Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-03
DOCKS WIPED OUT
Merchants and Miners Ware
houses at Savannah Burn.
LOSS PLACED AT 100000
Small Dwellings Also Consumed,
Families Without Homes-Hotel
in Aiken Destroyed.

SAVANNAH, Ga, February Sire de-
stroyed the docks and warehouses OF the
Merchants and Miners Transportation
Company yesterday. a large amount of
freight and five blocks of small houses in
the Yamacraw section near the river
front. The loss will reach 81 900 600
The fire originated on the Baltimore
pier OF the Merchants and Miners Com
pany. There was a loud explosion, fol-
lowed quickly by two others. which shook
buildings in radius Of a quarter of a
mile. The flames spread with such rapid
ity that before the firemen arrived the
greater portion of this dock was afire.
This pier was piled high with freight, all
of which was soon destroyed. Fortu-
nately all the vessels in the vicinity had
steam up and they We're quickly moved
to places of safety as the fire spread
along the docks.
Pier After Pier Burns.
Pier after pier with its contents was
burned until the docks of the Merchants
and Miners Company had been wiped
out. The flames threatened the large
wharves Of the Ocean Steamship Com
pany. A shift in the wind saved them
but sent the flames up into the Yama-
craw section. lying along the river, and
destroyed several blocks of small homes
and business buildings. Many persons
were rendered homeless.
In addition to the wharves and private
property destroyed, the Planters Rice
Mill was also burned.
The heaviest loss falls upon the Cen
trail of Georgia railway, owners of the
Merchants and Miners terminals and the
freight stored in the warehouses. The
loss to this company will probably reach
$4,000.
The origin of the fire is unknown.
Hotel Destroyed by Fire.
AIKEN, S. c., February 3.-Park-in-
the-Pines, a large hotel, was destroyed
by fire yesterday. So rapidly did the
flames spread that few of the fortyfour
guests had time to save any of their
personal effects. All. however, escaped
without injury. Col. A. E. Dick, manager
of the hotel, was overcome by smoke and
was carried unconscious from the build
ing. The loss is estimated at S25O.VO.
The building was three-stOry frame
structure and contained III rooms. The
fire is believed to have originated in a
storeroom in the basement directly at
the foot of the elevator shaft.
Mounting swiftly through the aperture
the flames spread rapidly. Some few of
the guests tar1ied in their rooms to
gather up some of their belongings, and
the moments thus wasted came near cost
ing them their lives When they reached
the halls they were turned back by a
black volume Of suffocating smoke and
had to make their way to safety by
means of the fire escapes.
Guests Lose Money.
In the Office safe. deposited by the
guests, was about $1,000 in cash, but so
rapid was the spread of the flames that
the clerks did not have time to save it.
although the safe was open at the time.
Park-in-the-Pines was owned by Mrs.
Macarthur of Detroit, Mich. 1t was built
in 1903 at a cost of S16O 600. About $75, 900
more had been spent for furniture and
improvements.
longtime residents of Aiken recalled
that it was just fifteen years ago today
that the Highland Park Hotel. n IA
nous winter restort in Aiken. was de-
stroyed by fire under similar circum-
stances.
Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Strouse of Balti-
pmore, Mrs. Strouse being a sister of DR..
Harry NJ. Kaufman of this city, We're
among the guests of the hotel when the
fire occurred. They went to Aiken last
week shortly after the death of Mr..
Strouse's mother. DR.. kaufman received
word from the couple that they had es-
capped injury, and that they would come
here. 1, is expected they will arrive
tonight.