The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-08

few charred timbers. There were five of
these cars, four being loaded with hay and
one with flour
The warehouse in which the fire orignat-
ed was about 50 by 200 feet and was chiefly
stored with hay and bran. 1t was the hay
which gave the fire its rapid spread, and
the building being merely a light frame
structure, only added fuel to the flames.
The warehouse disappeared in few min
utes, and the flames seized hold of the cars
upon the track and the woodwork of the
buildings across the street. as well as the
lumber on the wharyes.
There is a difference of opinion of course
as to the work of the firemen. They were
much praised for their brave work early
in the night, but their failure to save the
Conklin building with its valuable con-
tents caused adverse comment yesterday.
1t was charged by some that the firemen
had accomplished nothing, as every build
ing which caught fire had burned Others
argued that had 1t not been for the hard
work of the firemen the confagration
would have been much more
extensive and would doubtless
have included the large block of
buildings between Bay and Williamson
streets, and the block to the eastward be-
tween Bay and jefferson streets, the east
ern buildings of which were ON fire at one
time. The truth of the business probably
is that the fire was about as big a one
as the Savannah department could afford
to tackle with any hope of success. Had
the Cathedral fire occurred two hours ear
lier the department would certainly have
been in the soup, and a good part OF the
city along with it.
The Brunswick engine, Ihe "W. r.
Kline" which was kindly dispatched by
the Mayor of that city in response to
Mayor Meldrim's telegram, arrived about
daybreak yesterday morning and was put
to work on Bay street, pumping water
upon the smoking ruins on Williamson
street. The engine was accompanied by
Chief ]. c. Green, with his son, j. {.
Green, Jr., and Fireman J. H. Harrison
of the Brunswick fire department. Chief
Green thought of returning to Brunswick
with the engine last night, but as Chief
Mcguire was unwilling to spare the engine
so soon he consented to remain over until
to-day Ex-Engineer Thomas V. Ponder
and ex-Fireman J. H. Craig were put in
charge of the engine. Ponder and Craig
had previously been in charge of the re-
serve engine of the department, which
was put in service at the Cathedral fire.
The Brunswick engine will doubtless be
returned to-day, with the thanks of the
city.
There was a report that Chief Mcguire
had sent q message to the captain OF the
tug boat, Robert Turner, leased by Mr.. h.
r. Moore, to stop playing the streams
on the fire. Mr.. Moore was seen about
the matter and his explanation modified
the thing considerably. Mr.. Moore said
that his superintendent had reported to
him that two of the firemen had come TO
him and told him that the chief had said
that the tug could continue to play on
the fire If the captain desired, but that ne
could not engage it for the work. The
chief seemed to think that it was not MS
province to order additional help.
Notwithstanding the message from the
chief the captain continued to have the
streams directed upon the wharf proper
tv of Mr.. Cummings and Mr.. Dixon. The
report submitted to Mr.. Moore indicated
that the tug was in use from o'clock at
night until In the morning. Mr.. Moore
said he will probably present bill to the
city for the services rendered by his tug.
He feels that the tug was effective in
saving a great deal of the wharf prop
erty. as the greater portion of the appara-
tus was called away to fight the Cathedral
fire. Mr. Moore was asked what has Dill
would be- but he replied that he could not
tell until he had seen some of the other
tup boat people to ascertain what is US
ually asked of the city for such service.
He said that charge of 500 an hour had
been made upon a former occasion When
the tugs fought a wharf fire.