The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-04-04
Very Destructive CondagratiOn in
New Orleans.
FOUR SQUARES OF BUILDINGS
BURNED TO ASHES
Tho Condition of Justice Lamar of
tho United States Supreme Court
Much More Serious That the GEN
eral Public are Aware United
States Minister Reid Arrives at
New York From Paris.
Special to the REcoRD-UsroN.

Special to the RECORD UNION.
NEW ORLEANS, April 3.-One of the
most destructive fires on record broke
out at 1880 this morning among some
cotton on the sidewalk in front OF a fire.
proof cotton press on Front street, where
10000 bales Of cotton were stored. The
Fire Department promptly responded,
but the wind was so high and the cotton
so dry that it burned like tissue paper
The flames ran high, and in an almost in
credible short space of time commune
Gated to the press itself. The firemen
worked like demons to arrest the progress
OF the flames, but their efforts were I'M
awaiting. Through the yards the fire
swept, carrying devastation with it.
After three repeated alarms general
alarm was sent in, and all the engines in
The city, with two or three exceptions,
We're called out. In half an hour after the
flames started, the fire-proof press was
totally consumed with it's contents, and
the flames were communicated to the up-
per press. attacking the building from all
sides with wonderful rapidity. In the
press was stored $4,000 bales of cotton,
some OF which was saved, but the greater
portion was destroyed. 1t required but
very snort time to destroy the press. Sew
eral flremen had narrow escapes from
talllng walls. The sight was an awe
inspiring one.
sheets of fame shot upward. Smoke
and sparks from the fire, blowing down
into the street by the wind, choked and
singed the spectators. Suddenly small
flame was seen to leap skyward from the
corner OF the Independence press. In q
second almost the entire square was
ablaze, and the flames formed an almost
solid block of fire. In the yard were
stored some 10000 bales of cotton, which
were consumed in little time. The
place was Quilted, and the contents, con-
slsting of about 10000 bales, DESTROYED.
AS soon as 1t was apparent that there
was no possibility of saving the burning
structure, the firemen devoted their at
Ientlon TO the surrounding structures.
Every engine on both sides of the river
were then summoned. People living in
the neighborhoOd took fright, and wild
scenes ensued. Houses We're diSmantled
and their contents carried away. House
after house went down, and the efforts of
the flremen seemed in vain in the face OF
overwhelming odds. The flames spread
In every direction, owing to the varying
wind, and soon the section bounded by
First, Third, Laurel and Magazine streets,
four squares, was ablaze, and the wooden
buildings devoured as if they were so
much chatf. Every building in the four
squares mentioned except four were de-
stroyed.
Hundreds of people were left homeless
by the fire, and in many cases nothing
will be saved from the burning buildings.
The scene presented was truly one of
desolation. Nothing remains of the many
handsome buildings embraced in the four
squares but blackened ruins
RI o
S2,o0O,OOO. 1t is believed the buildings
weresmostly insured.