The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-27
STORAGE WAREHOUSE BURNED
DISTRICT MESSENGER AND DELIV-
cry CO.'S LOSS HEAVIEST.

Started in the Cellar and swept TO
the Roof-Au of the Contents of the
Upper stories Burned-L. W. Wal
ker g. Co. Damnged-NO Estimate
of the Losses Made-The Insurance
Believed to BE Ample TO Cover All
Damages.
The Savannah District Messenger and
Delivery Company's storage warehouse, at
Congress and Montgomery streets, burned
last night. The contents Of the building
are total loss and the building itself was
gutted.
The exact amount Of the loss is I'M
known. It was various.y estimated at
from $4,000 to S25,OOO, and is believed to be
fully covered by insurance. Manager c.
II. Medlock of the Messenger and Delivery
Company would make no statement.
The building, which was formerly the
Haynes & Elton mill, is owned by Mrs.
Jane V. Germany and is understood to
have been fully insured.
The fire broke out at 9:l5 o'clock in the
cellar at the south end of the building on
Congress street lane. 1t was discovered
bv Sip Maxwell, one Of the drivers for
the company. He reported it to the clerk
on duty in the office, Isaac White, and one
OF the messenger boys ran to turn in an
alarm. Just at this time the
fire was made apparent by the volume of
smoke Issuing from the cellar gratings on
the Montgomery street side. One Of the
messenger boys ran back through hall
way to another section Of the building on
the Congress street side occupied by Les
ter w. Walker & Co., TO give the alarm.
MIR. Walker was in his office, and, warned
by the boy, he hurried out
The fire at that time was confined to
the cellar, except in one place on the first
floor 1t had probably been communicat-
ed from the cellar to this place, which
was close by a gas engine used by the de-
livery company in It's carpet-cleaning pro-
cess.
This part of the fire seemed to be
isolated and was separated from him. Mr.
Walker said, by an iron-barred window
A small stream Of water, then, would
easily have extinguished IT, but this was
not TO be had until the arrival of the fire.
men. BY the time they arrived and had
got to work the fire was under good head
way. The firemen began work on the eel
lar fire, which was burning iercelys In
few minutes it was seen that general
alarm would have to be sent in. This was
done, and the work of saving a part Of
The stored goods at the same time going on.
A number Of Mr.. Walkers friends made
quick work Of his stock of electrical
goods, transferring most of them 70
Franklin square. George Kareder saved
his small stock Of fruits at ms corner
stand.
Some delay was apparent on the arrival
of the first engines In getting up steam
and throwing strong streams, put TINS
disadvantage was soon overcome after the
general alarm had been sounded, and the
entire department got TO work.
The fremen did good work then, and u
MAS due to this that the building was
not completely destroyed. After headway
was secured the flames seemed irresisti-
ble. An elevator shaft and a stairway
from the top TO the bottom OF the Dhlid-
ing were easy pathways for the names
and Il was in their vicinity that the hre
RACED fercest. The draught was strong,
and a tendency was given the flames to
mount to the top of the building.
The second and third stories suffered
the greatest damage, the latter, particu-
larly, having furniture and eombustlple
stuff stored there, sustained the greatest
damage No outlet, fortunately, was iuI-
nished the flames through the roof until
some time after the fire began, so the
work of the firemen at the windows was
effective. The center Of the roof Iell' out
the rest held fast.
The aerial ladder and another long lad
der raised to the third story offered ad-
yantageous points for the direction OF
streams. and good results were soon APP
parent after they were brought into use.
The FIRE was pronounced under
control at 1l.15 o'clock Assistant
Chief Mouro directed the men In the ab-
sence Of Chief Mcguire, who was at the
Republican Blues picnic The first moor
of the building was not very greatly DAM
aged. and the Congress street side was
not reached by the flames.
The total loss could not be aScertained.
Mrs. Germany, who owned the building
is represented by Messrs. Champion "
Garmany. Mr., Germany is IN New YORK.
and Mr. Champion could not be seen. IL
was stated. though. that full insurance
was carried.
There was no means OF establishing the
DELIVERY companys loss. Mr.. Medloek,
general manager and superintendent sald
he ala not know how much insurance was
carried on the stored goods. and he had
NO idea OF the extent of loss. Mr.. Paul II.
corupany. IS IN Guyton. The
Insurance had been taken out
by MIR. seabrook. Mr.. Medlock said, and
he IS the only one. who knows the amount
carried or with what companies Il was
placed. Mr.. Medlock would place no eati-
mate on the amount OF the loss 70 the
company on the goods, which were In
sured BY II On their coming into the stor-
age rooms.
The company saved some furniture that
had been brought In for storage during
the day. and that had remained near the
door. Two Of the wagons were also run
out. The goods we're nearly all destroyed.
some carpets on the first floor were saved
and some paper roofing and wicker-worS
ware OF the second floor, but the furniture
on the third floor, a stock OF printing
paper on the second floor, wire fencing,
seed beans and other stun were burned.
Mr.. Walker carried 1000 on his eleetr!-
cal stock The stock was nearly all
transferred from the building, as stated
and Mr.. walkers place having suffered
no damage by Gre. his loss Is not great
His Insurance was with the Continental.
The building was insured Ia number Of
companies.