The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-02
$4,000 WIPED OUT.
Continued from Tenth Page.)

all finally checked, they burned away
The kainit, muriate of potash and other
contents of the building were also seri-
ously damaged by fire and water.
Two city patTolmen were sent to the
scene of the fire and with two members
of the Ocean Steamship Company's uni
formed force kept oilers from the vicinity
of the burning buildings and blazing box
cars. A large force of negroes employed
in the guano factory were put to work
pulling hose and assisting the firemen in
their effort to save property.
The roof of storehouse No 2 west of
that the roof Of which was destroyed.
| caught fire several times and had to be
extinguished with buckets of water. Ne
eroes were stationed on the roof and
Knocked the sparks off with sticks IS
they fell on the shingles. In spite of the
efforts of the watchers, however. sew
eral small holes were burned in the roof
of this warehouse.
Several thousand cords of wood in the
yard of the Southern Cotton OIL Company
caught fire before the walls of the acid
chamber had fallen. The wood was piled
alongside Of string Of box cars and
was in a blaze when the department
reached the scene. Several streams of
water were put on this part of the fire
and the heat was kept from the build
ings of the oil company. Two of the
box cars near the burning wood were
he mill
ed out of the way. and these cars are
almost a total loss.
Five cars near the acid chamber were
also badly damaged. Mr.. John NJ. Egan,
Jr, superintendent the moving of the cars
in danger of being burned. and saved a
great deal of property. Several switch
engines were kept on the move, and i'm
ell, thirty-hve cars were saved. as the
result of MIR. Egan's rapid thinking and
cool head. The five burning cars formed
a part of long train of box cars loaded
with fertilizer. Mr.. Egan ordered an en-
gineer to pull the entire train of cars out
of the yard. The blazing cars were wheel
ed to a point of safety and several
streams OF water prevented their total
destruction.
The telephone wires we're put out of
business during the first part of the cor
fiagration, and communication with the
city by this route was cut Off. The wires
we're burned in two and tripped the fire
men as they rushed about with their
lines of hose
Thousands of English sparrows were
made homeless by the fire and few blind
Iy during It's progress. The birds made
their home in the several large oak trees
near the acid chamber and were run from
their nests by the severe heat. Several of
the sparrows were noticed to fall in the
flames and many lost their lives in the
boiling acid. At times the chirp of the
birds could be heard above the crack of
the flames and the explosion of the acid
eggs.
Agent Irrelevant of tho Ocean Steam
ship Company, reached the scene OF the
fire shortly after the alarm was sounded.
and gave direction for the protection of
his company's property. President John
NJ. Egan was on hand and watched the
work OF lighting the FIRE. and gave or
ders for the moving OF cars to places
Of safety, remaining on the scene until
the fire was under control
DR.. w. G. Huffman. superintendent Of
the works. watched the scene Of destruc-
ton with whatever calmness he could
muster-and that was a good deal, but.
OF course. could do nothing to stop the
conhagration.
The building which was destroyed con-
tahed two large engines and a boiler sew
eral burners for the melting OF iron
pyrites. and the manufacture OF crude
acid. extensive machinery and ieaden vats
for the reception OF acid after its manu-
fsoture. Almost tho entire building, Il
was stated. was lined with these watts.
There was also a quantity Of ore and
four or fye yats fIi 81 acid. These iai.
ter. b. was explained are among the le1st
OF the elements Of los. Whatever there
sas in the building however is complete
ly destroyed.
ar Iiunman sisted that tho loss. %