The St. Louis Republic., 1903-02-17
Fire in the Green Tree Brewery
Causes Loss Estimated at
$4,000.
HOMES ALSO THREATENED.
Blazing Structure Made a Spectac-
ular Sight That Was Wit
messed by Hun
dreds.

In less than half hour after flames were
discovered bursting through the roof of a
three-story frame storehouse, the property
of the Green Tree Brewery. near the cor
ner of Ninth and Sidney streets, the struc-
ture was destroyed. The fire was discov-
cred at 9:4O O'Clock last night. and it was
well under control at II o'clock.
The building was used as washhouse
fer wagons and carriages, several of the
latter being stored there. The remainder
of the space was used a storage-room for
empty bottles. The loss is estimated at sl0,
COO and the building was insured.
The fire was one of the most spectacular
that have occurred here in several months.
The flames spread with great rapidity, and
before the arrival of the fre-fight!ng ap-
paratuS the entire structure was ablaZe.
The building was surrounded on two sides
by dwelling-hOuses. and this fact added an
element of danger that caused intense ex-
element in the neish0ornood. Property
owners feared for the safety of their houses
and moved their furniture into the streets.
The intense cold and slippery condition of
the streets and pavements hindered Ele
work of the firemen. and while there were no
serious accidents. many of those who were
fiRhting the flames received ugly falls
In addition to interfering seriously with
the work of the firernen. the severe tempera-
turc caused coatings of ice to form on every
thing touched by the water. and hampered
the effectiveness of the apparatus.
Notwithstanding the cold. biting wind tha t
swept down Ninth street. an immense
crowd soon gathered to witness the weird
sight of the bright, red flames, surrounded
on all sides by the white snow.
Many of those who had been drawn to
the vicinity by idle curiosity were pressed
into service as volunteer salvage crops
and assisted in the removal of furniture
from the houses that were threatened by
the flames
Although the storage-house burned fierce
ly. the fire was soon under control and all
danger of the confiagration spreading was
reduced to a minimum The police officers
who had been detailed to guard the piles
of household effects. advised the owners to
move the furniture back into the buildings.
The first alarm was almost Immediately
followed by a second. and five minutes later
Chief SwinSley ordered Il general alarm In
all. nineteen engine companies and four
hook and ladder companies responded.
Every available water plug within ra-
dus OF several blocks was called into use
and in short time traffic on the Broadway
Cass avenue and Bellefontaine street-car
lines was blocked by an intricate maze of
hose pipes.
Additional patrolmen We're also necessary
to hold back the crowd that ATTEMPTED to
press close to the blazing building. 1t
was soon seen that there was comparatively
little danger and the heat from the flames
was most agreeable to tine hundreds of per
sons standing almost knee-deep in the
snow.
Patrolman Thomas Murphy of the Eighth
ing his rounds and when in the alley be-
tween Sidney and Lynch, Seventh and
Ninth streets. noticed the flames bursting
through the roof of the storage-house
The building was located across the
street from the main buildings of the Green
Tree Brewery and was separated by only a
few feet from the stables which contained
over a hundred horses.
On the south side of the storage house is
row of dwelling houses No. 1926 Ninth
street abuts on the brewery company's
property. and was in the greatest danger
It is occupied by Mrs. Stevens. l.. *. Mey-
ers and a family named Richter
After discoy ering the flames. Murphy at
once turned in the alarm from the corner of
Seventh and Sidney streets. and then notf-
fed the persons living at No 1926 Ninth
street
When the occupants had been aroused
Murphy turned his attention to the burning
building. and with the assistance of several
employees of the brewery and persons at
tracted to the scene, by the flames, com
menced removing the busgies and carriaees
Nearly all of these were taken to a place
of safety before the south wall fell which
prevented further work on the part of the
rescuers.
The falling wall caused an immense
shower of sparks to descend upon the
neighborfng buildings and Chief Swingley