The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-02-22
DISASTROUS FIRE IN CHICAGO

Portion OF tho New Farweii Biock
Destroyed-Goss, SAYS, 900.
About $50 O'Clock on the morning
OF the 18th inst, FIRE originated in the
Adams and Market street corner oil
the Farwell block, Chicago, ILL.,, and
before the flames were under control
that section OF the building was com.
pletsly Quilted from the top floor to
the bottom. A first alarm was speed.
lily succeeded by q second. then q
third, and finally o ALL alarm was
turned in, bringing engines from all
portions Of the city. The fire tug Gey-
ser came to the rescue, and, anchorina
at tho Adams street bridge, threw a
heavy stream upon the blazing struc-
ture. The fire started in the press
ing department OF Work Bros,
manufacturers OF clothing and uni.
forms, op the sixth floor. and spread
from one floor to another with
great rapidity. IL required the great
est exertion on the part OF the firemen
to prevent the spread Of the flames
throughout the entire block. A fire
wall running through the block SO
feet from 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
". Farwell & Co. The firms which
occupied the burned end OF the build
ing are Work Brothers, mannfactur-
ers OF clothing and uniforms, and
Taylor Brothers, manufacturers OF
hats and CAPS, Mendel & Co., dealers
in gents furnishing goods, occupied
the basement, but do not lose any.
thing. Mr.. Work said to q United
Press reporter that the total loss
would be about $350,000. He
thought this amount was fully cover
ed by insurance.
ONE LIFE LOST.
A careful estimate OF loss made after
the Are was under conCrol places the
total damage at $475, 900, OF which
Mr.. Work loses 1926, 900; Taylor
Bros, $4,000, and Farweil d Co.,
on the building. 100000.
One life will probably be lost, and
several other fremen are seriously in.
jured. VIM. Sallander, while on q
thirty .six.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.
John Meyers fell with the crashing
in OF the third floor and was dragged
out more dead than alive by his com.
rades. 1t ls not thought, however,
that he Is fatally hurt. Three other
men were cut about the face, head and
hands by flying glass and particles,
but none OF them seriously.
1t Is yet q 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, it 10 net thought
probable that it was the cause. All
the heat used 10 furnished from the
wholesale esta 5lishment OF J. V. Far
we'll & Co., by means OF q pipe running
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 oi orders bad
been flied, while as many more were
on the files. Not less than 1000 per-
sons will be thrown out Of employ.
ment. ..
J.V. FarwelI, Jr., said the destroy
ed building was worth about $780,.
900. He said his firm had
no apprehension OF danger from
fire. II did not think the
tira could get out OF the building In
which it first started, said he. "rhe
fire walls on each side OF the building
separating it from the other stores IN
the block are made OF concrete and
are absolutely FIRE proof. These fire
walls are unique in Chicago architect
ure. Instead OF the regulation brick,
stone or tiling they are composed OF
eonnl etc or broken ROCKS mixed with
cement. They were keptin place when
6rst built by frame work, which was
removed after the concrete had hard.
ened. The wall thus made it -prac-
ticalIy one piece Of stone. The fire
caused great confusion among the
hundreds OF girls who work in the
manufacturing establishments In the
vicinity. There were hundreds OF
them on their way to work and many
OF them renamed in the street, lear
ful lest the fire should reach their
workshops.