The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-04-04
FIRES
New Orleans Swept by Two
COnfagratiOns.
PEOPLE FLED FOR THEIR LIVES
The Losses Will Aggregate Over Three
Million Dollars.

The First Fire Was in the Cotton Press
Distriot-.It is Supposed $4,000 Bales Of
Cotton Were Destroyed-It is Thought
Some One Threw a Lighted Match on the
Cotton-The Second Connagration Was
Caused by the CareIessness of a woman
in Using Coal Oil Which Exploded.
New ORLEANS, April 4.-This city was
visited by two serious conhagrations yes
terday and property aggregating over
50, 900, 900 destroyed.
The first and most disastrous of the
fires started in the district bounded
by Peters, Front, Thalia and Robins
streets.
A high wind was blowing at the time,
and the flames spread with appalling
rapidity. Building after building was
quickly licked up, until all in the dis
trict mentioned were either in ruins or
very badly damaged.
Among the presses destroyed were the
Fire Proof, Penroxe Brothers, managers;
Shippers, Boyd & Herrick, proprietors;
independence Yard and the Orleans
Cotton Press.
1t is thought that $4,000 bales of
cotton were in the buildings destroyed,
but it is believed that much of this will
be saved. 1t is estimated, however, that
the loss on cotton will be close on to
81, 500 900. The loss on the sheds and
presses is placed at $780, 900,
The fire is believed to have been of
accidental origin, due probably TO the
careless handling of lighted match.
a panic prevailed in the vicinity of the
fire which was close to the residence dis
trict, and people living many blocks dis
tant began fleeing for their lives carry
ing what few belongings they could
gather up in their haste. There were
also destroyed in the cotton district sew
eral minor buildings. The New Orleans
| Vinegar factory was completely de-
stroyed, involving a loss on the stock of
$4,000. A frame barro ON, No 329
! Front street, was rased. At 32l South
! Front street, a two-story brick building
was entirely destroyed. No. 333 Front
street, "a TWO 7yu@y brick residence, was
damaged considerably, as was 355 and
! 837 Front street, buildings of the same
character. a three story brick building,
! No. Thalia street, was damaged con
siderably.
! $65, 900. This would mean loss Of about
/ 81, 225, 900 in cotton alone.
1t is claimed by some that the fire was
the work of laborers who wished to
avenge the purchasing of the press by
the trust. The fire proof press is owned
the trust in the name of Penrose Bros,
managers. The Orleans is also in the
trust in the name of Adam Lorch, man
ager. The shippers press is owned by
Boyd s. Herrck, who are not in the
trust
While the firemen were engaged in q
hopeless struggle with the cotton fire
another blaze broke out at the corner oil
Laurel and Third streets, mile away.
Mrs. Valentine tried to start fire
with coal oil. An explosion followed
and the house was soon in flames. II
was reported at the time that two chill
dren were killed by the explosion, but
! investigation fails to confirm the state
ment.
For half an hour the fire was small
| affair, but no 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 of six blocks in extent, reaching
| from Magazine street to Constance Cross
| ing. In all 1876 houses were destroyed.
The loss will approximate $500, 600. A
| careful estimate of the total insurance
on both fires fixes the amount at
| SO, 800, 900.