The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-13

the sparks in every direction and burning
brands fell in the Savannah, Florida and
Western yards. Houses blocks away caught
fire several times and only close watching
prevented an all-around conhagration.
CASTOR STREET HOUSES sCORCHED.
Collector T. F. Johnson's house on CASTOR
street, a block away from the fire, wes
badly scorched aud at one time was SO hot
that the water thrown against it turned TO
| steam as fast as it struck the weatherboard-
| fog. Mr.. William Bohan's houses on the
same street went through similar
experience and the blackened walls
bear evidence OF the narrow
escape they had. The notwithstanding OF
Mr.. RYan's house diagonally across Haber-
sham street from the Mcmillan houses was
badly oharred.
The scenes around the fire, occasioned by
people moving their furniture from the
threatened houses, was one OF indescribable
confusion. Things were thrown around
with the utmost recklessness and many
valuable articles we're smashed TO pieces by
people in their excitement. Wagons, trucks
and carts were pressed into service TO re-
move furniture to places Of safety and
probably some of the articles carried off
in this manner will never be seen
again, as people in many instances gave no
other directions to drivers. only to get the
things out of the way. The vacant lots in
the neighborhood were heaped up in every
direction with every imaginable sort of
household articles.
FIRKMEN's WORK.
The fire department did splendid work in
checking the eonhagration where it did.
When Chief Puder reached the scene the
fire was burning furiously in the Mcmillan
houses, and seeing that he had hard fight
ahead he called out every apparatus in the
city.
The most important disadvantage which
confronted the firemen was the scarcity of
water. With four engines pumping water
from the same main the force of the
water was soon made very weak.
Il could not be got fast enough
for the powerful engines and in con-
sequence some of the streams were not
able TO do much effective work when the
fremen had an opportunity to do it.
When the fire was at its hight the
heat was extremely intense, and the fire.
men had to light the flames from behind
boards, and even then had to keep soaking
their faces In water. They were enveloped
in smoke. cinders and flying debris, and it
is a matter of wonder that some of the men
were not injured Chief Puder received
painful blow in the face by a powerful
stream of water from one Of the engines
which came near running his left eye.
AN ENGINE BROKE DOWN.
Engine No. 8 blew her piston rod out at
one Of the most critical junctures of the
conf1agration, and was rendered useless.
Considering all these disad vantages and
the high wind which was tanning the
flames. the work of the department in
checking the fire at Price street was good
work
The fire stopped the running of the Ha-
bersham street horse cars and the electric
line on Price street. Supt. Mcfarland had
the current turned Off at once as soon as he
saw the spread of the fire, and even IL the
wires had fallen there would have been no
danger.
During the progress Of the fire there was
a great deal Of stealing done by negro men
and boys One negro boy went into a
burning house on the south side of Hunting
don street and abstracted a gold watch
from a room. A young white man saw the
thief and immediately gave chase. After
an exciting run, in which a good many
others took part, the negro escaped with
his booty.
Some of the negroes around the fire even
went so far in their stealing operations as
to take off bedsteads and wardrobes.
Several were caught in the act by the
owners. but the rascals managed to escape
after dropping the proceeds of their various
raids.
THE ONLY CASUALTY.
A young man who was assisting in carry
ing out furniture in Wiliamson's boarding
house narrowly escaped being burned. He
was in the front parlor and was trying to
get up the carpet when the entire front
wall OF the house fell in. The young man
was buried under the debris and yelled
loudly. Others in the house heard his
frantic cries and went TO his assistance, and
after running a dangerous risk from falling
timber and crumbling roof they rescued
him.
His hair was sinRed badly and he was
covered entirely over with black SCOT, but
sustained no injuries beyond a few bruises.
The origin Of the fire is unknown. AS 1T
started in the workshop. the only theory
that can be advanced is that it was started
either from the careless dropping of a
lighted cigar stump by some of the carpen-
ters before they left or else was the work of
an iucendiary.
Mayor MoDonough was at the fire shortly
after the sounding Of the alarm and worked
as hard as any Of the firemen to stop the
progress Of the flames. He pulled hose ana
Lent his hand at every available opportun-
ity. He never left the scene until the fire
had burned itself out.
During the fire Chief Puder's horse ran
away and threw the seat cushion out. Any
one finding it will confer a favor on the
chief by returning it to headquarters.