Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-28
FIRE AT MOBILE.
Over Twenty Squares of Prop
erty Destroyed.
Loss Estimated at $75O,OoO;
Insurance 100000.

Thousands of Gales OF Cotton. Eight
/ Ware Houses, Three Cotton comps sss,ess
oil sTiiis, several Factories and Thra
Steamboats, Included III the Property
Consumed.
MOBILE, Ala, Oct 2S.-One of the
most disastrous contlagrations ever wit
messed in this ely egan sunday haut
$3.50 O'Clock, and owing to rhe strong
northwest wind prevailing was not
checked until o'clock IN the afternoon,
and only then after a favorable change
in the wind.
The PROPERTY Dcstroyel.
The scene Of the fire was in the ex-
treme northern end OF the city, and iu-
cludes the destruction OF between 1000
and 5000 boales OF cotton, eight ware
houses, three cotton cOmpresses. the
large cotton seed oil mills, the big ice
factory, the Mobile fertilizer factory,
two wood and coal yards, three Of the
river steamboats, and a box factory.
There was no loss of life, although
many of the firemen were overcome
with heat and smoke, and many mar
row escapes from falling walls oc-
Cured.
Details of tie Wire.
The fire originated in pile Of shay
ings at Stewart 4 Butts single mill at
One Mile creek, aud soon communicated
to the mill, which was quickly swept
away, owing to the strong wind. The
ware house of shingles, Belonging TO
the same firm, was saved through the
firemen's efforts. Fhe flames swept
southwark toward the oil house of the
Standard Oil company, but this was
saved and prevented greater loss, as the
Mobile and Ohio .ght depot was near
Goodman ware house caught from the
sparks and soon went up i'll flames,
with its AGO bales of cotton
The high wind continued, car
rying the flames southwest TO
Browns ware house, in which was
stored 5000 bales OF cotton, al Of which
was consumed. From there the fro
was communicated to the Selma ware
house, in which was stored l,2J0 bales,
which was also swept away, the horses
being the only thing saved from the
ware house. The Taylor press, adjoin-
ing, then caught and burned. 1t was
unused at the time and had no cotton
stored in it. TrueUt's ware house with
its contents. 400 bales Of cotton, was
the next TO go. none OF it being saved.
Beers ware house. adjoining, caught
on fire, but was pat out with partial
loss No cotton was in it lt the time.
While the ware houses were burning
il was discovered that the Mobile and
Montgomery depot wharf was ON fire,
and it soon went. AT the same time
fire was discovered in the cotton seed
oil mills, having caught from sparks
from the cotton fire, and soon this
large property was wrapped in flames
aud destroyed, burning with rapldlty
and tierceness, famed by the breeze,
and communicating to the Merchants
ware house, with its compress, not IN
use at present, and used as a depot for
the Mobile and Birmingham railroad.
In this were forty bales of cotton and a
quantity of freight Of the Mobile and
birmingham road. The cotton was
the only thing III and about the build
ing saved, and this was slightly dam
aged The Mobile fertilizer mauufac-
tory, M. Hudson, manager, was the
next to 90 in the general contiagration
that was sweeping unchecked, and
which human aid was powerless TO
save. so strong aud fierce were he
flames
Fire next broke out in the ware house
on the wharf of the cotton seed mills,
200 feet long, and stored to the roof with
cotton seed. which burned rapidly. set
ting fire TO the wharf on the south,
where there was a wood yard of John
sons at the wharf, Along here were
tied up the river steamboats, Ruth, Mary
Elizabeth and Jewel. but so fast did the
fire travel that before they could be
moved their light work caught, and IN
the hot ire ABOUT them they We're
burned to the waters edge. The flames
then leaped over on Commerce street,
over Congress avenue and vacant lot
to Cooley cotton compress, one OF the
most modern presses, and owned by the
Townsend estate which, together with
the Emanuel estate and C0oleys ware
house, with their contents Of h000 bales
of cotton, went mp in the fierce flames.
johnson Brothers wood yard, in the
rear with large quantity OF wood and
coal and 90 900 oak slaves were the
next to 90, and in turn, communicating
the flames to the Mobile ice factory of
Gage & LYONS. and from this to the
Gulf CITY W 3od aud Coal companys
ward ut the foot Of st. Anthony street.
Here sixty y-One bales of cotton, on the
wharf. lett there at 10 o'clock by the
steamboat !.innie Lee, were burned.
At the foot of ST. Anthony street the
fire, which had swept four squares on
Commerce street. from Beauregard,
leaving standing only on the east ide
the Mobile and Montgomery railr, ad
general offices and headquarters, aud
which had ragged for five hours, found
rest.
Fortunately the wind changed, and
gave the now almost exhausted iiremen,
who had not ceased their efforts for
five hours, an opportunity to return to
the ware houses and to save the con-
tents.
Escaped.
In its course the flames had spared
Magnolia ware house. with 1000 bales,
Calhoun's. with 200, and Facors press,
with 1000 bales Of cotton. The cotton
exchange report of Saturday gave the
amount of Gotten on hand N Mobile on
Saturday as 1870 bales
4 second tirc.
The alarm for the fire at Stewart &
Butts mill had scarcely come IN when
second alarm sounded for the burning
Of the resiJ Jence Of Mosely r. Tucker,
on Daurhin street, near Broad, which
/ was DESTROYED. only small quantity OF
1 furniture Icing saved The residence
adjoining it. belonging to Mrs. Ed;
/ Harrington, caught from fuckers and
was also destroyed.
Great Excitement.
The two alarms being followed by a
general alarm. caused the greatest ex-
/ citement anaeng All GLASSES. and. IN their
excitement, people rushed from one fire
! ~ the other. SOM the report was spread
+ lhat the entire business portion or the
I CITY was IN danger, and thousands OF
! men. women and children rushed to the
i scene. NJ one felt safe, even in the