The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-04

coal yards adjoin We iron works on
the west, is about $1,000. Their stables
ana TWO houses for laborers and q shed
We're burned. None of the coal was
damaged. The live stock and carts
We're gotten out of the stables by the
waterman before the fire reached the
sheds. The shed over the coal was
burned but the inundation of the water
from the tugs kept the coal from catch
tLs HIe' MT. Taggart carries his own
Streams were kept playing on the
slnoulderlng ruins all night and to-
day, where stood yesterday the results
OF long years of toll of Mr.. John
Rourke and his sons, are smouldering
elnDeTs OF the fire that swept the ae-
foundations of years before it. The
Il1ln three-story building of brick, the
moulding house of corrugated iron, the
storage rooms and various outbuildings
were burned to the ground. The only
tnlng left standing was a few wooden
buildings to the east of the plant, where
tnoulds and old pieces of machinery
were stored, and the walls of the main
building. ''''
The Work of the Department.
me work Of the fire and police de-
paftments is deserving of commenda-
Iloh. In ten minutes after the alarm
was sounded fifteen streams of water
were playing on the fire. The men
Iought fearlessly, and not a few
were burned while working down in a
close place behind the main building.
Jonn schroeder was badly burned on
ms left hand, but did not stop work,
tnough he was unable to use the in
1ured member.
The police kept the large crowds
pack, and perfect order was maintain
ed, which is a little remarkable in view
OF the tremendous throng that almost
Fought Tor places of advantage near the
The Hart ladder worked perfectly.
and an immense stream of water was
handled with perfect ease by men on
the ground
a horse attached to a supply wagon
at headquarters on Indian street got
away after the alarm was sounded, and
the hose wagon from Station No. 4
Tater had to be converted into a coal
wagon.
The water pressure was all that could
nave been desired. The work of the
department was most efficient for the
buildings were doomed before the APP
paratus reached the scene.
Historic Clock Burned.
4ue IRE destroyed an historic relic.
The old clcck which was in the tower
was presented to Mr.. Rourke by the
city several years ago. For half a CEN
tury, or more, it had been in the City
Exchange tower, and spoke the hour
from one generation to another. Since
its presentation to Mr.. Rourke it's dial
had become familiar to thousands of
Workmen a. the foundry and the resi-
dents of the vicinity
Mr.. John Rourke, the senior MEM
Der of the firm of Rourke & Sons, was
down town when the alarm of fire was
sounded, and seeing the reflection from
the flames in the direction of his plant,
FASTENED to the scene. He was preced-
Rourke was determined to enter the
building, and get to his safe. An effort
was made to persuade him not to so,
but he waved his friends aside and en-
tered the door The flames had. how
ever. gained such Roadway that he
found it impossible to get to the safe,
and he was forced to go back into the
street. Mr.. Rourke was greatly at
fected by his loss. 1t is believed that
he will rebuild and seek to reconstruct
the business swept away by the flames.
Hundreds went to the fire on bicycles
and in automobiles and the cabnen
did a land office business. When it be-
came known at the theater that the
foundry was being destroyed many
left their seats and did not return.
The audience was a great deal smaller
after the sounding of the alarm.