The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-08-02
Chicago Visited by a Blazs That
Licked Up $500, 900 Worth
Of Property.
It Started Right In the Hoart OF
the Big Lumbar Dis
trict.
A suddsn Change In the Wind Made II
Hot for Fire Engines snd Fire
noAts.

CHICAGO Aug The lumber district o Z
Chicago vas tonight visited By one OF the
moat disastrous Ores Ia its history, and tho
loas will probably foot up between 81. 2O1,-
600 and SlboO.oOO although 10 will bs
iwon,y-fouT hours before the damaqs can
DO estimated wish accuracy. The follow
Ing nrms were entirely cleaned out by
flames; 8, X. Martin Lumber company;
Brown a Richards Lumber COMPANY; WILL
iams d. French company. car builders; Pef-
lee. Lowe a Co., lumber; Shoemaker a
Hiebes Lumber oompan'; John spry Lum-
bef oompsnfj Edward Hinch Lumber COM
pauN Conway a. Co., cedar costs, w. @. Il.
Palmer. cedar Iostsi whitcomb Cedar Post
company; slcmsns a. Halskc, manufactur-
era Of dynamos.
Tho burned district 10 about six squares
from east 10 west. and about thrss from
north 10 south. Tho greater porsisn OF the
district bounded by Blue Island avenue,
Lincoln street. the river and Ashland ave-
nuo was burned over. and forty acres OF
lumber yards are now nothing but smoking
embers. The Martin yards are 1900 feet
long BY 800 feet wide. and the flames orig.
inStsd In exactly tho right spot for q
strong northwest wind, which was blowing
Al the time. 10 carry them through the en-
tire length and breadth Of the yards.
Wind drove the flames 10 iierssly that the
nrst engines which arrived we're helpless.
and call after coll for additional help was
made until over ffty engines an three Are
boah were Al work. Pilss OF lumber. lath
and shingles and cedar posts we're swa l.
lowed mp With appalling rapidity aud for n
time 10 seemed AZ though the finest lumber
district In the city. which reaohes mile 10
The south. would be consnmed. The wind,
hovsve', suddenly changed and bsgsn TO
blow from the south. and with less violence
than before. Tho flames started rapidly
north and burned back 10 liae level with
the starting point.
The sudden change in the direction Of the
flames caught several en- Iins com panies uu-
prepared, and the men were compelled 10
run for their lives. No engines vers
abandoned. but thrss OF them had close
calls. Horses and men narrowly escaped
| death.
Tho hre boat Yossmits Was At work in one
OF the slirs when the direction OF The FIRE
changed, ana tho long tongues which shot
over made IL necessary that she be removed
~ ohtts Gus was uottcu outo VI tnt way
but not bsfors aho had been severely
scorohed In several places. Tho hre boat
GsyEer had nlso a close call, but IAN
through flames which leaped ont over the
slip and escaped unhsrmed. Two OF her
men, John Mccain and Ibomas Fsseling,
wee badly burned while nghtlng tho Gre.
A large "siamsss" hose. which they were
holding. got away from them and knocked
them over the side OF the boat upon a pile
OF burning cedar posts few feet Away.
Their injuries mob fatal.
In addition TO tho nrsmsn injured, tho
following casualties occurred; Otto Raflsr.
fell from lumber and will die; unknown
man. struck on the head by q flying cap
from frs engine. knocked into she river
and drowned.
Al II o'clock the Gre was still burning
iercsiy. with the probability Of blazing for
twelve honts more. Ii is dilioult TO OBJ
tAis an estimate of the losses. bat the fol-
lowing are believed TO b. about correct; y.
X, Martin oomfanN $500. 900; Siemens Il
Halske. 500. 900; Psrlsr. Love a Co.. $li5,.
I 90, Shoemaker n Higbee. Sl25 200; john
spry Lumbsr company. 5oOOi total, 81
| t95,000.