The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-27
Destroyed by Fire Which Started
in an Elevator.
IN STORED FREIGHT.
The Loss Is Estimated at Four
Million Dollars.
Ten Ships at the Docks Had a
Narrow Escape.

New Orleans. Feb. GA fire which
started at the Illinois Central terminals
in this city made clean sweep OF ele-
vators and sheds from Louisiana. ave-
nue. to Napoleon avenue.
With the fire that destroyed its i'm
mense export terminals still burning.
though beyond the power to do further
/ damage, the Illinois Central railway
announces today that as soon as the
ruins cool forces Will be put to work to
clear away the debris and Stuyesvant
docks and elevators will be promptly
rebuilt OF a more elaborate and SUBJ
stantial scale than before. Meantime
the officials of the road are today en-
gagged in the formulation Of plans that
win enable them to handle the trsfiio
now on its way here from the west and
avoid any meterial diversion Of freight
from this city.
Conservative estimates figure the I'M
mediate loss by the fire at s5.oOO.oOo. di-
vided as follows:
Wharves, $4,000; two elevators.
warehouses, wharf sheds numbers to
8, and part of No. 9. new F. o. B.
cotton warehouses, $2,500,000; cotton de-
stroyed, %, 600 bales, $92O,OOO; 100000
bushels of grain, S3S5,O00; $4,000 barrels
of sugar, $500 600; cotton seeds cake, 13G
car loads, $97, 500; lumber, $751; SIS; ce-
IlenL. S5b,EbUs meal, ~ cars 4AUsuUDa
sundries. $3.50 600; 500 freight cars, $75,-
600; ships damaged, $500.000i city FIRE
department, two engines and four
horses, $15. 900; private property and
1t is estimated that the insurance on
stored freight. ETC., Will approximate
$4OOO.O0O.
The railroad company carries its own
insurance and the contents of the vari-
Gus elevators and sheds were insured
in the local and foreign agencies.
The wharf covered 4.450 feet over
distance of ten blocks OF this wharf
fage $500 feet and what it contained
was destroyed. the remainder at the
upper end of the terminals being saved
through the fact that the wind blew
strongly in the opposite direction The
/ destroyed wharf cost $600s0O0.- Elevator
ID" leased to Harris, Scott & Co, OF
Chicago, cost 100000 when built and ell
/ evator e which was operated by the IL
linois Central $500, 900.
Apparently no lives we're lost in the
fire, though there were many narrow
escapes of those who were engaged IN
lighting the flames owing to its rapid
spread and lives were constantly en-
dangered by debris of all kinds that
was whirled through the air ths
escape of two fire engines was cut OK
and three crews had to run for their
lives Driver Charles Richardson OF
No. being painfully hurt. me nre
started in the conveyors TO eleVdt0E
ID" Tt spread with remarkaDis
rapidity, sparks dropping into oil bar
rels on the wharf and extending tha
flames in every direction Ten SHIPS
were lying at the docks when the hre
started and all except two escaped
without damage. The Indian of the
Leland line had her rails, cabin
house, masts, etc, wiped clean of and
the Cycle was burned about the bow
and sides. All the tugs in the harbor
that had steam up hurried to the scene
when the fire started and By heroic
efforts succeeded in pulling the steam
ers into the river out of reach OK
flames.
superintendent c. NJ. Dunn directed
the forces of the railway company for
several hours and when the IRE was
under control went to the ONCE OF tn9
company where he spent the nlght IN
wire communication with officials east
and west in settling the lines FOR clear
ing the wreckage away. He said that
it was probable that the piers, eleva-
tors and shed could be restored with
in year and that they would be made
more extensive and substantial than
those destroyed.
Mr. Dunn said in his opinion the fire
originated from spontaneous combus-
ton Throughout the night and today
many messages passed between the
local officials and the head officers OF
the company in New York and Chicago,
and ARRANGEMENTS were set on foot to
take care of the traffic now en- route
here and to provide for handling the ex-
port and import trade of the company
until the docks are rebuilt The Texas
& Pacific has an immense elevator Al
West Wego and there also is an elevator
at Chalmett, the property of the Fris-
co. General Manager Preston Of the lat
ter road rendered the use of the Chal-
nett property to the Illinois Central and
it is probable that the traffic will be
handled to that point.
In addition to the railroad property
the fire destroyed the Crescent Ice COM
pany plant. many small stores and a
arge number of small residences. and
many pathetic scenes were Witnessed as
he poor occupants of them struggled to
save their small belongings at the risk
IF their lives. The fire will temporarily
throw out of employment a large num-
Der of employees, but this loss viii be
by the very much larger
number which will be employed in the
course of a few days in clearing away
he debris and reconstructing the ter
ninals at the highest attainable speed.