The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-04-04
Cotton Burned Like Tissue Paper at
New. Orleans.
THOUSANDS OF BALES BLAZING.
Four BIocks Of Residences D~estroyed-Ths
Crescent City swept by Raging Flames
Tho Fire DspsrsmsEs Pewsrisss and
Property In Ashes.

" ~ nav ~ -
alarm and tho department responded
quickly, but b wind was so high and
the cotton 20 dry that 1t burned like It's
sue paper.
The flames ran high and In IN almost
incredibly short time had communicated
to the press itself and were working their
way along the woodwork of the roof. Thu
fremen worked hard to check the prog
ress of the flames, but their efforts were
~unavailing. A repeated alarm was sound
ed which brought more engines to the
scene.
Additional pipes were run out and Ok.
ira streams OF water pumped on the
flames, but they had no effect. The
woodwork cracked and fell TO the ground
~ 1t succumbed to the devouring element
and the
Flames Lsapsd Upward
from every part and swept through the
yards, burning cotton and wood ~ II
they were 30 much paper.
After three repested alarms . general
alarm was sent In and all the engines In
tn: city H., except SsI n, 1--WE O OF three s.d we're sSou S.i ie'1
600 bales Of cotton slowed in 1t. This
was entirely consumed.
The fremen could not enter the press
to save b staple for the flames were rag
ing on every side. Crowds OF people
rushed to the scene from every portion OF
the city, but were kept at q distance from
the fire by the police.
In half an hour after the flames had start
Cd the fire proof press was totally con-
sumed and the flames had communicated
to the Shipper press. In Q short time the
flames had attacked this building from
all sides, cutting their way through The
woodwork with wonderful rapidity. In
this press were stored 5000 bsles OF cot.
ton, some OF which was saved. The
major portion Of the staple, however, was
soon In flames.
The Fire Ate Its way
along the 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. It required but q very short
time with the high wind that was blow
ing to destroy this press. The walls soon
looked like charred pillars tottering to
and fro, e~ndangcring the Hives OF remen
Several of the lstter had narrow escapes.
The sight now was awe inspiring. For
q space Of at least two blocks q sheet Of
flames 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 q
small fame was seen to leap skyward
from q corner of the Independence press.
In q second almost the entire square was
ablaEe anI the flames formed almost .
solid block of 1re.
In the yard were stored 10000 bales OF
cotton. This proved excellent fuel for
the flames and In q little time IL was Con-
sumed. At length four rows Of charred
walls were all that stood Of this large
building. The last structure to catch dre
was the Orleans press: 1t was Quilted and
Its contents, consisting Of 10000 bales,
were consumed. There was a
No Chance to Saws
any of the cotton, a. the work Of des-
truction was very rapid. When 1t be-
came apparent that none Of the cotton
could DO saved, the firemen devoted their
attention to the surrounding structures.
Water was poured into windows and
through doorways and everything was
thoroughly wet. This probably avsrted
q number Of other fires, a. sparks were
falling in all directions. The walls OF the
burned presses fell within q snort time Of
each other with q deafening crash and
the streets were strewn with bricks and
other material. The district burned over
10 OOuuQCo ny lOtCIb, IOut, HALLE 0u0
Robin streets. The fire proof press was
m. mayed by Penr0se Bros, and the Or
leans cotton press by Adam Torch. The
Shippers press was owned by Boyd q
Herrick. The cotton burned, estimated
at 1000 bales, was held by factors and
commission merchants and covered by
their open policies. Much OF this cotton
will be sent to the pickcries and saved, 90
that the total loss will probably not ex-
coed SO dollars per bale, making the to-
tai loss on cotton &2,400,o00. The loss on
presses and sheds 10 estimated ct e160,0o0.
1t IL thought the ffrs
started From . CAEarrets
which some person threw down amons
the cotton.
When the walls Of the irs proof press
fell three fireman, Capt. Alfred iDupec
Lieutenant Shaw and Pipeman Bordeaux,
were buried In the debris, but they were
soon extricated. Dupee YVES slightly In
jured, but the-othcr " men were badly
hurt.
While the cotton press fre was raging
an alarm was sent In for q fire In the res
idence portion of the city, boundld ~
Laurel, Annunciation, Second and fAifd
police and 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 directions. Chief Q'Connor
sent several engines 70 the scehet ut be-
fore they could get down 70 active work
q dozen houses were In flames. The heat
was intense and tho
Wind Blew Tongues ~ Flame
across the street. House after house went
down and the efforts of the overworked
fremen seemed in vain.
The flames spread in every direction
owing TO varying winds. The fire swept
across Laurel street with alarming rapid
ity and soon the whole section bounded
by First, Third, Laurel and Magazine
s~treets-four squares-was ablaxe. The
wooden buildings were devourcd &C II
they were 90 much chan. Magazine street
stayed the march Of the flames westward
and acted - q barrier on the south.
Every building In the four squares men
toned, except four, was destroyed. Most
OF the houses were small but sone very
handsome housss On Magazine street were
consumed. Hundxeds Of people have been
left homeless and In many esses nothing
IVES saved from the burning b~uildings.
The scene presented was one OF desola-
sion. The loses BY thts IRE are estimated