Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-11-01
A Big BLAZE In COTTON.
Congresses, Warehouses and Steam
boats Burned in Mobile, Ala
Cars Destroyed-Losses Nearly Half
Million.


Mobile, Ala, has just suffered severely by
ERE, the buildings consumed being a shingle
mill, three cotton congresses and FIVE cotton
warehouses with $500 bales of cotton. the
Gulf City Oil Mill, the Mobile Ice Factory,
three steamboats,, eleven loaded and five
empty freight cars, two coal and wood yards,
freight depot with small amount OF freight,
aud six wharves. The fire was aided by a
strong northwest wind, but, had it been a
point or two nearer north, pretty much all OF
the town would have gone. The loss is $685.
000 with about $685., 00) insurance.
The FIRE started in Stewart & Butts spindle
mill just beyond the ty limits on the north,
and destroyed that large establishment The
sparks fell in many of the warehouses within
radius OF half mile to the south, and many
fires broke out simultaneously, the first
noticed being among he cotton on the Mobile
and Birmingham Railroad wharf. This was
at once tumbled off into the slip and, though
scorched was saved.
Almost at the same time the Goodman and
Planters warehouses were seen to be on fire.
All this northern part of the town is taken up
with property devoted 10 the handling and
storage of cotton, the whole blocks being
occupied by waTehouses-one-story brick
buildings, with dead walls on all sides except
TWO winch are pleTttu WIN eiugle Eute,
All are covered with slate, but have court
yards in the centre, the sheds being open to
the court. Fire once introduced spreads with
marvellous rapidity from bale TO bale.
There was a rain of sparks from the shingle
mill fire, and this accounts for the breaking
out of the fire in several warehouses at once.
The dense smoke was blowing steadily down
the streets and in the faces of the tiremen,
whO,tried to fight fire in front. Very little
could be done, therefore, to stop the progress
of the flames, and it was not until an open
space of a quarter of u block was met at the
foot of St Anthong street that any success
was met with. There the southwark progress
of the fire was stopped after sweeping away
five blocks along the river front, except one
building-the Mobile and Birmingham Pas.
senger Depot
The warehouses on the west side Of Com
merce street were burned from Reauregard
to State street, four blocks, except the 0ko-
Iona warehouse. The warehouses on Water
street, both SIDES between Lipscomb and
Adams, and partly on both sides between
Adams and CONGRESS were burned; also the
warehouse on the northeast corner Of Mag
nolia and Congress.
All the wharf property which was owned
by private parties along the river front, from
Lipscomb TO State street, was burned, and a
small portion of one of the wharyes belonging
TO the city at the foe: Of ST. Louis street.
Lying in the slips were four steamboats,.
Three of these--the Ruth, the Mary Elizabeth
and the Jewel-were burned. Two were out
of commission, and of little value. The Ruth
was worth 5000. Several coal and wood
yards on the wharves were destroyed, and
sundry freight.
There was passenger train in Commerce
street when the fire broke out and train Of
freight, all belonging to the Mobile and Biz.
mingham Railway Company. All were saved
except five empty freight cars. Eleven cars
of corn belonging to the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad Company were on an adjacent track
and were burned. The losses foot up larger
than at first reported, amounting now to
S6J0 600