY friends. The fire had
soon swept throughout the length of the
building and shot over toward the big
grain elevators Of the New York Central
Railway. Between the place where the
engines we're stationed aud tho elevators
were twenty Eve railroad tracks, which
no FIRE engine could cross and next we're
ths Union stock yards, half mile Of
broad enclosures and pens equally 'mpas-
.;blc. There was no way for the fire en-
gines to reach the elevators except along
sixtieth street. past the burning buildings
and that street after two engines had
Tough. their way past was blockaded b,
falling walls. Furthermore near th'
elevators there was OILY one small vate'
pipe. Fire boats we're sent for aud sew
eral Of them soon began work in an he
roic struggle to save the elevators, but i
was in vain. The tremendous heat from
across the street dried and warped tn
woodwork Of the big frame buildio!
under its corrugated iron seathing and il
q short time elevator A was on fire an
burning 6ercely.
Soon after the walls Of Rossiter's stor
fell, releasing tons and tons Of burnin
merchandise that rolled in blasting heap
in every direction. This increased III
heat of the flames and the efforts Of tn
fremen seemed entirely useless. Abou
this time the stock yard pens wer
cleared out. AT o'clock elevator
caught FIRE and the scene had then, i
the growing darkaess, lurid effect tbs
made the spectacle Of awful grandue1
The second elevator was entirely col
sumed also. At IL o'clock to nigh
when the FIRE was gotten under coutrc
half mile Of ruins sent out fu; nae
heat. The estimate of the losses is ,
follows:
The Rossiter stores and contents 500
900.
The Wilcox company, s45O,O0O.
Elevator A, 100000.
Elevator B, S750,o00.
Dock D and contents, 100000.
Dock A, $4,000.
The Wilcox building, 100000.
Total, $3,355,0O0.
The loss to the property OF the Ne
York Central Company is covered by ii
surance. The Wilcox company's stoc
was insured for 100000.
A LARoE eMELrDR FOR PORT
LAND