The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-04-20
MILLIONS LOST.
A Great Fire at New York Covering
Half Mile and Destroying
Valuable Property.
The Loss Nearly Four Millions, the
New York Central Railroad Being
Sufferer.


NEW YORK, April lq.-The largest and
6ercest fire witnessed here for years swept
the east bank OF North river to-day from
5gth street 10 what would be 65th street II
that street ran TO the river. II destroyed
more than million dollars worth Of prop
erty belonging 10 the New York Central
railroad company, and half million dol
lars worth OF lard. -four and the like be-
longing 10 other persons, notably N. X
Farbank, the great Chicago lard merchant
The flames destroyed two big elevators OF
the Vanderbilt system, big brick building
stretching from seth 10 Goth street,
and occupied jointly by the Fairbank lard
refinery and the Rossitter stores and wiped
out the dock property Of the New York
Central railroad from Fifty-ninth TO past
Sixty. fifth street. Henry Benning,
workman In the Falrbank refinery, was
killed by jumping from third story win
dow. Many others were injured by jump
ing, but In the great confusion attending
the coniiagration the names and extent Of
the injuries OF but very few were obtained
Rumors were rife all evening that a num-
ber of workmen had been caught and
burned In the refinery, but II has been i'm
possible 10 verify them.
OF the Fairbank Refinery. How, nobody
knows. Soaked IN grease, the old build
ing was In flames In an instant The men
at work In every story dropped their tools
and ran 10 save their lives. The staircases
were columns OF flames and the Windows
presented the only means OF escape. Pur-
sued close by the fire, the men flung them
selves out headlong, and how many there
were no one could tell. Many who came
out were picked up and carried away by
their friends. The fire had soon swept
through the length OF the building and shot
over towards the big grain elevators OF the
New York Central railroad.
Between the place where the engines
were stationed and the elevators were
twenty seven railroad tracks which no fire
engine could cross, and next the Union
stockyards, = half mile OF broad enclosure
and pens equally impassable. There was
no way for the fire engine 90 reach the ele-
vat0rs except along Sixtieth street. past
the burning building, and that street, after
two engines had fought their way past,
was blockaded by falling walls. Further
more, near the elevators was only one
small water pipe. Fire boats were sent for
and several OF them soon began work In the
heroic struggle 70 save the elevators, but II
was In vain. The tremendous heat from
across the street dried and warped the
wood work Of the big frame building under
It's CoTIuEuttu lIpu huttt uuu nubIt
time elevator "a" was on fire and burning
hercely.
Soon after the walls .of the RossIter
stores fell, releasing tons and tons of burn
ing merchandise that rolled In blazing
heaps In every direction. This increased
the heat and flames, and the efforts OF the
firemen seemed entirely useless. About
this time the stockyard pens were cleared
out Att o'clock elevator B caught fire,
and the scene had then, In the growing
darkness, q lurid effect which made the
spectacle one Of awful grande1r.
The second elevator was entirely con-
sumed also. At II O'clock to night, when
the fire was gotten under c0ntr |, the half a
mile Of ruins sent out furnace heat. The
estimate losses are as follows: The Rossit-
ter stores, contents. 5000. 600; the Wilcox
company, stock, $3.50. 900; elevator A, $780,
900; elevator B, $3.50, 200; dock ID. contents,
s200, 900; dock A, s35 900; the Wilcox
building, 500. 900; total. ss,355.000. The
loss TO the property Of the New York Cen
trai company Is covered by Insurance. The
Wilcox company's stock was insured for
100000.
At late hour tonight II is said four
men were in the ruins of the Wilcox com
paDy's building,