Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-13
I'd EDITION.
--latest qGlGgHanS 70 The Star.
DESTRUCTIVE FLAMES.
Big Fire in the Mammoth Farwsll Block
in Chicago.
PARNELL COMMISSION REPORT.
The Canal Question at An
napOlis.
PARNELL COMMISSION REPORT.
A BALTIMORE MANS DISGRACE
THE FAREWELL BLOCK BURNS.
The Huge Dry Goods Store q Scene OF
Terrific Fire This Morning.

CHICAGO, Feb. 13.-About 6:30 o'clock this
morning fire originated in the Adams and Mar
ket street corner of the big Farwell block
bounded by Monroe, Market, Adams streets and
the river. and before the flames we're under con-
troll that section of the building was COM
pletely Quilted from the top floor to the bottom.
A first alarm was speedily succeeded by Sec
ond, then third and finally q fourth was
turned in, bringing engines from all parts Of
the city. The fire tug Geyser came to the res
cue and, anchoring at the Adams street bridge,
threw heavy stream upon the blazing struct-
ure.
The fire started in the pressing department
OF Work Brothers, manufacturers Of clothing
and uniforms, on the sixth floor, and spread
from one floor to another with great rapidity.
1t required the greatest exertion on the part Of
the tiremen to prevent the spread Of the flames
throughout the entire block. A fro wall:run-
ming through the block &c feet on Monroe
street and another running parallel with the
river IT'S feet west of Market street saved the
north end Of the building, occupied by j. V.
Farwen j Co. The firms which occupied the
burned end Of the building are Work Bros.
manufacturers Of clothing and uniforms, and
Taylor Brothers. manufacturers of hats and
caps. Mendell Co., dealers in gentlemen's
furnishing goods occupied the basement, but
do not lose anything. Mr.. Work said to 3
United Press reporter that the total loss would
be about $3.50, 600. He thought this amount
was fully covered by insurance.
A later estimate Of the losses at this morn
ing's fire places il at S4S5, 200.
The Farwell block was built in separate
risks, each divided by thick concrete walls The
burned portion is one risk and cost one-ninth
Of the building, or 100000. Had not
900 blaze would have resulted
Embel q Sons, occupying the next section
north OF the burned portion, suffered no loss.
Thirty-two engines. seven chemicals and two
fire boats, Chicago and Geyser, fairly drowned
out the fire. flooding the streets and sewers
The frs was under control by $50 O'Clock. The
fire was started on the sixth floor Of the Work
Bros, in the pressing department, and it is
thought from an overheated steam coil.
THE CAUSE A MYSTERY.
1t is yet a mystery as to how the fire started.
There are NO furnaces, stoves or other device for
heat in the basement except gas. and as this
was burning all night 1t is not thought probable
that was the cause. All the heat is
furnished from the Wholesale establishment Of
j. V. Farwel Co., by means of a pipe run
ming through the fire wall. The fire comes
especially heavy on the firms in the burned
building owing to the coming spring trade. for
which all had been preparing. Hundreds of
orders had been filled, while as many more were
Oh the files. Not less than $500 persons will
Ue turo"u out VI eHpIOymeut.
MEN HURT.
A careful estimate Of the loss, made after the
fire was under control, places the total damage
at $4,000, Of which Mr.. Work loses 1926, 600;
Taylor Bros, ESQ 900, and Farwell & Co., on
the building, 100000. One life will prob
ably be lost and several other fremen
are seriously injured. William Sallander, while
on a 36-foot ladder on the south wall, WAS
knocked from his footing and fell to the stone
pavement below. He struck ON his head and
was picked up unconscious. His skull was frac-
tured and he was internally injured. Jpo. Meyers
fell with the crashing Of the third floor and
was dragged out more dead than alive by his
comrades. 1t is not thought however, that he
is fatally nurt Three other men were cut
about the face, head and hands by flying glass
and particles, but none of them seriously.
THIRTY-Two STEAMERS.
For almost an hour this morning property of
the value of at least s15 900, 600 stood in immi-
nent danger of destruction. That the threat
ened disaster did not eliminate is due
to the prompt and vigorous work of the
fire department. Five minutes to o'clock
mercurial alarm located i'll the sixth story gave
the first intelligence of the blaze to the fire in
surance patrol. Capt. O'Neill, Immediately
upon his arrival sent in a first alarm. Marshal
Mushan perceived that the fire was rapidly
gaining Roadway and threatened the whole
structure. A all" alarm brought to the spot
thirty-two steamers, seven trucks and as many
chemical engines, besides two ire-boats.
UNIQUE WALLS.
J.v. Farwell said the destroyed building was
worth auout 100000. He said his firm had no
apprehension of danger from the fire. II
didn't think the fire could get out of the build
ing in which it first started" said he, "the
fire wall on each side Of the building
separating it from the other stores in the
block are made of concrete and are absolutely
fireproof. These fire walls are unique in Chi
cago architecture. Instead Of the regula-
ton brick, stone or tiling they are
composed of concrete or broken rock
mixed with cement. They were kept in place
when first built by framework, which was
removed after the concrete had hardened The
wall thus made is practically one piece Of
stone"
The fire caused great confusion among the
hundreds OF girls who work in the manufacture
Ing establishments in the vicinity. There were
hundreds of them on their way to work and
many Of them remained in the street, fearful
lest the fire should reach their work shops.