The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-12
BLAZE IN BREWERY VAT ROOM.
Firemen Unable to GET at the Fire
and Flood the Place.

Fire was discovered in the vat basement
of the Savannah Brewery shortly before 8
o'clock last night. An alarm sounded from
a neIghboring box summoned the entire
fire department, with one exception.
At 1 o'clock the fire had not been accu-
rately located on account Of the dense
smoke which issued out the three small
windows leading to the vat house. and
which rendered it impossible for the fire.
men to enter The only means they had of
fighting the fire was by throwing water
through the windows, which was kept up
from the time the department arrived The
result was that the pump room, adjoining
the vat house, and the beer storage room,
also adjoining 1t from another side, were
submerged. Five feet of water was stand
ing in the pump room at 1879 o'clock,
though there was little smoke there, the
main volume being in the beer room, which
was kept tightly closed in order to hold
down the fire.
on the floor above the basement. in
which the fire started, where hops is stor-
ed, while on the top floor are storage bins
for malt. While the heat was intense, still
it was not thought the fire would reach
those floors, and neither was the stock on
them apt TO suffer from smoke that oozed
through. With these floors protected, ii
is reported the loss viii not be heavy, even
though the watts in the basement are de-
stroyed.
Mr.. w. w. Starr, manager of the com
pany, was one of the first to arrive after
the alarm was telephoned to engine house
No. ?. The entire surroundings were then
enveloped in smoke, and il required some
time to even locate the blaze in the vat
house. This being done, the fremen work.
ed energetically, and Under Disadvantages
succeeded in getting water in the building.
1t was soon realized. however. that the
best method to handle the blaze was by
drenchng the basement with water, as it
was impossible to. send men inside. At one
time the door leading from the beer room
on the west side. and which connects by
a narrow passage with the basement, was
opened in order 10 run a string. of hose
inside but the smoke burst out in such
dense volumes that the door had to be
closed again.
Just how the fire started is a, mystery
which cannot be solved until the firemen
get inside. 1t Is the supposition of those
connected with the brewery, however, that
il originated in the packing and saw dust
between the ceiling. The watts in The
basement are old wooden vessels, which
have not been used since the addition to
the brewery was built some years ago No
one ever has occasion to go there, though
it is reported one of the employees was in
the basement during the afternoon for
some purpose He was questioned by tho
other men and said he had no matches
or other equitable substance in his pos
session. 1t is impossible for any of the
brewery officers, several of whom were on
the ground, to come to any conclusion
about how the fire started.
1t was agreed by the firemen to be the
worst fire ever handled by the department
Several of the nervy fellows who went
into the smoke were overcome and had to
be taken 10 their homes. Firemen became
deathly sick and went 10 the fresh air In
termittently in order to keep from being
suffocated.
Manager Starr stated that the loss would
not amount TO a great deal unless the
floors above the basement were damaged.
The plant was fully covered by insurance,
however, had the damage been greater,
The inconvenience was not sufficient 10
stop operation, he said, or interfere with
the company in filling orders.