The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-03-04
new ORLEANS FIRE
PROPERTY LOSS AMOUNTS TO
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
Twelve Squares Of stuyVssant Docks
Along the River Front and Vas,
Freight Terminals Of illinois Cen
trail Wiped out-Hundreds Of Load
ed Cars Burned.

New Orleans, Feb. 27.-Fire inyolv-
ing millions OF dollars loss in property
and that strikes a serious temporary
blow at the export trade of New Or
leans. swept the river front Sunday
night and wiped out the vast freight
| terminals OF the Illinois Central.
known as the Stuyyesant docks. Near
| ly dozen squares OF modern wharves
| and freight sheds, two magnificent
grain elevators. hundreds Of loaded
cars and vast quantities OF freight. in
GLIDING 0,0O0 bales OF cotton, were
destroyed together with a large mum
Der OF small residences. II has not
been determined whether there has
been any loss Of life. The ocean go
ing shipping seems to have escaped
serious damage. A number OF hremeH
and employees OF the docks were in
iured Actual estimates OF the losses
are impossible To- obtain. though they
may exceed $4,000 900.
The Stuyvesant docks extend from
Louisiana avenue almost To Napoleon
avenue. distance Of II squares. The
wharves between these two points
were covered with miles OF trackage
and steel and iron shed ran the
whole distance
Great Quantity Of Merchandise.
The two grain elevators we're OF the
most modern construction, the upper
one having a capacity OF a million
bushels. Thousands OF bales Of cotton
several hundred thousand packages ot
sugar. great quantities Of cotton seed
oil and oil cake, lumber and every
conceivable variety Of freight. hlIet
the warehouses and sheds Practical
ny all the export business handled b.
the Illinois Central was put ABOARD
ship at these docks.
start Of confasration.
The IRE was discovered shortly az
ter O'Clock Il was said 10 have re-
suited from a journal that had beer
tnsutfictenrly oiled The blaze. small
at the beginning. almost tustantane
ously got beyond control OF the whar
dre fighting apparatus, rommunicat
Ing quickly 70 the elevators and som,
OF the sheds. The response u the frs
department was pramBt, but owing [,
the fact that the terminals were no
readily accessible because OF fences
and tracks the engines found dlmcultl
in reaching the danes.
Famed by the Wind.
The wind was blowing down tn,
river as the blaze widened. and tn,
fire spread rapidly in every direction
BY O'Clock the lower elevator an,
sheds and wharyes from Amelia stree
TO Louisiana avenue. a distance Of SIT
squares. had fallen In. Fortunately
Louisiana avenue Is very broai
thoroughfare. and the further apreat
of the Are beyond that point into
residence section was checked. Be
tween the points named. however, tn
flames swept to complete destruction
many cottages OF the poorer classes
the occupants in many instances los
ing all they possessed
: Nine Squares Destroyed.
+ At midnight more than nine square
2 Of the terminal had been completed
4 destroyed and # seemed unlikely tina
! the fire would BIZ checked until IT ha
reached Napoleon avenue. which ais
? is a very broad street During the fir
: heavy wind blew. and the blaze wa
? Of lndescrtbable fury. carrying brand
! 10 great distances. driving hack ia
r crowds n sightseers. Immense piece
b Of corrugated iron. torn from the side
!, Of the upper elevators were carrie
i through the air as II they we're featl
ers aud dropping in every direction
constantly endangering the lives {
firemen and spectators
The weather was bright and warn
and nearly 1000 people visited II
: scene during the progress Of the fir
Aside from the tremendous hnanei
loss involved. the hre is a calamity
. New Orleans in the temporary abat
:. ment Of the immense export bushes
OF the Illinois Central. particularly
= the matter of grain shipments.
n Captured Tramp Thieves.