New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1906-11-14
BIG fire DESTROYS
GREAT Coal DOCKS
BLAZE AT SOUTH CHICAGO, ILL.,,
CAUSES ALMOST MILLION
DOLLARS DAMAGE.
THOUSANDS OF TONS
OF COAL ARE BURNED
City in Danger Of Being Wiped Out
for Time-Firemen Have Hard
Battle to Save Surrounding Prop
erty.


time threatened to assume the proper
lions of conflagration and wipe out
South Chicago destroyed the docks of
the Lehigh Valley Coal company at
one Hundredth street and Commercial
avenue Saturday. Fifty thousand tons
of coal were set on fire. The total
loss to property covering two square
blocks is estimated at $957,000.
The fire started in the engine room
of building used as storehouse for
coal. More than $4,000 tons of coal
were stored in the building.
Flames Leap Across River.
Directly across the Calumet river
were two four-story buildings used as
machine shops, where the machinery
necessary for the hosting of coal from
boats to the bins was manufactured
and kept in repair. The flames spread
to one of these buildings and the struc-
ture and contents were damaged to
the extent of about 100000.
The fire spread through the docks,
which extend along the Calumet river
time to spread to two vessels moored
in the Calumet river, the steamers
Peter A. Widener and the Manitou
Sparks from the burning building were
carried to the boats. Men employed
on the vessels formed bucket brigades
and extinguished the embers.
Crowds of Spectators in Peril.
South Chicago policemen had diff
Guilty in preventing the thousands of
spectators along the docks from crowd
ing on the steamers.
The fire burst forth suddenly and
the crowd on the docks, to escape the
heat and smoke, attempted to board
the vessels which were not far from
the coal DOCKS
Fifteen companies of firemen re-
sponded to the alarms. The fireboat
Protector poured tons of water into
the burning buildings from the Calu-
met river, and the prompt arrival of
the boat, which was but short dis
lance from the docks, saved surround
ing property.
800 Men Flee from Flames.
The 800 men employed in the ma
chine shops of the coal company ran
to the docks when the fire was discov-
cred and at no time were in danger
from the flames. Sergt. James Altman
of the: South Chicago police station
and several policemen assisted the
workmen from the buildings.
One life was lost in the fire, it is
believed. "Trixie," the dog mascot of
the f1reboat Protector assembled one of
the first ladders raised against the
docks and the firemen believe the dog
was burned to death. The dog left the
ireboat before any one aboard could
prevent it and ran up the ladder. 1t
did not return to the boat The fire
was under control before noon and
several of the engine companies re-
turned to headquarters No one was
injured at the fire so far as the police
learned.
Shipbuilding docks and lumber yards
surround the Lehigh coal docks, and it
was realized that if the flames were
not checked within the coal docks the
entire Calumet section would face de-
struction. The fireboat Illinois was
hurried south from La Sale street and
Fire Marshal Koran jumped into an
automobile downtown to make the 12-
mile run at record speed and take
charge of the fight
Residents of South Chicago rushed
to the docks and hundreds took part
in the fight against the flames. The
blaze mounted high and dense smoke
made it difficult to get to the center
of the fire.
Bad Blaze in Scranton, Pa.
Scranton, Pa, Nov. 12.-Fire of I'M
known origin destroyed the Carter &
Kennedy six-story building occupied
by the Foote & Shear Hardware COM
pany and the J. Scott Inglis Carpet
and Furniture company, and the large
tWo-story building of J. B. Williams
Bros. company, dealers in confection-
cry, toys and house furnishings, caus-
ing loss on buildings and stocks of
about S450,0OO. Seven firemen were
injured, one of them, Joseph Jay, seri-
ously, by flying bricks and falling
walls
l,,%i~