The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-25
FIRE IN GROCERIES
j. NJ. DIXON d co.'s WAREHOUSE
AND STOCK DAMAGED.
LOSS NOT YET FIGURED OUT.
FIRE STARTED IN a PILE OF
STRAW.

Its Cause UnknOwn-Mr. Dixon
Was the Last to Leave the Place
and said There Was No Fire Then.
Firemen Did Good Work and Con-
fined the Flames 10 the Building.
Firemen Thompson and MOrrissey
Injured-A Horse Also Injured.
Loss viii BE HeaVy-stOck Well
Insured.
A fire that caused serious loss to the
wholesale grocery and grain firm of
James NJ. Dixon & Co., on Wheaton
street, started last night few minutes
before o'clock and for an hour or
more burned fiercely.
The fire began in a pile of straw in
the southern end of the firms ware
house, and from there spread to a large
stock of hay, where its main energy
was centered. When discovered by
the night Waterman the flames were
burning briskly and the building was
enveloped in smoke. An alarm was
sent in from Box No. Il. near the cor
ner of Randolph and Wheaton streets,
and engines Nos. and 3 were quickly
on the scene. Five minutes later a
general alarm was sent in by Chief
Mcguire. and all apparatus except
Company No. responded.
Gave Firemen a Task.
Dense volumes of smoke were then
pouring out from beneath the cornice
of the building from end to end, and
it was evident that the firemen had
more than an ordinary blaze to contend
with. Four engines were put in SER
vice and with two streams from each,
the firemen began their battle. En-
trance was made to the building by the
south end and sides. But very little
fire could be seen on account of the
density of smoke in the structure, and
at times the flremen were compelled
to get relief so stirling was the smoke
and the smell from the burning ar
ticles. The smoke settled in the streets
and compelled the large crowd that
gathered to keep back.
The building is a large brick struc-
ture with a corrugated roof and heavy
fire doors and windows. This confined
the flames and made it more difficult
TO handle than had they been more ex-
posed. The water poured in on the
burning hay caused the smoke to be-
come more dense, and ii was apparent
10 handle. though despite this the fire.
men worked nobly and kept the fire
confined to the place of it's origin.
Around the hay was stacked a guam
tity of bacon, lard and other articles
of merchandise, which were practical
ly destroyed by the flames and water
Besides the damage by fire the entire
building was saturated with water
which will cause the loss to be heavy,
1.s7f - rl,s.t ~
ed last night, though it will amount
into the thousands.
stock Well insured
Mr. j, NJ Dixon, of the firm, was on
the scene shortly after the sounding
of the alarm and lent what aid he
could. The stock was estimated at
$4,000. with $4,000 insurance. The
building is owned by the Atlantic
Coast Line and is probably worth from
$4,000 to $4,000. The damage to it will
be light compared to the loss on the
stock. the heavy brick walls and iron
roof standing and combining the flames
well.
The origin of the fire is unknown
Mr.. Dixon says he was the last one to
leave the place at $50 o'clock, and that
every door and window was securely
fastened, and there was no fire in the
building at that time. With the first
alarm the police reserves responded,
and on the general call Chief Reilly
and the detective force turned out and
rendered all assistance necessary in
keeping back what of the crowd the
smoke didn't.
The stables of the firm, in which
were CHARTERED several head of stock,
were at the south end of the building.
and they were quickly gotten out and
to a place of safety
An Act of Humanity.
In the Office of the firm was a valua-.
bic canary bird, the pet and pride of
Mr.. Dixon His first thought was of
this bird, and Immediately an effort
was made to reach and rescue it, but
the smoke was so dense and sitting.
even in the office, that it was impos-
sible for any human to enter the place.
Mr.. Dixon, himself, made the first eff
fort. but was driven back sitting and
choking. Others also, with humanity
in their hearts, attempted its rescue
but with like result. Finally, when
the smoke had cleared sufficiently TO
allow entrance, the pet was found suf-
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