Birmingham state herald., 1896-10-27
IMMENSE ELEVATORS BURN
In Less Than an Hour Over Sl ,000 900 Worth
 of t- perty Was Eaten Up.
6 BREMEN ALMOST MIRACULOUS
Hy {, Freight Cars Rescued at Peril O D man Life-Black Smoke Hung
 Ike Huge Pall-Thousands Ju, Wrapped in Wonder.

Chicago, Oct. 26.--In less than one hour at noon today fire destroyed $1,2O0.000 worth of property on the north branch of the Chicago river in lilapidated locality known as Goose island The Pacific grain elevators A and B, owned by the Chicago Pacific Elevator company, were complete ly destroyed, and several frame dwellings adjoining were completely swept away in the avalanche of flames. There were more than 1000,000 bushels of wheat stored in the two great elevators. The loss on that is estimated a; sS6l ,OOO, on corn S34 800, and "a small loss on oats. The loss on the buildings and machinery Is placed at nearly $300,0O0. Insurance fully covers the losses.
 Superintendent Perry said the fire started in elevator B, in the south part, and he believes it as caused by sparks from a passing tug in the river. No em- ploye of the company knows anything more definite about the origin of the de- structlon. No more dangerous spot for a big fire to start could be found in the city. It is a veritable fuel house for flames. Close to the burned structures are the Armour elevator, the biggest In the world; the malting house of Hale 6 Curtis and the extensive docks and sheds of the Crescent Coal company. Burning DfdIluS rom the cdLdfucI or HdHllIS Bliln and falling roofs and walls ignted the roof of the malt house every few minutes, and a dozen loads of hose were needed to save tine building from destruction
 When the first of the twenty-five engine companies arrived on the scene water attack was at once made on the boiler room, where the fire was reported to have started, but in a few minutes the firemen were force by bllnding steam and fierce heat to beat a hasty retreat, leaving be- hind them part of their hose equipment. Five firemen of another company, who were fighting the blaze from the roof of the elevator office, one story brick build ing, had narrow escape from death. The roof they were on fell in, the building catching fire underneath them, and they fell with 1t before a word of warning could be given. Fortunately the firemen seized the hose, and the walls projecting a little above the collapsed roof, they hung over the fiery furnace until rescued by their comrades.
 hundred or more freight cars of the Milwaukee and St. Paul road were res- cued from beneath the flaming pillars at the peril of the railroad men who coupled the cars, and then some had to be left A huge pail of black smoke was rolled by the wind In its wake. Every prepara- tion was made to remove valuables and portable property if the flames jumped across the river. The heat was intense enough to blister buildings block dis tant.
 Thousands of spectators gathered and cheered in wonder and admira tion at the grand sight, unique in the annals of fire history. Great bins, containing thousands of bushels of dry gain, one above another, were eaten gradually away by the flames. One bin wthstood the destroyer longer than the rest, and hung suspended In the fiery air. One side caught fire near the bottom and the heap of grain released from its confinement poured to the ground, hundred feet below, to be met by flames in it's descent, the whole form ing picture of flaming Niagara.