The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-10
PERISHED IN THE FLAMES
THIRTY MEN REPORTED BURIED UNDER
THE DEBRIS.
A Big Pittsburg Building Still Burning and
the Loss May Foot up Two Million
Dollars.

Iittsburg. Pa. Feb. GA fire of mys-
terious origin was discovered at about
8 O'Clock this evening in the large SIX
story cold storage plant of the Chautau-
qua Lake Ice Company, and at this hour
N n. M it looks as though the entire
building would be destroyed together
with about Il million dollars worth OF
merchandise of all kinds stored within It.
The building occopuieS the block from
10Th to 18th streets between Pike street
and Mulberry Alley. 1t is a six story
brick with three heavy fire walls making
in reality four buildings. The ice com
pany has its ice-making plant and st0r-
age warehouses ON the lower floors, ant
the Union Storage Company occupies the
balance of the building, with merchan-
disc of all descriptions, the property OF
innumerable merchants and hOuseholders
of the city. One of the compartments
lis used as the government bonded ware
houses and contains about 400 barrels
of whiskey and alcohol.
The windows of the block are pro-
tected by heavy iron shutters which
cannot be opened and for this reason the
firemen are unable to get at the fire
properly. The loss cannot as yet be
estimated, but at least 100000 worth
has already been consumed.
The building and contents are well in
surtd.
AT 11:15 p. m. an explosion of whiS-
key occurred, which blew out THE Null
berry Alley wall with terrible results.
At the time, the alley was filled with
tiremen, policemen, newspaper men and
others. Many We're caught by the falling
wall Rumor has it that at least twenty
five or thirty men are stiH under the
debris. Three dead have been taken
out, among them Police Captain Berry.
The other two are at the MOrgue un-
recognized as yet. Many people were in
jured by flying bricks and beams ami
all the ambulances and patrol wagons
of the city are in constant service.
Some of the injured are:
Charles Simon, Il travelling salesman
from Cincinnati. badly cut on head.
VIM. Fleming, squeezed by falling
rafter. may die.
Daniel Maloney, carried through to the
cellar. but dug his way out. Hurt in
ternally.
Charles Wilson. bridge builder. badly
cut and hurt internally.
VIM. Desmuke, a puddler, head and
shoulders badly cut.
Mary Desmuke, his wife. hurt inter-
nally.
Davis Stewart. badly cut on head.
Capt. j. w. Brown, building inspector,
both legs broken,
The telegraph. telephone and electric
light poles at the corner of 18th and
Penn streets, fell shortly after the ex-
plosion and killed an unknown man.
AT 2 O'Clock a. M, there are six dead
at the Morgue, only two of whom have
been identified. They are:
Police Lieutenant A. ]. Berry, who
was acting captain.
VIM. Scott, Jr., aged 20, son of VIM.
Scott, president of the Chautauqua Ice
Company. His brother John. aged IS.
is missing, and supposed to be buried
under the ruins.
The following is the best list of losses
obtainable tonight:
Hoyeler Storage Company, Ibuilding
and contents, 100000.
Chautauqua Ice Company, $15O,600.
Union Storage Company, $1,O0O,0O0.
Small Penn Avenue Houses, $25, 900.
making total Of $1,775,00 all of
which was well insured
Some of the heaviest individual losers
who had consignments in the ware
houses are:
The Economy Distilling Company s.
900 barrels Of whiskey, worth $75OOO0.
Monongahela Textile Company, wool
dealers, 125,000 pounds of wool.
Collins Cigar Company, - car loads
of tobacco.
w. ii. Williams. commission mer-
chants. 20 car loads of sugar.