Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-07-10
MAKING THU FUR FLY
Flames Damage q Cincinnati Fur
and Cloak House
THE LARGEST HOUSEWIFE COUNTRY
Lsss 8ssinAas~d NJ ol,loo,ee0-hs rsie
WORK of Nun at the Barnisg of
81. Victor. Convent
Near Montreal


fur and cloak house of A. T. Burkhardf
& Co. of this city was destroyed by fire
Wednesday night The establishment,
which was located At Fourth and Elm
streets, was seven stories high, and
was the largest OF the kind
in the United States. The house
was also the most extensive in
the manufacture of fur goods and seal
skins In this country and had large
amount of valuable stock on hand.
The concern did retail as well as a
wholesale business in gcntlemen's hats.
millinery and ladies clcaks. The firm
moved into its present quarters about
year ago and the house was fitted up
in the most magnificent style About
250 employees will be thrown out of
work. The building was the property
of William A. Hooper. banker and
hnancier,. 1t was nearly new and cost
5000, 900. Mr.. Burkhardt had spent
$40, COZ in interior adornment
Soon after the start of the fire in the
lower one of the two cellars the entire
fire department was called out Dense
volumes of binding smoke Mt first
filled the streets, but presently the
flames sped upward through the build
yAg and with incredible rapidity shot
skyward through the roof. lighting up
the city for half mile around. Soon
the walls began TO crumble and the
Guiding with its contents became an
irretrievable loss.
The east frontage on Fourth street of
the Goodman building was occupied by
Henry Geiershofer e. Co, dealers in
clothing and manufactures They esti-
mated their stock at valuation of
over S40o,000 Geireshofer's loss will
not be less than S250.0O0, and they have
that amount Of insurance, so that their
loss will be fully covered. The loss of
the building will not be less than $780,
600, and il Mr.. Burkhardt's estimate of
his stock is correct the loss will reach
81, 100, 900 at least
Sfr. Burkhardt said that he could
only give a rough estimate Of the value
of the stock In the building. and that
he said was, to the best Of his belief,
between $500. 600 and 500. 900. In ad-
dition TO his own immense stock he
stores great quantities of valuable furs
for citizens every summer, and these
furs were ell in the burning building.
The Elm street wall of the building
had gone down and the east wall at
midnight threatened to tumble. Soon
after midnight 1t also leaped from its
dizzy height on to the roof of the Pape
manufacturing company's building. a
thrce-story brick. 1t was an extensive
picture-framing establishment, one of
the oldest in the city.
The front three-quarters Of the build
ing. where the most valuable goods
were kept, was completely ruined The
Pape Manufacturing Company's loss
can hardly be less than 100000. while
the loss to the building is possibly so0.-
O00
The east wall in falling also struck
the five story Steinway piano building
next east of Pape's and knocked the
west wall of that building in. 1t is
hoped that the damage to the Steinways
will be light At 1 o'clock the fire
seemed entirely under control.
HEROIC WORK OF. NUN.
MONTREAL, Can, July 9.-St. Victor's
convent, controlled by the Sisters Of
Providence, at ST. Hilaire, was de-
stroyed by fire early Wednesday morn
ing. and 800 deaf mutes therein had a
narrow escape from an awful death
Shortly before o'clock Sister Margar-
ct France, who was in charge of the
dormitory on the sixth floor, was awak-
ened by stranglipg sensation.
Sp~inc'ng to her feet she was Mortified
to find that the dormitory was a
mass Of flames and was burning fiercely
at one end. Flocking toward her from
every side the nun saw the white-robed
figures of her unfortunate little pupils,
while from other parts of the building
came shrieks of despair from the
sisters, who thus early had dis
covered the FIRE in the upper
fats. bat were powerless to aid the
mutes confined there. Sister Margaret.
seeing that the fire was In posses
sion of the corner of the building in
which the stairways were erected, had
but small hope OF saving her silent
charges, but with heroic bravery she
put wet towel around her head. and,
taking sheets and quilts from the beds.
with her terror-stricken charges she
ran to the windows Of the hall, which
hadAnot yet bean attacked by flames.
She made q rope ladder out of the bed
clothing and with. the unfortu-
nate scholars tied securely To one
end she lowered them To the ground,
| For half an heur she continued this
Grave work. Slowly but terribly sure
the flames crept OF TO the corner in
which she and her charges were con-
| fined The brave sister showed nc
fear. Finally. amid the cheers of the
anxious watchers. the lat of the lac
pupils in the dormitory were let down
in safety. The loss is e.> mated al
| $4,000.
YfRYs ELeEwHEEE.
GRAND HAVEN. Mich. July ga
| fire broke out at ESQ o'clock wednes-
dav evening in the north warehouse
| az the Detroit. Grand Haven & Milwau
! l<ee Railway Company. Thirty box
cars were burned and two passenger
coaches were barely saved. 1as
| warehouse contained so, 600 feet of hard
wood lumber which was unloaded two
weeks ego from the steam barge q. O.
Carpenter and was owned by A. L.
| Hatch. 81 Grand Rapids. Mich. The
origin Of the fire il unknown. The
warehouse was over POO feet long.
NEW YORK. July = Fire broke out
abont ~ o'clock Wednesday in the
| Sixth avenue car stables Al Sixth av-
enue and Forty-thira street Three
alarms were sent ont. bus the ere at l
/ o'clock was under control All the