Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-04-04
A OESOLATE SCENE.
Business Portion of
New Orleans Burned.
FIRE IN COTTON DISTRICT.
High Winds Make Firemen's Labor
Difficult Estimates Upon Losses.

most destructive cotton fires on record
broke out AT 1890 yesterday morning
among some cotton OH the sidewalk In
front Of the Fireproof press on North
Front street. Parties who saw smoke
issuing from the bales at once gave the
alarm and the department responded
promptly, but the wind was so high and
the cotton so dry that IL burned like tissue
paper. The flames ran high and in .au
almost incredibly short time had commu-
nicated to the press itself and were work.
ing their way along the woodwork Of the
roof.
The woodwork cracked aud fell to the
ground as it succumbed to the devourins
element and the flames leaDed upward
from every part and swept through the
yards, burning cotton and wood as IL they
were 50 much paper. The Fireproof press
had
About 1000 Bales of Cotton
stored in IT, This was entirely consumed.
Ia half an hour after the flames had
started the Fireproof Was totally con
sumed and the flames had communicated
to the Shipper press. In short time thu
flames had attacked this building from all
sides, cutting their way through the wood
work with wonderful rapidity. In this
press were stored $1,000 bales Of cotton
some OF which was saved. The major por.
ton Of the staple, however, was soon In
flames. The fire ate its way along tn.
rafters Of the press and down through the
woodwork into the cotton stored beneath
the sheds. IL was only the cotton stored
In the yard that was saved. Ii required
but very short time with the high wind
that was blowing to destroy this press
The walls soon looked like charred pillars
totterng to and fro. endangering the
lives Of firemen. Several OF the latter had
narrow escapes.
The sight now was awe-inspiring Foi
space of at least two blocks sheet oi
flame shot upward. The smoke and sparks
from the fire were blown down into the
streets by the wind and choked and
singed the spectators. Suddenly a small
flame was seen to leap skyward from Q
corner Of the Independence press. In o
second almost the entire square was
ablsze, and the flames formed almost q
solid block of fire. In the yard were
stored TO- 600 bales OF cotton. This proved
excellent
Fuel for the Flames,
and in little time il was consumed. A,
length four rows of charred walls were all
that stood Of this large building. The last
structure to catch fire was the Orleans
consisting of $1,000 bales, were consumed.
There was no chance to save any of the
cotton, as the work of destruction was
very rapid.
When it became apparent that none OF
the cotton could be saved the iremen de-
voted their attention TO the surrounding
structures. The walls of the burned
presses fell within short time Of each
other with a deafening crash and the
streets were strewn with bricks and other
material. The Fireproof press was man
aged by Penrose Bros, and the Orleans
cotton press by Adam Lorch. The Ship
pers press was owned by Boyd & Herrick.
The cotton burned, estimated at $1,000
bales, was held by factors and commission
merchants and covered by their open poll
cies. Much of this cotton will be sent to
the pckeries and saved, so that the total
loss will probably not exceed $50 per bale,
making the total loss on cotton 81, 400, 900.
The loss on presses and sheds Is estlma
ted ut Sl50,0O0, 1t Is thought the fire
Started from q Cigarette
which some person threw among the cot
ton. For blocks around the burning
presses the residents moved out their fur
niture for fear that the fire would spread
10 their homes. Men. women aud chill
pieces of furniture or other property
which they wished to save from the
flames. In their fight they would often
throw down their parcels In the street and
the fire thieves would secure them.
When the walls Of the Fireproof press
fell three firemen were buried in the debris,
but they were soon extricated. One was
slightly injured, but the other two men
were badly hurt
While the cotton press fire was raging,
an alarm was sent in for a
Fire In the Residence Portion
Of the city. At the time the fire depart
mcnt, police aud large majority of the
residents OF the burning district were at
the cotton press fire. A gale was blowing
and the flames were famed In all direc-
lions Tie heat was intense and the wind
blew tongues OF flame across the street
The people who lived in the square
bounded by Laurel Magazine, Second and
Third streets. packed up their valuables,
but as the fire refused o he subdued, they
took fright aud wild scene ensued
Houses were diSmantled and their con
tents carried away
House After House Went Down,
aud the efforts OF che overworked fremen
seemed IN vain. Crowds gathered from far
and near, and men and boys pitched ia and
assisted in removing furniture. The
flames spread la every direction owing to
varying winds.
The fire swept across Laurel street with
alarming rapdity and soon the whole sec.
tion bounded by First, Third, Laurel and
Magazine streets - four squares was
ablaze. The wooden buildings were de
vourcd as II they were 40 much chaR.
Magazine street stayed the march OF the
flames westward, and acted as a barrier on
the south, Every building Ina the foui
squares mentioned, except four. was
destroyed Most of the houses were small,
but some very handsome houses on Maaa
zine street were consumed. Hundreds OF
people have been left homeless and In
many cases nothing was saved from the
burning buildings. The scene presented
was one Of desolation. The losses by this
fire are estimated at 10000. IL Is be-
lieyed the buildings are ioostly insured.