The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-04
A MILLION DOLLAR FIRE.
IN a LARGE DRY GOODS STORE CT
CHICAGO.

The Building Entirely Gutted-The
Work of the Firemen Hopeless-All
the Employees Escape Without Injury
Except One Cash Boy The Stock of
tho Firm Estimated at S5OO,OOo,
Covered by Insurance.
CHICAGO, Aug. 3-A fire involving loss
estimated to be at lesst 81, 900, 900, broke
out at Z 80 o'clock this morning in the large
retail dry goods and notion store of Sigel,
Cooper & Co., on the southeast corner of
State aud Adams streets. The blaze started
in the exchange room, on the first floor. and
spread through the inflammable stock with
the greatest rapidity. 1t was but few min
utes after the first alarm was given when
the entire interior was a mass of flames.
WORK OF THE FIREMEN.
Every available piece Of fire apparatus
was called to the scene. Any attempt to
save the building was hopeless, and the fire
department devoted its efforts toward pre-
venting the flames from spreading to the
adjoining buildings. About twenty-five
employees were in the store at the time, bnt
all, so far as known, managed to escape un-
injured, except one cash boy, who was on
the third floor. He started TO come down
by the fire escape, but became confused,
lost his footing and FELL receiving severe in
juries. There were three watchmen in the
building at the time, who have not yet
been accounted for.
FALLING OF THE WALLS.
The building was entirely gutted and the
Adams street wall fell in after the iron in
terror frame work had been softened by the
heat.
The firm carried a stock of $500, 900. The
loss is believed to be fully covered by insur~
ance
The losses are as follows: Sigel, Cooper
& CO., $500,000 on stock and $4,000 on
building; insurance $500, 900. The Leader
Demberg, Gleck & Hsrner. loss by smoke
and water Sl00, 900; covered by insurance.
James H. Walker, dry goods, loss by smoke
and water, $4,000. G. Hennecke & Co.,
crockery and brio a-brac, 10000; insur-
ance $4,000; Costykan &c Rosin, Turk
ish rugs, $4,000; John A. Bryant, piano
agent, S., 600; l. W. Baird. pictures. s., 900;
The Woman's Exchange, 81, 900; Bell, dry
goods and notions, and other minor losses,
$50, ,O00
The most Of the smaller losses are covered
by insurance. The Leader building is
damaged $4,000, covered by insurance; the
Walker building is only slightly damaged.
The damage to the Womans Exchange
building is $4,000; insured.
AN OLD LANDMARK BURNED.
PALMER, MASS, Aug. 3.-The Weeks
house, an old landmark, well-known to
travellers. was discovered to be on fire about
2 o'clock this morning. There were about
twenty five guests and boarders in the
house and they had barely time TO escape in
their night clothing. Rev. Mr.
Williams, q retired Congrega gational minister,
who preached last year at Holland. was
burned to death. His body was found about
9 o'clock, directly in the front entrance
burned beyond recognition, nothing but the
oharred remains remaining. The guests left
their effects with sums of money ranging
from IS TO 5000.
FIRE ON STATEN ISLAND.
New YORK, Aug, 3.-Fire tonight de-
stroyed the big plant of the Richmond
Electric Light, Hea. and Power Company
at st. George, 8. 1. The building was val
ued at 600, 900 aud is a total loss.