The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-01
TWO BUILDINGS BURNED
Pilot Building on Franklin and flilI Build.
ing on Main.
LOSS IS BETWEEN $4,000 AND $4,000
As Roughly Estimntcsi-I.ucy a 90.
aud Inmnn 6 Read Arc
Heavy Losers.

alarm and the rapid firing OF pistols at
the corner OF Main and Franklin gave the
alarm for what resulted In one of the mos,
disastrous fires that has occurred in tho
heart of the city since the FIRE that de-
stroyed the St, Joseph iniirmary and other
buildings some years ago
old Pilot building, now owned by Jacob
Hornberger, located on Franklin avenue
in the rear of the E, p. Hill building.
occupied by the South Texas bank, at the
corner of Main and Franklin
The flames were first observed in that
! portion of the building occupied as a cot
ton office by c. H. Lucy & Go.
The other portion of the second floor Of
this building was practically vacant, the
front portion having been recently occu-
pied by Raphael Bros.
The lower floor was also vacant but the
third story was occupied by the Union La
Dor hall,
The fire department was slow in putting
a stream in play, and the fro was getting
well under way before the water twas
turned on.
From the front the entire inside of the
building seemed to be ablaze. The flames
soon shot ircn the windows of the second
story and then from the third, and finally
through the roof
1t was evident that nothing would be left
OF this building except the walls.
The fire was an intensely hot one and
the fremen worked at disadvantage
from the extension ladders,
There was, fortunately, little or no
wind, but the flames soon spread to the
story of the Hill building occupied by
4 Imam G Co, rs cotton sample rooms and
/ to the second floor coupled by the same
! firm as general offices, the lower floor OF
the building being occupied by the South
/ Texas bank.
/ The second and third stories OF this
building we're burned out, but the damage
/ to the bank was by water.
The fire was stopped in the Hill build
| ing, though for time 1t looked as though
the entire block was in danger particu-
| larly the Pilot building, next adjoining
the Hill building on Main street, the Of
| fees in which were damaged by water.
While there were no stocks In either of
the buildings the buildings themselves are
/ badly damaged, the Pilot building being
/ entirely Quilted and the Hill building be-
/ ing burned out from the second story up.
/ or the loss on contents the destruction of
the Inman & Co. office fixtures was prob
ably the heavies. and the loss Of their
cotton samples while not intrnsically
! considerable, may entail incompatible loss
in the ramfcauonsof their business deal
/ ings.
J 1t was impossible before going to press
i to secure any figures as to the insurance
though it is safe TO say that all the prop
erty involved in the fire was covered by
insurance.
i A conservative estimate fixes the total
/ loss at between $4,000 and 100000 though
1t may exceed this figure.
The fire was practically under control by
2,30 a. m.
general alarm was turned In about
twenty minutes after the first alarm, and
when the streams were gotten in play from
the steamers experimenting the hydrant
streams some effective work was done.
The fremen fought the fire from close
quarters on the awnings and from the ex-
tension ladders, pouring a perfect food
into the windows, and several OF them
hadthe hands and faces badly bistered.
The FIRE attracted quite a crowd to the
vicinity
Mr. Chas. Dillingham;, president OF the
South Texas bank, says that the fire will
not interrupt the business Of that bank.
II the building itself can not be used
today. the business will be transacted
through some other bank