Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1896-10-31
A FLAMING NIAGARA.
magnificent Spectacular Scenery at Chi.
csso fire-fw" Huge train Elevators
burned-Twolve Hundred Thousand Dol.
lars Worth of Property DESTROYED In
nm Hour-NHrr0w ErcApe Of Five Brnvs
Fire mon.

cago Flre-rw0 Huge Train Elevator,
burned-Twolve Hundred Thousand Dol
lars Worth OF Property DESTROYED n
an Hour-NArrOw ErcApe Of fivo BRAY,
Firemcn.
CHICAGO, Oct 27-In less than IN
hour at noon yesterday fire destro yet
VI 100000 worth Of property on tn.
north branch OF the Chicago river, In
locality known as Goose Island. The
Pacific grain elevators, A and b, owned
by the Chicago q Pacific Elevator
Co., were completely destroyed and
several frame dwellings ad joining were
swept away in the avalanche Of fame.
There were more than million
bushels OF wheat stored in the two
great elevators. The loss on that il
estimated at 1851, 900; on corn, $34, 800,
and small loss ON oats. The loss Oh
the buildings and machinery is placed
at nearly 100000 Insurance fully
covers the losses.
Supt, Perry said the Gre started in
elevator B, in the south part, and he
believes it was caused by sparks from
passing tug in the river.
No more dangerous spot for big
lire to start could be found In the
city. 1t is a veritable fuel house for
flames. Close to the burned struc.
lures is the Armour elevator, the
biggest in the world; the immense
malting house Of Hale & Curtis, and
the extensive docks of the Crescent
Coal Co. Burning brands from the
cataract of flaming grain and falling
roofs and walls ignited the roof of
the malt house every few minutes,
and dozen leads Of hose were needed
to save the building from destruction.
When the first of the 25 engine COM
panies arrived on the scene water
attack was at once made on the boiler
room, where the fire was reported to
have started, but in few minutes the
firemen were forced by binding steam
and fierce heat to beat hasty retreat.
leaving behind them part of their
hose equipment.
Five firemen of another company,
VINO were fighting the blaze from the
roof Of the elevator office, "a one-story
brick building, had narrow escape
from death. The roof they were on
fell in by the building catching fire
underneath them and they fell with it
before word of warning could be
given. Fortunately the firemen seized
the hose aud the walls projecting
little above the collapsed roof they
hung over the frey furnace until
rescued by their comrades.
A hundred or more freight cars of
the Milwaukee l. st. Paul road were
rescued from beneath the flaming pil-
lars at the peril Of the railroad men
who coupled the cars, and then some
had to bc left. A huge pail of black
smoke was rolled by the wind, and in
It's wake every preparation was made
TO remove valuable and portable prop.
erty if the flames jumped across the
river The heat was intense enough
to blister buildings block distant.
Thousands of spectators gathered
and cheered in wonder and admira.
tion at the grand sight. unique in the
annals of Chicago's fire history. Great
bins containing thousands of bushels
OF dry grain, one above the other,
were eaten gradually away by the
flames. One bin withstood the de.
stroyer longer thar Jl, rat and hung
in the tiery air. One siae
caught fire near the bottom and the
heap of grain, released from its con-
tinement, poured to the ground 100
feet below TO be met by flames in its
descent, the whole forming picture
Of flaming Niagara.