The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-02-28
A S5,OOO,OOO BLAZE
Disastrous Fire Sweeps River Front
of New Orleans.
TWELVE SQUARES BURNED OVER
Modern WharVes, TWO Grain EleVa'
tors, 10000 Bales Of Cotton, Hun
dreds Of Loaded Cars and Large
Number Of Small Homes Destroyed.

tors, 10000 Bales Of Cotton, Hun
dreds Of Loaded Cars and a Large
Number Of Small Homes Destroyed.
New Orleans. Feb. 27.-Fire involv-
ing millions of dollars loss in physical
property. and that strikes a serious, II
temporary. blow at the immense eX-
port trade OF New Orleans, swept the
river front and wiped out the vast
freight terminals OF the Illinois Cen
trail. known as the Stuyvesant Docks.
Nearly a dozen squares OF r 'ern
wharves and freight sheds, two mag
nificent grain elevators, hundreds OF
loaded cars and vast quantities or
freight. Including 10000 bales OF cot
ton. were destroyed. together with
large number OF small residences. The
fire was still raging furiously this
morning and had almost reached the
upper end OF the Illinois Central
property. 1t has not been determined
whether there has been any loss OF
life. The oceans going shipping seems
TO have escaped serious damage. A
number OF hremen and employees of
the docks were injured. Actual esti'
mates of the losses are impossible,
though they may exceed $5.00O,O0O.
The Stuyvesant Docks extend from
Louisiana avenue almost TO Napoleon
avenue. a distance of IL squares. The
wharyes between these two points
were covered with miles OF trackage.
and steel and iron sheds ran the en-
tire distance.
The two grain elevators were OF the
most modern construction. the upper
one having a capacity of a million
bushels Thousands OF bales of cotton.
several hundred thousand packages or
sugar. great quantities Of cotton seed
oil and oil cake. lumber and every con
ceivable variety of freight filled the
warehouses and sheds. Practically all
the export business handled by the
Illinois Central was put aboard ships
at these docks.
a journal that had not been sufficiently
oiled. The whole plant was equipped
with gigantic water tanks and fire eX-
tnguishing apparatus, but the blaze
small at the beginning. almost in
stantly got beyond control commune
eating through the conyeyors 10 the
lower elevator and some Of the sheds.
The response OF the fire department
was prompt but owing to the fact
that the terminals were not readily &C
cessible. because OF fences and tracks.
the engines found great difficulty in
reaching the flames In half an hour
the fire covered two squares. the lower
elevator was practically consumed.
and the fire was sweeping with ire
sistible fury both up and down the
river.
Fortunately Louisiana avenue is \
very broad thoroughfare. and the
further spread of the fire beyond that
point into a residence section was
checked. Between the points named
however. the flames swept TO com
plete destruction many cottages CT
the poorer classes. the occupants in
great many instances losing all they
possessed.
The river boats, the employees OF the
road and the fire department concen-
trated all their energies in an effort
to save the upper elevator between
Auestrlitz and Constantinople streets
and to check the fire at the point. The
fire, however. gradually worked past
the point occupied by the elevator
HerOically the forces kept at work,
but ultimately they were beaten, and
the big steel structure, covered with
corrugated iron. suddenly burst into
flame. and in half an hour was a COM
plete wreck.
During the fire a heavy wind blew.
and the blaze was of indescribable
fury, carrying brands to great dis
tances. driving back the crowds OF
sightseers