The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-27
a BIG FIRE AT ROCKFORD.
One Life Lost and 100000 Worth of
Property DESTROYED.

ROCKFORD, Ill, Aug. 26.-The entire
plant of the Union Furniture Company was
wiped out Of existence last night by the
most disastrous fire that has ever occurred in
this vicinity. 1t broke out in the finishing
room, and In three hours the buildings, two
large four-story structures, were in ashes
Not thing was saved. The company will
lose nearly 500, 900, on which there is only
$40 600 insurance. The company was con-
Quoted by Swedish-Americans and all the
stockholders were employed in the works.
The buildings were owned by ex-Mayor
tinker, whose loss is SIS, 900. without iu-
surance.
A FATALITY.
There were a number of accidents, but
the most distressing was the death of Ralph
Emerson, Jr., only son of Ralph Emerson,
president of Emerson, Talcott g. Co., q
manufacturing company, and one Of the
best known citizens in this section of the
state. Young Emerson was on his fathers
building holding hose and protecting the
structure from fire. The hose was pulled,
he lost his balance, fell on the sloppy roof
and then to the ground below, a distance of
thirty feet. He struck ON the
back of his head His neck was
broken and he died instantly.
Ralph, Jr., was educated at an eastern col
lege, was % years old, and most
exemplary young man. man named
Ward had a leg broken, and Fireman
Cavanaugh was rendered unconscious by
the heat.
A WAREHOUSE AND TWO VESSELS BURNED.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. Aug. 26.-The
town of Port Costa on Carwuinez Straits,
which iC 81 fr-uin Df Calffnppfu fu
was to-day the scene of destructive fire,
involving a total loss of about $780,
900. The fire originated in ware
house No. 2, wooden building
| l,5OO feet long, owned by q. W. McNear
&5 Co, and containing about 1000 tons of
| grain. Within two hours tho building and
| It's contents we're a total loss aud the fire
had, in the meantime, communicated TO
the wharves and shipping alongside. The
American wooden ship Armenia and the
| British wooden ship Honowaur, both par
TALLY loaded with wheat, were burned to
| the waters edge
SHIPS CLOSE CALL.
The rigging of the British ship Kenil-
worth caught fire, but before any serious
| damage had occurred to the hull she was
| towed into the stream, aud her hold flooded.
| She had IA cargo of 5000 tons of wheat on
board which viii prove, probably, nearly a
total loss. The only casualty re-
ported is the death of Chinese
cook on board the ship Honowaur,
WHO was drowned by jumping from
the ship. In addition to the warehouse and
wharves, forty freight cars of the Southern
| Pacific Railroad Company, loaded with,
| grein, were burned, upon which there was
no insurance. 1t appeared for a time as
though several Of the adjoining large ware
houses would be burned, but the fire was
confined to one large building.
THE LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
The loss on the wareh )use and its con
tents is placed at $3.50, 900, upon which there
was on estimated total insurance of $l04,-
| 000 The wharves we're valued at 500, ,000
and were insured for $4,000. The Arme-
MIA was built in Bath, Me, and was valued
at $4,000, The Honowaur was built at
st. Johns N. b., and was valued at $50.
! 600. The Armenia had 300 tons of wheat
| valued SS, 400, fully insured. The Homo
waur had 800 tous Of wheat valued at $23,
00O fully insured The Kenlworths cargo
was valued at $4,000, fully insured.
| HALF OF A TOWN BURNED.
| ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 26.-Half Of the
| town of Du no was destroyed by fire to-
day The loss is enormous.