Waco evening news. (Waco, Tex.) 1888-1889, 1889-03-15
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
An Early Morning Blaze and
Heavy Losses.

AN Morly morning 6l6z0 an
Heavy Losses.
This morning at GAO, while peopl
were just rising or engaged in break
fast fire broke out in the cottol
Belt railroad depot and the firemel
responded promptly. The passenge
depot and freight depot Of the Cottol
Belt railroad are in the same build
ing, the freight depot to the soutl
and the passenger depot occupying
the northern end. The fire broke GU
in the freight warehouse, which con
tanned the usual stocks of goods
either received for Waco merchant Il
or piled in the depot awaiting ship
ment to other towns. The origin o,
the fire Is wholly unknown and mere
guess work, It was at all events q
very sudden fire. An eyewitness
who had just arisen, says the fire was
like
AN EXPLOSION.
There was racket inside the depot
and almost instantly the entire build
ing seemed to be q sheet of flame,
There is no doubt that an explosion
occurred in the depot, which was
most likely of giant or other powder
stored in the building, and possibly
of coal oil. The fire was evidently
scattered all over the building in
simultaneously.
FROM A TORCH.
There is another theory of the fire,
and 1t is from an employee of the rail-
road who was there after the fire. It
is that the fire originated outside of
the building and was caught from
one OF the open torches, such as are
used by the car inspector and other
employees. The observations of tho
night telegraph operator who was on
duty at the time deprecate this the
ory, as we'll as that which supposes
an explosion. He was engaged at
his desk at $40 and left 1t to 20 into
the freight room to get some letters
from the letter press. AS he opened
the door the inside of the great build
ing was a mass Of flames, which shot
into the passenger room, and he bare
ly time to get out, loosing some of his
effects in his hurried exit.
ABAD BREAK.
When the fire was first discovered
some one rushed to turn on the alarm
and procuring the key of box l6, which
Is near the depot. made a failure by
holding down the hook in the alarm
box, when he should have drawn it
down and let 1t go. Tho consequence
was that no alarm was given while
The fire was sweeping all before 1t.
The first alarm came from box s, near
The residence of Mr.. Tom Padgitt, on
Eighth and Austin. This led to q |
misrepresentation Of the situation of |
the fire and the engine was not taken
'ut, and when the lacation of the fire |
vas found team had to be sent after |
he engine. The firemen did excel
ent work and saved a large amount |
# property, which would otherwise
rave been destroyed, though unable
o save the depot or the cars.
BUILDINGS Blu RNED.
The large passenger and freight de-
'ot, which was 4Ox12O feet long one
tory, was completely destroyed with
Ill Its contents. including the freight
louse, all the merchandise in transit
nd awaiting shipment, with all the
ppltances used in such buildings.
n the passenger depot all the furni-
ure, books, papers, way bills, tele-
raph instruments and tickets were
destroyed. Three cars
'aded with miscellaneous merchan-
ise and ready for shipment were
landing on the side-track alongside
no depot, and when parties arrived
ne fire had gained such Roadway
nat they could not be moved. These
ere burned with their contents and
ne contents of three loaded cars of
amount to good deal OF
loney. The track to-day Is strewn
18th green coffee, tobacco and other
pods. Some bacon and perhaps
tile Of other goods will be saved in
ne Of the cars in a damaged condi-
on.
Across Mary street are a number Of
of frame and brick used
for boarding houses, lunch
ands and other purposes. One of
lese with small house in the rear
ere destroyed, the next to 1t was in
red, and two buildings of brick
ere partly burned and badly wreck
with water. ft
A BAD Loss AT 90.
Tho h h,rv II |