The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-01-03


Planes.
LONDON, Dec. IA terrific confagra-
ton is raging iii London this afternoon.
The scene of the fire is in Queen Vic
toria and Thames streets, near Black
tiiars bridge. The fire origi-
mated in the building occupied
by c. Davidson q Sons, paper
and paper felt manufacturers
and paper bag makers, at 1l9 Queen
Victoria Street. This building extend
ed back into Upper Thames Street. 1t
was large structure, and was COM
rletelv gutted, as was also that of
Adolph Frank x Co., manufacturers of
pipes and importers of tobacco, at 12l
Queen Victoria Street. From this point
the spread of the conhasration was
rapid and unchecked.
Fourteen fire engines were soon upon
the spot, and the firemen did their ut
most, but with little success. to check
the course of the flames. \ high wind
was blowing, and it materially added to
the fury of the flames while
hndering the fircmen in their
efforts TO save property. Terrible
sheets of flames and clouds OF
hot smoke we're frequently hurled dan
gerously near the struggling fremen,
who met with little or no success in
their battle with the fiery element. The
large wholesale fur manui&ctorv of Re
villon Freres, extending from l27 to al
Queen Victoria Street, was said TO be
doomed shortly after the fire gained
strong headWay.
Following this news was the informa-
ton that a large paper warehouse, a
number of fancy goods stores and the
Gulcher electric light and power com
pany's building was also complete
prey 80 the flames. The fire spread as
rapidly On all sides az if there were no
nremcn or fire engines present. I'M
mcnse crowds OF people gathered on the
bridges over the Thames, and in the
streets running down to the river, where
good view OF the contiagration could
be had.
Old St. Benct's Church, Paul's Wharf
between 225 and 226 Upper Thames
Street, famous Welsh Church, also
caught fire, its blazing steeple forming
one OF thc most striking features Of the
, glanI}y terrible scene. The tiremen
ut one time managed 10 obtain control
OF The flames at this point,
and the cunRa4ration 80 far as
tt. Benet's was concerned, was for a
time arrested. At the hour Of sending
/ this di.patcll-i:3NP p. M.-what would be
! termed in New York four large blocks
of buildings were in flames and burning
steadily. They viii all, TO judge from
present appearances, be gutted by the
flames.
Tie thousands of people who stood
/ about and watched the flames leap from
! buIIding 10 building and block 10 block
| expressed the hope that this disaster
would q! last bring about reform in the
/ cd rCm0dciing upon the plan of the
New York Fire Department. 1t
seems strange to many people,
! in view of the terrible fire
/ of q week or SO ago when
nearly dozen buildings were destroyed
| on Prscd Street, that old-fashioned
/ manual tire engines should still be in
! use in the London fire brigade, while
| the iCW steamers or steam fire en-
! gincs in use seem to be utterly
/ behind the times. As the fire
! progressed it spread to the head,
/ quarters Of the Salvation Army, iilumi.
mating that red-painted ''blood and
/ lire building III most onlnous man
! ner. The salvationists are working like
! beavers in their efforts to place the
/ records and other property of the Army
! III place of safety before it is too late.
AT this hour 4 =. NJ the fire IS rapid.
| ~ spreading in all directions. All tie
! q
! Hill TO i34 Queen Victoria Street are
, g,Itted, smouldering red ruins
with scorched, blackened shells around
them. And all this ruin has beer
done and much more is being
| done, to all appearances unchecked, il
sp!te Of the presence of twenty steam
! fire engines. two fire escapes, and s
! larse number of old manual fire en-
! oiues upon the scene. The latter, how.
ever, might Just as we'll be in the Britst
| museum as operating upon such con
! tlaqration as this.
..:5r. ". the fumes had won anotheI
| victory over the tircmen and st. Benet
! Church was completely destroyed. On
the other hand the lremen, at tha
hour, had managed TO save the Saliva
ton Army's headquarters from de
struction, and it was announced that The
members Of the London fire brigad,
were once more happy and in ful
control of the situation and the ruins
In other words the fire had abou
burned Itself out and the fire depart
| rent, with twenty-niE2 engines on the
spot. was pouring water on mountains o
smol,lering debris.
\ rough estimate of the damage dom
places the amount at 800, ,tOJ or - 800,
900, but this estimate is thought to b.
under the real amount. Two million
dollars. it is said, maI eventually prov,
to be the cost Of the fire.
SEEK LARGER PROFITS.