The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-04-08
TWO FIRES IN new ORLEANS
Four Million Dollars Worth Of
Property Destroyed.
Eleven Blocks of Building. Go Up
In Smoke - Started by q
Cigarette.

New ORLEANS, La, April Anew
Orleans was visited yesterday by two
OF the worst fires in the city's history.
Eleven blocks of buildings were de-
stroyed, involving loss OF $4,000, ,0Oo.
Both fires were tho result of careless
ness, and would have been trivial but
for the extreme dryness. which was
the result of long dronth, high
wind and the inadequncy Of the fire
department The latter was reor-
ganized in January from the volunteer
to the paid department system, and
the number of firemen was reduced
about nine-tenths,
The first fire started in pile Of cot
ton in front Of the tire.proof compress
at the corner of Robin and Front
streets. Someone threw lighted
cigarette in the pile. which in few
moments was burning ficrcely. The
flames soon made their way into the
compress building, where l2,5OO bales
OF cotton were stored. Tho air was
soon full Of sparks, which soon com
municated the fire to adjoining build
ings. The Orleans compress, with 25,-
600 bales, was tine first TO go.
While the tircmen were combating
the flames in the Orleans compress the
walls suddenly gave way and Captain
Dupee and Lieutenant Shaw and Pine
man Bordeaux were buried in the
ruins. All were seriously and possibly
fatally injured.
The Independence cotton yards had
been engulfed and the fire covered an
area of five squares The Baldwin ng-
ricultural works and the Louisiana
rice mills, four squares distant,
were ignited by the masses of burning
cotton. which filled the air, but after a
hard fight both buildings were saved
without serious loss,
A panic prevailed in the vicinity o!
the fire which was close to the resi-
dence district, and people living many
blocks distant began fleeing for their
lives. carrying what few belongings
they could gather up in their haste
There We're also destroyed in the
cotton district several minor buildings.
The New Orleans vinegar factory was
destroyed, involving a loss on the
stock of $4,000 4 frame bar room,
No 320 Front street. was razed at
32l South Front street two-story
brick building was destroyed. No 33a
Front street, n three-story brick resi-
dcnce, was damaged considerably, as
was 335 and a37 Front street, build
ings of the same character. three
story brick bar room, No Thalia
street. was damaged considerably
The cotton loss Is estimated at about
o5, 900 bales. This would mean loss
OF about So, 225, 900 in cotton alona.
1t is claimed by some that the fire
was the work Of lhborers who wished
to avenge the purchasing of the presses
by the trust. The fire proof press is
owned by the trust in the name of the
Penrosc Brothers, managers. The Or
leans is also in the trust in the name
OF Adam Borch, manager. The Ship
pers' press is owned by Boyd tS Her
rick. who are not in the trust.
While the tiremcn were engaged in a
hopeless struggle with the cotton fire,
another blaze broke out at the corner
OF Laurel and Third streets, a mile
away. Mrs Valentine tried to start
tiie with coal oil. An explosion fol
lowed, md the house was soon in
flames 1t was reported ut the time
that two children were killed by
the explosion, but investigation failed
TO confirm tho report For half an
hour the fire was small affair. but nc
engines arriving it finally spread to
the surrounding buildings, which were
all wooden cottages, and in two hours
the flames had swept bare an area six
blocks in extent. reaching from Maga-
zine street to Constance crossing In
NIL about lS5 i.a.ises were destroyed.
The loss will approximate $500. 0OO
Although the cotton compresses
were sold to an English syndicate, the
formal transfer had not yet taken
place, consequently the loss will fall
on the old owners The cotton and
the buildings and machinery were fully
insured, mostly foreign companies
Several local companies here are hare
hit, however and it is believed that
two of them will not be able to weather
the storm.
A careful estimate of the total insur.
ance on both fires fixes the amount al
50, 300 900.
The Houses Destroyed.
The following Is a list of the house!
eo'Si " w aS ASAAAy us CuIl uc leuFIleu
Dan Drodericls's butcher shop.
George II. Bovolo, two-story house, oc
cupicd by himself and Dudley Selph
Double cottage occupied by Ed Craig.
one-story frame occupied by Ed Bor
brais as n bakery
Single cottage owned by Mrs. Potter
Young,
Cottage owned by Mrs Lester
Double cottage owned by Mr. Lally, oc
cupicd by Mr.. Holt
Single cottage owned md occupied b,
Mr.. Nestor.
Two-story frame occupied by Mr.. Du
| gage MS butcher shop.
wo single cottages owned by Mr.
| Blacksmith.
| Double cottage owned by Mr.. Roach
Grocery store occupied by Mr. Demitry
| ]. b. Ballard, residence.
| Two-story vacant house.
Mr.. Gels, two-story tenement house.
Mr.. McMcade, double cottage.
Mr. Nigcrs, grocery.
Mr. Stats, residence.
f. r. b Meta. residence
NJ; G Sehenck; frame building occupiee
by John Hortgcller.