The herald., 1896-10-26
A Blaze in a Lawrence Cot
ton Mill
FIVE THOUSAND WORKMEN
Thrown Out Of Employment by the
Mills Destruction
A Chicago Preacher Avoids a Panic in
a Burning Church-Michigan Lum-
Der and Texas Cotton Burned
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
LAWRENCE, Mass, Oct. 25.-The
Washington mills, which form one of
the largest cotton and dressgoods manu-
featuring firms in the city, were badly
damaged by fire which broke out half
an hour before midnight. Every fire
engine in Lawrence was on the grounds
for several hours and it was not until
1880 that the flames were subdued. Mill
No. 4 and the drying room adjoining
where the fire started were practically
gutted, and much of the stock and fin
ished goods in the other mills were dam
aged by water. The blaze was discov-
cred at 11:40 by watchlnan. 1t spread
with great rapidity and at II: 80 a general
alarm called out the entire city depart
ment. The flames were by this time
spreading from the drying room of the
main part of mill No. 4, a structure 800
feet long, adjoining the four other large
mills and much valuable property. The
fire spread from Mill No. to the weave
and dry rooms in the rear and ignited the
river mill on the banks of the canal. The
flames We're checked after hard fight
and the river mill sustained little dam
age. The fire burned IN Mill No. for
several hours and left it in ruins. The
fire started from spontaneous combus-
tion among wool, and at an early hour
this morning the stock In Mill No. was
still burning furiously, but all danger
of the fire spreading was past. 1t is es-
timated the loss to the Washington cor
poration will be $65, 600 and may pos
sibly reach $4,000, fully insured. About
4500 operatives are employed by the plant
when it is running to its full capacity,
and will be thrown out of work.
AVOIDED A PANIC.
CHICAGO, Oct. 25.-By rare presence
of mind the Rev. Dr. James Villa Blake
saved from panic and possible awful re-
suits of fire, which broke out just as
the morning service was beginning at
the Third Unitarian church today and
which destroyed the main part of the
building. When ehpastor took his
place in the pulpit IN attention was
drawn to smoke in the lobby leading to
the Sunday school room. He remained
standing until the organist had ceased
playing and then requested the congre-
6oeAOi ~ ACtliO doiStiy ny thC ASoi Ca
it's. His manner so reassurred those
assembled that panic was averted
The church was entirely destroyed. The
loss is $4,000.
LUMBER DESTROYED.
SAGINAW, Mich, Oct. 25.-Fire broke
out early this evening in the lumber
piles and on the mill plant premises of
the Center Lumber company, at Zilwau-
kee, six miles down the river. 1t spread
into very large conflagration which
destroyed about 5000, 900 feet of lumber
The sawmill and salt works were in i'm
minent danger, but were saved and only
some small buildings were burned. The
fire departments of Saginaw and Bay
City assisted in fighting the flames. The
loss will approach S150,000 and is under
stood to be fairly covered by insurance.
A BIG COTTON FIRE.
GALVESTON, Tex, Oct. 25.-The
most disastrous cotton fire in the history
of Galveston occurred early this morn
ing, resulting in the destruction of 4400
bales and the warehouse in which they
were stored. The origin of the fire is int
known. The warehouse was owned by
w. F. Ladd. Loss on warehouse $25,000.
Loss on cotton s135OO0; loss fully cover
ed by insurance.