The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-03-03

New Orleans, February 27.-Complete
figures Of the loss involved in the de-
~struction of the Stuyvesant docks Of the
Illinois Central compiled by the local
officials of the company today will not
be available until an inspection of the
books of the docks is finished. Fortu-
nately all of these were saved.
Today local Freight Agent Cousins
and his office force went to work on
them and Mr.. Cousins announced to-
night that it might be possible tomor-
row to give the result. The value OF
the wharves, sheds, warehouses, eleVa-
tors and trackage is known roughly.
tut the number of cars and the guam
tity of merchandise destroyed cannot
be given until the inspection is con-
Guided. In the meantime estimates OF
the loss Vary between superintendent
Dunn's figures of $4,000, 900 and Cen
trail Freigh Agent Perkins aggregate OF
So, coo, 900. The uin of the fire smould-
cred all day and two engines were Kept
at the scene to protect surrounding res
idential property. Including the Cres-
cent Ice plant, the police have compiled
a list of approximately forty buildings,
mostly occupied by laborers which
were destroyed with an estimated loss
of 500, 600. Earlier estimates OF the
damages to shipping were modihed To-
day, the principal sufferer being the
Ieyland liner Indian Head on which
the loss is $1,000.
FIRE WAS HARD TO REACH.
Officials of the fire department said
today that the fire might have peen
extinguished in its inception II the
streets leading to The docks had not
been closed by authority of the coun-
ell and long lines of freight cars hao
not been packed on the tracks IL was
impossible for either the engines or the
firemen to get through until too late 10
be of service. Chief O'Connor said one
of the results of the fire would doupt-
less be to force the city to provide a
modern fire BOAT for the harbor. he
said the disaster could have been avert
ed if there had been one
Some distress is reported among the
poorer classes who lost their belong
ings. The local charity organization
society has asked for funds to deliver II.
President Fish. of the Illinois central
was reported today to be at Pam
Beach. Local officials do not expect
him here. Vive president Harahan n
other officials are on their way from
Chicago and will be here at noon To-
morrow. They will LAY full authority
to handle the situation and discuss
plans for the immediate clearing away
of the Wreckage, the re-openlng OF tenn
Dcrary tracks on the river and proVls-
ions for handling the grain business Oh
the Illinois central until the docks are
restored. The local exchange and bus'-
ness interests will cooperate with Mr..
Barahan in any plans he may have TO
rreyent any diversion of traffic now
coming here over the road.
MANY NARROW ESCAPES.
There were many narrow escape of
those who were engaged in fighting tn
flames, owing to its rapid spread, and
lives were constantly endangered oy
debris of all kinds hat was whirle0
through the air. The escape of two hre
engines was cut off and their crews had
to run for their lives, Driver Charles
Richardson of No. 6 being painfully
hurt.
The fire started in conveyors to ele-
-vator 3D." tt spread with remarkable
rapidity, sparks dropping into oil bar
rels on the wharf and extending the
flames in every direction. The first
ships were lying at the docks when the
fire started and all except two escaped
without damage. The Indian of the
Heyland line had her rails. cabin house.
Z masts, etc, wiped clean off the cy-
Gle was burned about the PROV and
sides. All the tugs in the harbor that
<shad steam up hurried to the scene when
she fire started and by heroic efforts
1rcceeded in pulling the steamers into
lhto the river out Of reach of the
kiafnes.
z superintendent O.. NJ. Dunn directed
the forces Of he railroad for
several hours and when he fire was un-
der control went to the office of he
company where he spent the night in
wire. communication with officials esst
and west and in setting the lines fo-
-yn111r1 xrnr Z M