The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-09-30
HIGH Winds FAN
B|GBLAZE ALONG
GALVESTON DOCKS
Loss, Including $500 Bales
of Cotton, Expected to Ex-
ceed $4,000, ,oo0--FIames
BROUGHT Under Control.


GALVESTON. Tex Sept. so.-Firs
originating in sulphur bins at pier 35
at 2 o'clock this morning spread rap.
idly along the water front, result
ing in The destruction Of pier 50 with
its contents, extensive damage to the
plant Of the Cotton Concentration
company Just south cf the pier, and
destruction Of $500 bales of cotton
in the plant with other commodities
The plant OF the AnchoF Milling
company, a cottonseed cake grinding
plant. situated tist south Of pier Sss.
was destroyed The steamship Fran-
COMA in the slip at pier "a escaped
with only minor damage.
The firm became especially men
acing when II swept toward seyera
large oil tanks, A sudden shift OF
the wind, however, turned the flames.
National guardsmen on duty in
connection with a strike OF dock
workers were thrown about the fire
zone and spectators were not per-
mitted within a quarter OF mile
OF the scene.
The fire is still burning but Is
under control. The Italian steam
ship-Etna, with Z cargo Of wheat. is
aflre. Several streams of water are
being pumped into the ship. II Is
believed the cargo will be lost. Dam
age to cargo and ship is estimated
at $l.000,000.
The loading devices of the sulphur
plant, where the fire originated and
bins in the neighborhood Of pier 35
were destroyed Some OF the sulphur
storage bins, however. were saved.
The fire wall on the east side OF
pier 36 prevented spread Of the
flames TO that pier.
Several steamships in the vicinity
Of the fire were moved TO places of
safety as soon as 1t became appar-
ent the fire would be serious. These
ships were the Hornby Castle, Brit
ish; Erken, Swedish. and Ventura
de Larringa, British.
Railway switching crews saved a
large number Of freight cars. II is
reported 10 cars OF cotton were de-
stroyed but II is impossible to verify
this report,
All fire fighting apparatus of the
city. the fire boat Charles Clark and
several tugs responded to the alarm.
Great difficulty was encountered in
fighting the fire because Of the wind.
which was blowing at about 30 miles
an hour. For a time IL seemed the
flames would spread from the water
front across the railway yards TO
the residence section. but prompt re-
mOval of freight cars in the path of
flames enabled the fire fighters to
hold them in comparative check de-
spite the adverse conditions.
EARLY today II seemed certain the
loss would exceed $4,000 900.
Forty freight cars on tracks a. the
sulphur plant. were completely de-
stroyed. A high density cotton COM
press of the shipside compress com
pany. which is under construction
near pier 36, has been saved.
Several firemen were overcome by
fumes from the burning sulphur, but
none of them was in serious &C idi-
tlOn.
More than a hundred men OF the
national guard troops on duty here
have been on duty at the fire all
morning. The men are working in
relays and those close to the fire are
given frequent relief.
Forty firemen were overcome by
fumes Of the burning sulphur short
ly after their arrival at Pier 35, Fire
chief Ryan stated Capt. Thibedoux
was struck By falling piece OF tim
Der and taken 10 his home,
According 10 Ed McCarty fireman
on the Ajax derrick barge. at Pier 3S,
the fire started about l:40 am. He
saw smoke and small blaze in the
sulphur bins and Immediately. gave
the alarm. An explosion inside the
sulphur plant, believed TO have been
several oil containers. occurred about
3:l5 am, Fire Chief Ryan said Tim
bers were hurled several hundred
feet in either direction.
At o'clock Chief Ryan announced
the blaze was under control.
Fire Chief Ryan received IA letter
yesterday postmarked from some city
in Canada, warming him that you are
going 10 b" destroyed The letter,
which he took 10 be the work Of a
crank, was merely signed John"