St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-04
uany Squares Of Wooden
Buildings Swept Away Like
So Much Chat.
Hundreds Of Families Left
Homeless by the City's
Greatest Fire.
The Original Blaze Started by
a Cigarette Thrown Among
the Cotton.

sew ORLEANS, April 3.-One of the
most destructive cotton fires ever re-
corded here broke out at 1880 this
morning among some cotton OH the side
walk in front OF the fire-proOf press on
North Front street. The parties who
saw smoke among the bales gave the
alarm Immediately, and few minutes
later the bells rang out 49," The de-
partment responded promptly, but the
wind was so high and the cotton so dry
that it burned like tissue paper. The
flames ran high, and in all incredibly
short time communicated to the press
itself, and were working their way
along the woodwork of the roof. The
Hfremen worked like demons to arrest
the progress of the flames, but their
efforts were unavailing. A repeated
alarm brought more engines to the
scene. Additional pipes were run out.
and
Extra Streams of Water
pumped on the flames, but they had no
effect whatever. The woodwork cracked
and fell to the ground and the bright
flames leaped upward from every part
of the compress. Through the yards
swept the fire, carrying devastation
with it as it went, burning cotton and
wood as if they we're so much paper.
After three repeated alarms, general
alarm brought out all the engines in the
city except two or three. The fire.
proof press had about 10000 bales of
cotton stored in it. This was entirely
consumed. 1t would have been mad
ness for the tiremen to enter the press.
On every side the flames made an i'm
pregnable barrier. The streets were
lined with spectators. The hoarse cries
of the fremen rushing to and fro giving
orders, the frightened cries of women
and by-standers and the shrill whistle
of the engines made up a scene never
to lie forgotten. The police were on
the scene doing whatever was required
of them, but their presence was of little
avail, as the crowd was very decorous,
being compelled to remain at a great
distance from the flames owing to
The Intense Heat.
In half ali hour after the flames
started the fire-proof press was totally
consumed, and the flames had COM
municated TO the upper press. The
destruction here was as great as at the
other press. In marvelOusly short
time the flames had attacked the build
ing from all sides, cutting their way
through the woodwork with wonderful
rapidly. In this press were stored
$4,000 bales of cotton, some of which
was taken out and brought to place of
safety. The major portion Of the staple,
however. was in flames and it was i'm
possible to save it. The fire ate it's way
along the rafterS of the press and down
through the woodwork into the cotton,
which was stored beneath the sheds. 1t
was ouly that cotton stored in the yard
that was saved. 1t required but very
short time with the high wind that was
blowing to destroy this press. The
walls were soon lettering, endangering
the lives of the fremen Several of
them had narrow escapes, and now and
then
A Thrill of Horror
would run through the crowd as they
believed some one in danger, or saw
wall totter and fall. The sight was an
awe-inspring one. For at least two
blocks a sheet of flame shot upward.
The smoke and sparks from the fire
were blowing down into the streets, and
choked and singed the spectators. Sud-
denly small fame was seen to leap
skyward from corner Of the Independ-
ence press. In a second almost the ell
tire square was ablaze, and the flames
formed almost a solid block of fire. In
the yard were stored 10000 bales of cot
ton,and in little time it was consumed.
AT length four rows of charred walls
were all that stood to remind one that a
large building had once occupied the
( site. The place was Quilted, and its
contents, about 10000 bales, were con-
sumed. There was no chance to save
any portion of the cotton, as the work
of destruction was very rapid. For
some time the men worked on these
flames, and when it became apparent
that none of the bales of cotton could
be saved they devoted their attention to
the surrounding structures. Water was
poured through windows and doorways,