Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-10-29
BIG COTTON FIRE.
Over Million Dollars Lost at Mobile,
Ala.

Over q Million Dollars Lost at MOD1Ie,
At Mobile, Ala, one of the most dis
astrous fires ever witnessed in that city
began about 12:3O o'clock on the 10Th,
in the single mill of Stewart q Butt,
and owing to the strong northwest wind
prevailing was not checked until B
O. clock, and only then after a favorable
change in the wind. The scene Of the fire
was in the extreme northern end of the
city. The flames destroyed about 5000
bales of cotton, eight warehouses, three
cotton congresses, the large cottonseed
oil mills, the big ice factory, the Mobile
fertilizer factory, two large wood and
coal yards, three of the river steamers,
and box factory. There was no loss
of life, although many of the fremen
were overcome with heat and smoke,
and many narrow escapes from falling
walls occurred. The loss is one of the
most serious ever known there, and
can be safely put down at 81, O0O,O 900.
The paid fire department fought man
fully, assisted by many old volunteer
firemen, in the face of smoke and
flame, and kept ten or more steamers
going, fed from the Bienville water
works.
The fire originated in pile Of shay
ings at Stewart q Butts single mill at
One Mil eCteek, and soon communicated
to the mill, which was swept away.
The warehouse of shingles, belonging
to the same firm, was saved through the
firemens efforts. The flames swept
southwark toward the oil-house of the
Standard Oil Company, but this was
saved and prevented greater loss, as the
Mobile & Ohio freight depot was near.
Goodman's warehouse caught fire from
the sparks and soon went up in flames
with it's 400 bales of cotton. The
high wind continued. carrying the
| flames southwest to Browns warehouse,
in which was stored 5000 bales of cot
ton, all of which was burned. From
| there the fire was communicated to the
Selma warehouse, in which was stored
| 1000 bales, which was all swept away,
the horses alone being saved. The
Taylor press adjoining also burned, but
no cotton was stored in it. Beers ware
house adjoining caught fire, but the
blaze was put out, causing only a partial
| loss.
The alarm for the fire at Stewart q
Butts mill had scarcely come in when q
second alarm was sounded for the burn
ing of the residence of Mosely F.
Tucker, on Dauphin Street, near Broad,
which was completely destroyed, only
small quantity of furniture being
saved. The residence adjoining it be-
longing to Mrs. Ed. Harrington, was
also destroyed. The two alarms being
followed by general alarm caused the
greatest excitement among all
classes and people rushed from
one fire to another. Soon the
report was spread that the entire
business portion of the city was in dam
ger, and thousands of men, women and
children rushed to the scene. No one
of the h eit van and wagons draws and all
kinds of vehicles were engaged in car
rying away valuable books and papers.
More than twenty squares were burned,
bounded by Beauregard, Magnolia and
St. Louis streets and the river. The
| loss is now estimated at 500, 1000, with
about $500, 900 insurance. The tracks of
all railroads centering there have been
INSTRUCTED by the debris in the burned
district, and trains are delayed