The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-06-20
SSO,0O0 IN FLAME AND SMOKE
DISASTROUS FIRE LAST NIGHT IN
 THE ENGLISH BUILDING

At the Corner of State and Court Streets
 Origin Unknown-Loss Partly Covered
 by Insurance-The Grilley Company tho
 Heaviest Loser-An Immense Crowd at
 Fight-Well Started Before Discovered.
 At about 9:15 last evening as the crowds were returning from seeing the bicycle parade of the Rovers Wheel club those on State street, between Court and Elm suddenly saw sheet of flame burst from the north end of the roof of the English building at the northwest corner of State and Court streets, occupied by the Grilley Co.,, Russell Bros. and others. Immediately great excitement was aroused and yells of fire rent the air. The street at that time was crowded, and everyone rush ed to the scene of the fire, which was plainly discernible for several blocks on State street in either direction. Within five minutes the entire block on State street, between Court and Elm, was packed with a surging crowd, each one trying to get as close as possible to the English building. Court street also, between State and Orange, was com pletely packed With a curious crowd. At 9;15 still alarm was responded to by the chemical engine. At 9;25 Patrol man John Moore arrived on the scene ,v,I ot i,, olo, f-1,1 how 213, the engine house on Artizan street
 This alarm was followed in few min utes by a second and general alarm. When the engines arrived great diffi- culty was experienced in getting near the building, owing to the great crowds which blocked the streets. In the mean time the flames were spreading on the top floor, and the lurid flames reflected on the Court street temple building, and other surrounding buildings lent a wiered aspect to the scene. As soon as they reached the spot the firemen broke in the entrance door to the stairs at the rear of the building on Court street. A line of hose was soon pulled up the stairs and a stream of water was sent in upon the fiery furnace raging on the top floor of the north wing of the build ing. Between the two wings there is a thick wall with doors opening between the two parts. This partition served as protection to the firemen and enabled them to get In effective work by get ting close to the fire. Within a few minutes after the general alarm was sent in eight engines were playing on the flames, one being stationed on %aI Brunswick; one on State near Elm, one on Court street near the bridge, one on Court street near Olive, one on Union street and one on Elm street. After fighting the flames from the interior of the south wing for short time the fire men finally ran a hose through the archway by the engine room and then bymeans of ladders stream was turn ed in upon the rear of the north wing on the fourth floor. By vigorous work the fire was finally driven from the north wing, but in being eXtinguished in this part was driven or went through into the top floor of the south wing on Court street. In the corner Of this wing next to State and Court streets, was stored some oil and packing boxes and other combustible material. When this was reached the flames blazed furi- ouslv, and in few moments burst through the windows on the Courst street side.
 A ladder was already in position on this side, and line of hose was at once trained in at the windows and the flames were driven back, but could not be extinguished, owing to the extreme ly combustible nature of the materials stored there. In the meantime the main efforts of the firemen were confin- ed to keeping the flames on the top floor, and in this they were very suc- cessful. Torrents of water were pour ing down the stairs and out of the windows, the water on some Of the floors being over two feet deep. By 12 o'clock the entire upper floor had been either entirely gutted or was fiercely burning in some parts, and it was seen that all the business interests located there would be an entire loss. At about il o'clock the flames burst through the roof of the south wing.
 Shortly after 12 o'clock the flames were completely under control and were soon subdued so that there were only
 
 spits of fire in the cornice. By this time the entire roof had fallen in, that part of the roof over the northwest cor ner having caved in nearly to the floor. Although the fire was entirely under control shortly after midnight the en- zines were kept at work until nearly morning, so that no smoldering wood work would be left. The addition built on Court street since the main build ing was erected was untouched by the flames, as was also every part of the main building except the top floor, which was completely gutted. On this floor was located the most valuable part of the plant of the Grilley com pany, this plant including some very valuable machinery. The loss to the Grilley company will be about S60,O00. s this being partly covered by an insur- ance of about S40,000 carried by George X R. Burton, V. F. McNeil H. c. Warren < and the Security company. The dam E age to the building was estimated early l this morning by Benjamin F. English, who has charge of the building, at about S6,000, but this is a very COnserv- ative estimate and after investigation ! the loss will undoubtedly be found to be considerably greater. The building is insured for 5000 and the machinery which includes the engine for $3,00O, both amounts being carried by C. S. |iThOmpson. About one-half of the third