The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-06

DAb 'AAA LRL tuluh lltlt NOAlu Dt any
danger to the main building, as the fire
would probably be confined to River
street.
THE DEPARTMENT CALLED OUT.
MIR. West ran out of the building, and,
with Mr.. Harry Alexander, of ferst's
Sons X Co, turned in an alarm from box
5, at Bay and Whitaker streets. When
he returned to his Office he met Mr.. Gibbs
coming out with Mr.. c. M. Gibbs carry
ing few valuable papers, all they had
been able to lay hands on before being
forced out by the smoke. They closed the
door OF the safe, however, containing the
most valuable papers, before leaving.
Ihe employees Of the Savannah Gro
Gerry Company knew nothing of the fire
until the Offices began TO fill with smoke.
BeIore they could hardly realize that the
building was on fire they were forced to
nee 20 escape sufOcatiOn. Mr.. J. W.
DAY VS., the cashier, who was at work at
TIE safe, seized the package of insurance
policies and endeavOred to throw the
most valuable account books into the
safe. He managed To close the safe doors,
but was almost sutfocated in making his
escape.
1t was $40 o'clock when the first alarm
was sent in from box s. Another alarm
was turned in from box 50, at the Screven
house and the signal for a general alarm
was also given shortly after.
BAFFLED BY THE SMOKE.
The fremen made a prompt response,
and the whole department was on the
scene in a few minutes after the
alarm went in. The fire had
gotten a good hold, however, and dense
volumes of smoke were pouring from the
doors of the grocery company. The hose
connections were quickly made, and Chief
Puder and his men attempted to carry
the streams into the building, but it was
futile attempt. No man could live in
that dense smoke. aud the firemen were
compelled TO retreat to the space in front
of the building, from which they played
on the walls. If(hey had known it their
work there was worse than wasted.
While the smoke was pouring through
the Bay street doors and windows the
flames were over 100 feet away on the
other side of River street. The shape of
the grocery building was like an immense
funnel, rising on Bay street. arching over
River street and down to the wharf
front
The smoke from the flames among the
heavy groceries in the rear on River
street had no other exit than to pour up
wards through the Bay street front, in
which course it was aided by the wind,
at that time from the northwest. 1t was
the smoke which baftied the fireman and
whipped the fight, and not the flames
Tau AllitA uAlGA hLlON II IL ne llllEllb ia VIC
concentrated all his force on River street
and eXtinguished the flames there in
short, sharp contest, which would have
practically ended the fight but he was
not informed of this until too late.
COLUMN OF FLAME.
1t would have taken the Savannah
river to have quenched the fire after it
had seized upon the whole building
BY 10 O'Clock the entire building of the
Grocery company was ablaze on every.foor
and an immense column of black smoke
visible from every part Of the city w.1
pouring skyward shortly afterward tue
flames burst from the roof making a
grand display for the thousands of peo-
pie who were gathered on Bay street to
witness its work
A high wind from the north
west carried the flames directly
across the roofs of the adjoining
buildings of the Waldburg estate
and towards the city exchange 1t was a
foregone conclusion at 10 30 O'clock in the
minds of the crowd that the tine row of
buildings occupied by Collins, Grayson x
Co., Hull q Peoples, the Ocean Steam
ship Company's Offices on the lower floors
and by CooneY, Eckstein x Co. and L.
Gourdin Young on the upper floor were
doomed to destruction, with a probability
of the city exchange following in their
NhhCs LC lltillo lCullOuGu were VI lillS
opinion also and moved out their books,
papers and accounts as rapidly as possible.
Mayor MCDonough directed the moving
of the city records from the city ex-
change, and they were stored in the Gus
tom house.
THE FIRES NEW HOLD.
Up to this time there had been no doubt
that the Ferst building would be saved
with slight damage. A few minutes later,
| however, a section of the western fire.
wall of the grocery company's building,
which rose a story above the adjoining
| buildings, fell outward, crushing in the
roof Of the Ferst building 1t was most
untimely accident AT the some moment
almost the wind, which had dropped
| for few minutes returned from the
northeast and drove the flames in under
the roof The terst building was not di-
| vided into compartments, and offered a
most favorable opportunity to the flames.
1t was constructed with thin walls and
| light roof. The large stock of infamma-
| BILE material on the top floor was seized
| upon with avidity by the flames, and in
| less time than it takes to describe it the
whole top floor was ablaZe In the face
| OF such a combination of circumstances
| the tremen were pOwerless and could
only pour their feeble streams into the
flames in the hope of holding them in
| their new bounds.
SAVED BY THE WIND.
| The veering of the wind saved the
| Waldburg buildings and perhaps the city
exchange, but sacrificed the Ferst build
! ing.
The members of the firm of Ferst &
! Co, were so well satisfied that their
building would be saved that they had
not thought it worth while to remove
anything except their valuable books
and papers The doors of the building
were thrown open and as many as were
| willing to lend a hand were impressed
into service to remove the goods. Two
or three hundred men and BOYS, white
and black, poured into the building and
| returned laden with boxes and bundles of
every size and description. The rescued
goods were piled upon the sidewalks,
where they were allowed to remain Tor
the time being They were afterwards
removed to the Armour Packing Com
panys warehouse on Bay street.
STOPPED BY THE FLAMES.
The removal of goods did not last long
however. The devOuring flames soon
swept down from the upper floor and
| drove the rescuers from their work.
| Only small portion of the goods on the
ground floor was removed. probably not
over s., 900 worth, if that much, chiefly
! boxes of tobacco and cigars and similar