The Van Buren press., 1903-02-28
FIERCE CONGREGATION.
Mammoth Car Sheds of the St. Louis
& Suburban Railroad De-
stroyed by Fire.
rHt COMPANY SERIOUSLY CRIPPLED.
aiNty-SeNcW OF Its Equipment ct
Two Hundred Cars. Including
Fourteen New Ones af the IRtcd
Pat'ers. Valued at $4,000 Each,
Destroyed.

ST. Louis. Feb. ?5.--The mammoth
carsheds and G. Of The 200 passenger
cars Of the 81. Louis d Suburban Rail
way Co.. al De Hoiiamont station.
Maple avenue and Suburban tracks,
were destroyed by ire which com
menccd at $40 o'clock Tuesday morn
ing and burned for two hours.
Superintendent r. VI. Jenkins places
the companys loss at $50 600 to $780,
900.
When the FIRE broke out 30 cars
were running on the road. Energetic
efforts of the employees were success
ful in rolling seven coaches nearest
the door from the burning shed.
Only few weeks ago the Suburban
placed in operation 10 new coaches
Of the most modern finish and equip
ment. They were marvcis OF luxury
in street service. OF these II were
consumed.
Superintendent Jenkins values the
new coaches from $500 to $500
apiece. The older type cars are val
ued al from $500 to $500. according
TO their age and state Of repair.
Only Wall saved Huge Power House.
Had il not been for The strong
north wall of the shed, which served
as a buffer to the flames, the huge
power house of the Suburban system
would have been swept away,
The fremcn and employees, when
they saw the shed was past saving,
devoted their whole attention to pre-.
venting the destruction of the power
house, which is only separated from
the shed by narrow aredway.
The iron shutters on both buildings
were Immediately closed. and streams
were played TO such advantage that
the flames were confined TO the shed.
Hardly had the roof Of the shed
fallen in and the last coach been
burned to the trucks when Superir-
tendent jenkins had forces of men
removing rIc red-hot debris and mae
ing strenuous attempt to restore
communication,
Severed Wires Hastily Repaired.
The severed wires were hastily re-
strung and an impromptu service was
established TO accommodate the
Suburban patrons waiting convey
.nce to their places of work down
town. Everything was sacrificed to
get things into running order once
more
The connagraton was a fierce one
and the flames threw cut a glow east
~ seen as far away as Clayton. Many
persons believed that the Worlds
fair buildings We're burning.
II originated in the "washroom,'
where the cars are cleansed from the
mud and debris picked up during the
days service,
The fire was first discovered by Pri-
waite Waterman Donlon. He was read
ing an advertisement on n billboard.
Suddenly his attention was attracted
b. sharp fash of light through the
window OF the carshed
1t increased with startling rapdity,
and he instantly sent in an alarm,
Mirc shnckIcd willing Firemen.
Engine Company No. 81 responded
first and began TO play streams ON
the flames. II was seen that addi-
tional help was needed, and Il second
alarm WAS sounded
Three additional engine companies
responded, but one Of them, No, u,,
became hopclcssly mired in the deep
mud, The other companies were com.
PEELED TO cNtrcatc Ne, 81 and much
valuable time was lost thereby, In
the meanwhile No, 81 fought he
flames unaided
The shed, long Ono.story brick,
coGcri z u block, burned rapidly All
that could be done was TO save seven
OF the cars nearest the doors
Fifteen minutes after the first
alarm WAS given, all that could DO
done was 20 prevent the spread OF
the flames to other buildings and
watch the rolling stock go up in
smoke.