The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-05
CLAIMED BY FIRE
w. ID. SINKINs q co. LOSE STOCK
IN MIDNIGHT BLAZE.
CIGAR FACTORY THREATENED.
ENTIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT
FOUGHT FLAMES FOR AN HOUR.

Fire Was Discovered at 1910 by
Savannah Rice Mills Waterman.
General Alarm Was Sounded.
Firemen Experienced Great Diff
Guilty in Fighting the Flames.
Dense Smoke Issued from the
BuiIdinG-FIames Licked the Big
Cigar FactOry-LOss Covered by
Insurance.
With a dense black smoke bursting
from every opening in the brick
building, Nos. 213 and 215 Bay street
west, occupied by w. d. Simkins &
CO., wholesale grain and produce deal
ers, firemen had difficulty at an early
hour this morning in checking flames
that at one time threatened the de-
truction of the Guckenheimer building,
occupied by the American Cigar Com
panys factory. and the wholesale fish
house of NJ. NJ. Sullivan's Sons at Nos.
209 and 21l Bay street.
The entire stock in Simkins building
is believed to have been destroyed by
fire and water. 1t was valued approx
imately at $1,000. The loss, Mr.. Sim
kins said, is covered by insurance. The
adjoining buildings were not damaged
TO any great extent.
The fire was discovered shortly af-
ter midnight and an alarm was sound
ed from box 9, at Bay and Jefferson
streets. A moment before two pistol
shots were fired by a Waterman in the
neighborhood Before the alarm had
finished striking the apparatus from
fire headquarters, two blocks away,
was on the scene.
Firemen at "A Disadvantage.
The suffocating smoke made it SIX
tremely difficult for the firemen to get
to work, and it was not until after bat
Ting it for more than an hour that
il was eXtinguished The building is
a large one-story structure, with base
ment, and, owing to it's lowness, the
flames were confined, so that the fire.
men found it difficulty to fight them
on account of the smoke.
The fire started in the rear, where
a quantity of hay was stored. Its cause
is unknown. The entire stock in the
store, consisting of hay. grain, pro-
duce and fruits, if not entirely de-
stroyed, was ruined by the smoke and
water. The firemen played on the
soon had it under control, though it
was a difficult matter to finally sub
due the flames.
The fire was discovered by Watch
man J, f. Mcguire at the Savannah
Rice Mills, who attempted to reach the
fire station by telephone. Not being
successful, he fired his pistol twice,
and ran to Box 8, on Bay and JEFF
ferson streets, and sounded the alarm.
Some one had already telephoned Mr..
and he was soon on the scene.
Barred by Iron Doors.
1t was difficult matter for the fire.
men to gain access to the building In
the rear, the only entrance being
large, heavy. double iron door. 1t
was Imperative that this door be brok-
en- down. so that the men could get to
the flames on the inside. The moment
was a critical one. The flames were
creeping through the little iron grated
windows in the top of the building,
giving warning of what would follow
if entrance were not gained. A crow
bar and ak were used effectively, and
after while the door swung, and the
firemen rushed into the fire and smoke
as it issued from the opening and di-
rected their work with telling effect.
Despite the lateness of the hour
large crowd gathered. The sounding
of the general alarm, brought many
from their beds, and because of Its
location the fire was considered espe-
cially dangerous.
The doors of the cigar factory were
thrown open, and everything was in
readiness should the fire spread to that
building. The flames licked the walls
and the smoke chung to them, but not
once was there any imminent danger
of the building being burned.
The business will be continued in the
building, none of the walls having
fallen. Whatever damages was done
to the roof will be repaired at once,
and the inner portion repaired. The
forepart of the building was not reach
ed by the flames. and the office and
fixtures are thought to be damaged
only by the smoke and water. Heavy
insurance was carried, and Mr.. Sim
kins said that he thought it held him
harmless. A large part of the insur-
ance was carried by w. G.. g. r. C.
Harrison and by G. S, Connerat.