Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-04-07
BLAZING COTTON.
Eighty Thousand Bales of 1t Go
Up in Smoke in New
Orleans.
Immense Congresses Destroyed
and the Firemen All but
POwerleSs.

New ORLEANS. April +-One of the most
destructive cotton fires ever recorded broke
out at 1880 this morning among some cot
ton on the sidewalk in front OF the fire-proof
compress on North Front street, The
parties who saw smoke among the bales
gave the alarm Immediately. The depart
ment got at work quickly, but the wind was
so high and the cotton so dry that it burned
like tissue paper.
The flames ran high. and in an incred-
IDLY short time communicated TO the COM
press itself and were working their way
along the woodwork Of the rooE. The fire.
men worked like heroes to arrest the prog
ress of The flames, but their efforts were un-
ayailing. A repeated alarm brought more
engines to the scenes. Additional pipes
were run out and extra streams OF water
pumped on the flames, but they had nc e
feet whatever. The woodwork crashed aud
fell to the ground and the bright flames
leaped upward from every part Of the COM
press. Through the yards swept the fire,
carrying devastation with il as it went,
burning cotton and wood as il they were
SO much paper. After three repeated alarms
a general alarm brought out al the engines
in the city except two or three. The fire.
proof compress had about 10000 bales OF
cotton stored in it. THIS was entire con-
sumed. 1t
woCLD HAVE BEEN ADSEs
e. H.. Er..--. - - IL a.
every side the flames made an ~impregnable
barrier. The streets were lined with spec
tators. Hoarse cries of the hremen rush
ing to and fro giving orders, the frightened
cries OF woman and by-standers. and the
shriil whistling of the engines, formed a
picture never to be forgotten. The police
were On the scene doing whatever was re-
quired OF them, but their presence was of
little avail, as the crowd was very decorous,
being cont pellel 10 remain at a great dis
ta0ce from the flames, owing 10 the intense
neat. In half an hour after the flames
started, the fire proof compress was totally
consumed, and the flames had commupi-
Gated to the upper compress. The-destruc-
ton here was as great as at the other CON-
press. In a maTyelously short time the
flames had attacked the building from all
sides, cutting their way through the wood
work with wonderful rapidity. In tins
press was stored 50, 900 bales OF cotton, some
of which was taken out and 10 q place OF
safety. The majo- portion oil the staple,
however, was in flames. and it was impos-
sible to save it.
THE LOSSES.
The district burned over is bounded by
Peters, Front, Thalia and Robin streets,
and the COMPRISES destroyed are as TO-
lows: Fire Proof Pensoze Bros, managers,
South Front street, southwest corner of
Robin: Shippers Boyd & Herrick, propri-
etors, South Peters street, bet Hender-
sol and Robin; Independence cotton yard,
South Peters street; Orleans cotton conn
press, South Peters, between Thalia and
Terpsichore. The total amount of cotton
burned as near as can now be ascertained is
estimated at 5000 bales, held by factors
and commission merchants and covered by
their open policies. Much of this cotton
will be sent TO the pickeries and saved, so
that the total less will probably not exceed
$50 per bale, making a total on cotton of
between 5000. 900 and s.. 800. 900. The loss
Oh COMPRISES and sheds is estimated at
Si5o,QD. 1t is though. that the fire started
from a cigarette which some person threw
snong the cotton.
A careful estimate of the total insurance
on both hres fixes the amount at s $500, 600.