The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-11-25
WHERE HUNDREDS OF BUSINESS
BUILDINGS STOOD NOW LAY
HEAPS OF ASHES.
SCORES Of F|REMEN FIGHTING FIRE
While Hundreds of Thousands OF
Excited Spectators Viewed the
Awe-Inspiring scene-At
Late Hour This Morning
the Fire Was still Rag
Ing in Fury.

| "StiouS hres i'll Lonuon history since the
great fire of 1866 broke out in large
block of buildings lying eastward of AL
dersgate street. and between that thor
oughfare and Red Cross street, just af-
ter l o'clock this afternoon. The flames
were famed by strong wind, and were
fed by highly inflammable stocks of
Christmas fancy goods and fimsy dress
materials of all descriptions that filed
every floor of the six-story buildings in
the old street. Consequently the con-
migration spread with surprising repid-
ity and was soon far beyond the posi-
bility of being checked by the few en-.
I gines which were early on the spot. For
four hours and half the flames had
J their own way, and 1t was only after
! more than hundred engines had worked
| an hour that the chief of the fire brigade
! sent out the signal that the fire was I'M
der control.
At II o'clock the fire is still the scene
Of great excitement. Fifty engines are
playing on thesruins. wagons are hurry
ing up coal, and tons of water are pour
| ing into the fire.
thousands Of people are trying to pen
| citrate the Gordon maintained by thou
| sand policemen, reinforcements for whom
were hurried up, when soon after .
O'Clock. an increase in the outbreak led
Commander Wells to make requisition
for more engines from the outlying sta
tons.
The scene must occupy the fire brigade
f0r several hours, especially in view of
the grave danger of the collapse of shells
of buildings, which fall now and again
with loud report. The latest accounts
indicate, that nearly a hundred ware
houses have been destroyed. and the loss
will probably exceed 100000 pounds.
The historical church of st. Giles has
been much damaged.
Hamsell street was the scene of the
outbreak of the fire. which was due to
an explosion in connection with gas
engine on the premises of Walter Brown
X Co.. mantle manufacturers, at No. 30
on that thoroughfare. Their third fac
tory was crowded with girls when the
fire broke out. and it was instantly the
scene of panic. the frightened opera
tives rushing to the roof of the building.
thence crossing to other buildings and
so effecting their escape while the flames
were pouring out of the basement. In
less than quarter of an hour the flames
had enveloped the adjoining warehouses,
and hence they leaped across the street
to an enormous paper warehouse, which
was fully alight in less than ten minutes.
BY this time it was evident to the fire.
men that they were face to face with
great disaster. and a general alarm was
sent. Then from all the fire stations,
even those quite five miles from the scene
of the disaster, engines were hurried to
tn spot and the police gathered about the
neighborhood In great force. This dis
play of strength on the part Of the po-
lice was required, as the crowd, swell
ing every moment, soon amounted to tens
of thousands OF people, and the fremen
required every possible freedom of ac-
ton. as their fight was one Of the great
est difficulty. owing to the narrowness
of the old crooked streets. which are the
feature of that part Of London, COM
bined with the height Of the warehouses,
which cut off the firemen from all fair
chance of combining the outbreak.
The excitement among the 0nlookers.
who crowded every possible point Of
view. was very great, as may be judged |
from the fact that firemen had been fire. |
quently rescued by their comrades by |
the aid of fire escapes from buildings
which had caught fire after the firemen |
had mounted to the roofs to fight the |
flames in adjoining houses. The rescue |
Of operatives by the iremen. the hurry |
ing of hosts of clerks who were trying to |
save books and valuable papers from the |
fire, and the rushing here and there of |
many employees who were attempting 10 |
carry to places Oh SaIety COSTLY ueTcuhn-
disc or other valuables. added to the con- |
fusion. The heat was SO intense that
groups of firemen were obliged to direct |
their operations under showers OF water /
poured upon them.
But in spite of the exertions Of the fire.
men the fire crept on very steadily until
Nichols square, which is situated at the |
far end of Hamsell street. was reached.
AT n little after 2 o'clock a dozen hose
pipes. which. with 12-foot spread,
poured water into the blaze from an op,,
posite roof. from the streets below, and
from the burning premises themselves
did not seem to have any effect. The
water rushed out of the windows and
from the ground floor like a waterfall,
while the flames leaped higher and high
err and, as the floor fell. in the places
still blazing, there was a gigantic. dis
play of fire and smoke until the building
was completely Quilted and the walls
keeled over
THE confusion in the streets increased
as the fire spread. Suddenly there was
an explosion Of gas meters. sounding like
fhe reports of field guns. followed by q
monetary hush. After that the wild
rushing here and there was resumed with
Increased energy. Men risked their lives
in desperate efforts to save day books,
ledgers. feathers. jewelry, valuable china
" One One man ac{ually hazsrded his life to ]