New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-27
MOBILE SWEPTBY DESTRUCTIVE FLAMES
OVER HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN PROPERTY
DESTROYED IN A FEW HOURS.

OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN PROPERTY
DESTROYED IN A FEW HOURS
Mobile, Ala Oct. 26.-Ths city suffered severely
by fire to-day. many buildings, most Of them ware
houses for cotton, being destroyed and property
damaged to the amount Of $3.50, 900. on which
there Is an insurance Of 1925, 700. The fire was
aided by strong northwest wind, which, had 1t
been more northcry would have swept away
most of the town. The losses include the de-
structon of between 1000 and 5000 bales OF
cotton eight warehouses, three cotton compr2sses,
the LARGE cUttonsccl oil nils. the ice factory.
the Mobile fertilizer factory. two large wood
and co yards three Of the river steamerS and a
box factory. There was no loss of life Starting
at II 80 p m, the flames were not under control
before o'clock this afternoon.
fortunate change Of the wind kept the
flames from spreading further through the city.
The fire started in Stewart & Butts's spindle
mill, Just beyond the city limits on the north, and
destroyed that large establishment. The sparks
fell Oh many Of the warehouses within radius
Of half nile to the south, and many fires
broke out simultaneously, the first being in the
cotton on the Mobile and birmingham Railroad
wharf This was at once tumbled Off into the
sllp. and though scorched was saved. Then the
Goodman and Planters warehouses were seen TO
bc in flames.
All this northern part of the town is taken
up with property devoted to the handling and
storage Of cotton, whole blocks being occupied
by warehouses; onc-story brick buildings with
dead walls on all sides. except two which are
nierced with a single gate All arc
rroyefed with slate, but have cOurtyards in
the centre, the sheds being open to the court
Fire once introduced spreads with marvellous
rapidity from bale to bale. Little could oe done
of NampS
smoke intertered greatly with the f1remen, and II
was not until an open space OF quarter OF Q
block was met, at the foot 0i ST. Anth0ny-St., tnat
any success was net with. There the southwark
progress of the fie was stopped after the flames
had swept away five blocks along the river 'front.'
except one building, the Mobile ana Birmingham
passenger station. All the warehouses on ,ne
west side Of Commerce-st. except the Oklona ware
house were burned from Besuregard to stare
ST. The warehouses on both sides OF
Water-st.. between Lipscomb and Adams SITS, ana
nortly on both sides between Adams and Con-
aress sts. were destroyed, and the warehouse on
the northeast corner of Magnolia and Congress
sts. All the wharf property. which was owned
by private parties, along the river front I, Iom
Lipscomb to State-st. was burned. and smaii .an
portion of one of the wharves belonging to the
city, at the foot Of st. Lous-st.
Three Of these, the Ruth the Mary uo Eliza. LIZA.
beth and the Jewel were burned; Two were
out Of commission and Of ntIle value.
The Ruth was worth $4,000 Several coal ana
wood yards on the wharves were destroyed and
considerable freight. There was passenger
train in Commercest. when the fire broke 0ut
and train of freight. all belonging 10 the Sioolie
and Birmingham Railway Company. AL were
saved except five empty freight cars EeNen eve.
ears Of corn belonging TO the MOoue ana Ohlo
Railroad Company, on an adjacent tracK' were
burhed n..,
The principal losers are these stewart q butt
shingle mill $1,000; CooleSs compress aid
Warehouses. owned by e. NJ. Townsend, OF New
York, $40. 900: Taylors Compress ana wareh9use
owned by John T. Taylor 70; w-6ofR
S25, ,OO0 Merchants Press and warehouse. y: D.
Thomas and others. $50, 900; Browns warehouse
owned owned by Barker & Levy selma Ware
YORK. YYorS: Trnwitt Warehouse. owned By, J. T.
TayIoI: Emanuel Warehouse, owned Dy the
Emanuel estate. all valued at about Soe,
These warehouses contained altogether $500 bales
~ cation. aIl DESTROYED, valued at S2Sl 800 ami
SnIIv insnred. The Mobile aud birmingham tenn
norSrv freight depot was burned, entailing loss
Of n6ont 81 900 in freight In Commerce.st
tho J;ulf CITY Oil Mills were destroyed loss, S4I,-
400. The Mobile Phosphate and Chemica! Com
wnv,s warehouse was burned loss about $1,000
The Mobile Ice Manufacturing Companys
factory. at St. Anthony and Commerce SIS,
was the last to burn; value $4,000
The ycjiow Pine Lumber COmpany's loss was
e. GOO in lumber. John ODonnell lost $4,000
SSna John Gal lard SO 500, III IN coa' and wood
The loss Of the Mobile and Bi-mingham Railway
On freight cars Is 80 500; Of tho Mobile and Ohio
On freight cars and contents, $4,000. Outside
nj the cotton insurance thcre u almost $l5e,'
600 on the other pSonsrus