The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-22
OSWEGO'S BIG FIRE.
Only One Elevator Saved-The Total
Loss S65o,oOo.

Loss S66O,OOO.
OswEGo, N. Y, May 21.-A big 6re last
night practically wiped out 0swego's mills
ing and elevator interest, Only one elevator
is left in the harbor, the northwestern, e,
owned by Gaylord, Downey & Co. The fire
was the hottest and fercest since the fire
that swept the same site in 1858. and the
property destroyed could not be replaced for
S1,000, 900. The fire started at II o'clock in
the Washington mills and elevator. 1t
seemed TO burst out over the whole upper
part of the building at once
and in forty minutes the entire row of six
big elevators we're a mass OF flames leapinR
half way across the river and high into the
air. The only elevator left is on the oppo>
site side OF the river, and was only saved by
most determined efforts. 1t was several
times on fire and nothipg would have saved
the entire western lumber district had it
burned.
The Washington mills, where the fire
started, had an elevator capacity of 100000
bushels, and could turn out 500 900 barrels
or flour day. They were owned by PEN
field, Lyon q Co. The loss on this property
is $l25 900, and there IS insurance OF $50. GOO.
The Columbia mills and elevator were
totally destroyed. They had capacity Of
250,U00 bushels of wheat and 8 900 barrels
of flour per day. 1t was owned by the
Jesse Hoyt estate. 1t was Insured In New
York, aud the amount is not known here.
The merchants elevator was totally de-
stroyed. 1t had capacity Of 25, 900 bush
els. 1t was owned by the D. W. Smith
estate and was to have been transferred to-
day to the New York, Ontario and Western
railroad. 1t was not insured.
The marine elevator was totally de-
stroyed. 1t was owned by Thompson
Kingsford. 1t had a capacity of 250oO0
bushels. In the building was $4,000
bushels of corn, a quantity of barley
and 45. .000 bushels OF malt, the latter owned
by Francis Parret's Sons OF this city and
Philadelphia. The malt was insured for
$45, 600, the corn and barley for $35. 600,
and the building for $40, 600, about half its
value.
The corn exchange elevator, totally de-
stroyed, was of about the same capacity,
and was valued as the others. 1t was
owned by John H. Hankinson, in New
York, and is insured there.
The continental elevator, a total loss,
was not in operation. 1t had a capacity of
300, GOO bushels and was owned by tne es-
tates of W. ?. Erwin and Delos DeWolfe.
a conservative estimate puts the loss on
buildings and machinery at S350,00O. To
be added to this is the loss on the grain and
lumber, which will swell the total to about
S650,0J0. One hundred and fifty thousand
vator was damaged by water. The build
ing was flooded
A BLAZE ON AN ISLAND.
Long Island, in the center of the river,
was piled full of lumber, and despite the
greatest efforts it caught IN a dozen places.
The lumber was owned by E. w. Rathbone
& Co. One steamer was taken from the
| burning elevators and sent to ths fire. This,
with the help Of a bucket brigade and a
| force of men who pulled down piles
and showed the lumber into the river.
| checked what promised for time to be the
| worst fire of the two. About S12, 900 worth
of lumber was destroyed besides docking.
While the elevator fire was at its hight the
heat was fearful and it was impossible to
stand on the wharf on the opposite side OF
the river, 500 feet away. Early during the
conhagration help was asked for from
Syracuse aud Fulton, but owing to some
misunderstanding about trains the Syra-
cuse firemen did not arrive until nearly 3
o'clock, too late to be of assistance.