The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-28
WABASH OFFICES BURNED.
Several Employees Have Narrow Es-
capes From Cremation.


ST. Louis, Oct. ga lighted cigarette
dropped by thoughtless clerk is suppos-
ed to have caused the fire, which this aft
ernoon practically gutted the white stone
building at the corner of Seventh and
Chestnut streets, occupied by the general
offices of the Wabash railroad.
AT 1:25 o'clock, just after the clerks had
returned from theirhoon recess, and were
beginning to work. policeman standing
on the corner below noticed a small tongue
of flame shoot out from a window in the
fifth story of the building, which was used
as a storage battery.
Instantly a puff of dense black smoke
followed and the officer rushed into the
building shouting the alarm. There was a
confused rush for every means of exit
Fortunately the stairways were wide the
building in former years having been used
for the public school library and the poly
technic institute.
The attic was stored with old papers and
documents, and within five minutes was
a roaring furnace. The whole floor SEEM
ed suddenly to burst into flame al every
part. During all this excitement, young
women employed in one of the inner mail
ing rooms on the fourth floor, had not
been notified and were seen working uns
conscious of their peril. When they did
discover their situation, they found to
their horror that it was impossible to
reach the stairs as the stairway was burn
ing fiercely. They appeared at the win
dow and cry of horror went up from
the streets.
THE fire escape" shouted the crowd
and the young women comprehending dis
appeared and a moment later climbed out
on the iron platform of the escape. They
hesitated but advancing flames gave them
determination, and they started on their
descent, reaching the street in safety as
laundering cheers went up.
Al the first alarm, the real estate agents.
who occupied the lower floor began re-
moving their books and papers. Every
thing that could be gotten out was taken
out across to the massive Wainwright
building.
A general alarm was sent in, but owing
to the narrow street and the network Of
wires, 1t required fifteen minutes to hoist
and train the standpipes. By this time
the two top floors of the building were
doomed, and 1t was apparent that the fire
had gained such headway that the entire
building must go. An order was given to
cut the electric wires. Dense throngs
blocked every thoroughfare. Without
warning the wires were clipped and in an
instant the throngs were nearly falling
back as flashes of blue and yellow light
ming sputtered from the ends of the deadly
wires that came falling to the ground
Nobody was injured, but a wire struck a
fire horse, killing ii in it's tracks. AT ! 80
o'clock the roof fell with a crash, sending
burning embers into the air, which fell on
adjoining buildings and started fires, but
prompt measures prevented further con-
fiagratons
A. r. Field, a clerk, was carrying some
books from the first floor when the crash
came Flying debris struck him on the
head. tearing 1t open down to the eyes
and nose.
At 2:30 o'clock the fire, though still burn
ing hercely, was practically under control.
and at o'clock, with the exception of
patches of burning embers, had been ex-
tinguished.
An officer Of the Wabash company esti-
mates their loss at 500 0C0.
Statements place valuation of the build
ing at 100000
The Wabash company had occupied new
quarters before the fire was under con-
troll