The Western Sentinel

A Great Deal of Manufactured and Leaf Tobacco Burned—House Cost $10,000: Insured for $8,000—Other Losses and Insurance.

Winston was visited by a serious conflagration at 3:10 Saturday morning. The large five story brick factory, fronting on Vine street, and occupied by Messrs. Jones & Cox, including machinery, manufactured and leaf tobacco, were destroyed.

It was a big fire and disturbed hundreds of people who were enjoying their early morning slumbers. How the fire originated is not known. It was first discovered in the Southwest corner of the building. Winston and Salem's fire departments used every effort to save the property, but the fire was beyond their control.

Mr. Charley Cox, junior member of the firm, roomed on the second floor and his first knowledge of the fire was after the stairway had burned down. He was awakened by parties who threw rocks into his room through the window. He made his escape by coming down a ladder which was placed at his window.

A dwelling house on the east end of the factory lot, occupied by Ella Blake, was damaged about $100 by the falling wall. The end of the kitchen was badly disfigured by the brick.

The factory was erected three years ago by Messrs. Jones, Cox & Co., at a cost of $10,000. They were carrying $8,000 insurance on the building. The firm had 35,000 pounds of manufactured tobacco on hand. They had $6,000 insurance on their stock of manufactured and leaf tobacco and machinery.

Messrs. Coleman Bros. also had 4500 pounds of manufactured tobacco in the building, which was insured for $1,600.

The R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company had about 130,000 pounds of good leaf in the factory. It was insured for $8,000. Mr. Reynolds thinks his loss will be two or three thousand dollars above insurance.

Mr. H. W. Fries holds a mortgage on the factory and lot for $10,000. The factory was to have been sold at public auction, by him, the day it was burned.

THE WATER PRESSURE.

When the fire alarm was turned in the flames were rushing out of a half dozen windows in the factory. Owing to the fact that the reservoir is being repaired, the firemen were at first greatly perplexed, as they knew no water could be obtained from this quarter.

Chief Hanes sent Mr. Frank Brown to the station to see what pressure could be maintained. With four streams, from 1 inch nozzles, during the fire, a regular pressure of 50 pounds was maintained at the station. The work of the engines, pressure, etc., is shown in the following report furnished THE SENTINEL by Chief Hanes:

Winston steamer No. 1, under a steam pressure of 90 pounds, water pressure of 130 pounds. No. 2, with a steam press of 100 pounds, one line of hose, maintained a water pressure of 160 pounds: two line of hose with water pressure of 95 pounds.

Salem engine No. 1, two line of hose, 95 pounds of steam maintained: a pressure of 130 pounds.