The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-07
MULES PERISH IN A BLkzE.
SOUTHERN PINE CO.'S STOCK BtRN-
ED WITH THE STABLES.

Three Mules Taken From the Burn.
ing Building Rushed Back To Their
Death-only One of the Animals
Savcd-A Lively Little Fire nj the
Southern Pine Co.'s Offices on
Wheaton Street.-The Loss About
$4,000, Hut Covered by Insurance
With the Exception of Four Mule,
Belonging to Mr.. w. c. MELON
Ough.
Eleven mules and one horse were Durre
TO death in fire last night that consun.
ed the stables and part of the off5c. dgi1-
ing OF the Southern Pine Company= p.i-
on Wheaton street. short distance south
of Liberty.
The fire broke out in the COMPANY sta
bles, just across from the Savanna Flor
ida and Western warehouses, between ll:a
and II o'clock last night, and an alarm
turned in from box No. II called out the
apparatus from Nos. /, and engine
houses. A second alarm. caused by a
crossed wire, brought the entire depart
ment to the scene.
The fire in the stables was first discov-
cred by Waterman Bell, who saw smoke
and slight blaze issuing from the rear
door. He shouted an alarm, and while
some one went to ring the box, made an
effort to get the stock out of the stable.
The heat was so intense and the smoke 30
dense that it was with great difficulty that
he could go into the stables at all. He
managed to get out three or four of The
mules, when all but one of them rushed
back for the stable. Two of them got i'm
side and were burned with the Others. one
poor animal that started back, and at this
time the fire had spread alarmingy hay
ing light fuel to feed upon, fell in his
tracks some twenty feet from the stable
door and had almost all the flesh burned
off him.
The department responded promptly, but
when it arrived the stables were about
gone and the fire was eating its way rap
idly into the office. A good pressure was
secured, however, and by hard work the
fire was kept from spreading. The light
material of the frame building fed the fire
rapidly and made a good blaze. lighting up
that entire section of the city.
The building burned was practically one,
though divided into four Compartments.
The first to the south was the stables.
Next to that was the molding rack. the
next the Office of the Savannah Locomotive
Works and Supply Company, occupied by
Ndr. j. j. McDonough, Jr., and the last the
office of the Southern Pine Company, for
merly of McDonough & Co
The stables were entirely destroyed.
The roof was burned from the moulding
rack and from portion of the office. The
moulding rack was partially destroyed,
and much of the material i'm il was lost.
The Office of the Savannah Locomotive
Works and Supply Company was wreck
ed, though not altogether destroyed by
the fire, while the smaller Office to the
north of these was not materially hurt.
Had it not been for prompt work on
the part of the department the fire would
have spread rapidly and much other prop
erty would have been destroyed. The end
of the dressed lumber shed was on fire
at one time, but was soon put out \
lumber pile near the stable also caught.
but that blaze did not spread. Three or
four wagons in the yard near the stables
were destroyed, as was also a small
amount of lumber lying around near the
fire.
The most serious loss was that of the
stock, eleven mules and one horse. the
estimated value of which is about 81. 500.
HouT OF the mules belonged 10 MIR. W. {.
McDonough, and upon these he had no
insurance. The other stock was covered
by insurance, as were also the buildings
The books of the Southern Pine Com
pany and of the Savannah Locomotive
Works and Supply Company were almost
all in the safe. Some old books of Nc
Donough & Co. were outside. ana were
slightly damaged, though they were taken
out before they were destroyed. II may
be said that none of the books were lost
number of insurance men We're on
hand, but none of them seemed to know
whether they had any insurance on the
property or not, except one or two, who
were positive they did not. 1t is estma-
ted that $1,000 to $500 win cover the en-
tire loss
Mr. J. ]. McDonough is not in the city al
present having gone to the Southern Pine
Company's mill a. Offerman. Mr. j. J.
McDonough, Jr., was called up by tele-
phone, however, and arrived very quickly
The mouldings of the Savannah Florida
and Western warehouse, just opposite tho
fire, were scorched somewhat but care
was given them and they did not catch
AT 1915 o'clock the fire was under control
and shortly after that the blaze had en-.
tirely disappeared. The cause of the fire
Is unknown.