The evening world., 1894-08-15
SCENE AT THE BURNING BUILDING.

ed with large buildings full OF infiamma-
BILE stock, four alarms were sent in, call
ing out every battalion in the lower
part of the city.
There are fifty men employed by the
firm, and these were scattered over the
building at their work when the fire
started. Mr.. Sittig, member of the
firm, was in the Office on the ground
floor. He was first aroused to the fact
that there was fire by cries from the
street followed by stampede of the
employees engaged on the upper floor.
Not one of these could be found
who had been on the top floor at. the
time the fire was discovered, and none
Seemed to know i's origin. That floor
Is filled with general groceries, that
burn freely when once ignited.
Mr.. stt.g quickly closed the books in
the safe and ran out. He was soon
Joined by Mr.. Sayre, also OF the firm.
who had been out few moments Both
were dumfounded at the progress Of
the fire.
The front of the fifth floor, where the
fire had apparently started, was fur
mace, while the flames were reaching
along towards the rear and breaking
along the Thomas street side.
Meanwhile a citizen had run TO the cor
ner of Franklin and HUI ison streets and
turned in an alarm. Engine a answered
the first call. and Foreman Farrell at
once sent in a second and third call.
The early efforts of the firemen seemed
embarrassed by a feeble head OF water.
The streams all fell short OF the upper
.,tl
leads Of hose to adjacent buildings
from wnich they directed the greater
part OF L, cir efforts.
A great crowd gathered in Hudson
street, and for time fine pyrotechniC
display was given as sde nan names 0urs' nv
tallest neigh, oring buildings and sent uI
great pillows Of dense, black smoke. Th'
iire was feeding upon 1000 barrels OF su
gar and large store OF butter an%
starch. which gave II plenty of material
When the confusion that attended
the outbreak had been somewhat allayec
1t developed that there were three por
tiers at work in the rear OF the upper fiool
when the hre started. Not one of then
was smoking, and there were no electric
light wires or lighted gas fixtures tC
offsr a plausible theory of the origin OF
Ali that the three men know is tina,
they suddenly discovered the front OF
the floor in blaze, and that they fec
for their lives, carrying the alarm a'
they ran down.
The flames had already been seen by
q clerk for Austin, Nichols g. Co. across
the street, and he yelled to ii. A. Conk
lin, q truckman, who stood in front o
the Williams Building. Conklin glanced
4, up and saw the fire. and 1t was he wht
rushed to the alarm box.
The firm of r. c, Williams a. 60. II
composed OF X. C.. Williams,
grandson OF the Williams who founde,
the house eighty-one years ago; Il. II
Sayre. Frank Sittig and w. l.. Juhrlng
-, They put up the present building eigh
Rears ago, at a cost OF 5000, 900, and carr,
this time about S25OOOO worth o
ock. They have a full line OF insur
|nce in numerous companies.
The fire was confined to the upper moo
And the damage to the building Is conse
quent.y not very great. The Interior o
flooded. and Mr.. Sayre and MIR. Sitti
loss
.e fourth floor was stored with i'm
ported goods. such as preserves, sardinei
French peas. olives and the like: tn
third with cheese. coffee and spices: tn
second with domestic canned goods, Will
the ground moor was used for shippin
II was feared for q time, when tn
fire was AZ its highest. that the Who'll
quarter was IN danger. The deluge tina
the firemen succeeded ct last IN turn
ing into the building. finally cheeks
r@;.ir<,1 ~ F<''~ ~ - A n = y,