Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-06-20
FAYETTEvlLLE, June II, ls4s.
RUINOUS FIRE.


An awful calamity has befallen our town
I'VE have been desolated by that dreadful
|scourge which seems this year to have been
Vet loose upon cities and towns indiscrimi-l
|nately. Fiends in human shape infest everyI
part of the land, blighting in an hour, with theI
midnight torch, the fruits of years of labor
|lnvolvlng In one common and undistinguished
|ruin' the riches of the prosperous and the pitt
lance of the poor.
on friday morning, about half.past 2, fire!
was discovered in warehouse back of store|
ION Hay street, about 300 feet from the TOWN.
house, in the very heart of business. The
Iextreme drought had made every thing that
was combustible as'dry as finder, and almost
las quick prey TO the devourng element. It'll
spread rapidly up Hay street, till it reached
the new brick store Of John Waddill, IT,, oc-I
|cupled by Henry Lilly, which was saved, |
and stopped the fire in that direction. Down.
Hay street it swept every thing to the corner
Iot Market Square, thence down Green street,
to Eccle's Bridge. except Mrs. Perry's dwell
ll'ng Just at the bridge; passing round the cor
Iner OF Green street, Miss Bingham's dwelling
and several large brick and frame warehouses
the fire broke out, it crossed Hay street att
Lilly and J. D. Starr. next to the Lafayette
Hotel, Zone of the handsomest and in every
respect best Hotels in the South,) and again.
on McArn's buildings. Up the street the fire
was stopped after destroying only one bull
ding above the Hotel-the store occupied by
John WaddiIl, Jr., and owned by the estate
Of W. Whitehead. Down the street it con-
sumed every thing to the market Square, and
around Gillespie street to Franklin Alley.
down that Alley to Donaldson street; across
the Alley to the warehouses and stables on
the South side, and was finally arrested at the
Lafayette Hotel Stables, which were saved
kby prodlglous exertions, and which prevented
kthe loss of many other buildings. The Town
House in the centre Of Market Square, was
saved almost against hope, the wind rose
and blew the flames against it, but so much
kdepended upon saving it, in stopping the fire,
that those who had taken post upon it fought
on, though almost despairing, and finally
success crowned their efforts. Engine Compa-
Ivy No. did invaluable service at this point
ION The East side of Green and Gillespie sts.,
on which the wind set, the most determined
spirit was also manifested, and though fire
Twas frequently communicated, it was not al
lowed to ger the mastery. On the South side
Aof Hay street, the dwelling of Mrs. McRae,
Nsen., was saved almost by miracle, by the
determination of few persons aided by En-
kgine No. 2.
4 This fire was communicated by sparks in
kseveral places, among others on the roof of
the Presbyterian Church, but precaution was
taken in all quarters to prevent its extension,
Eexcept where the immediate contact with the
kfames rendered it impossible.
. This disaster is not by any means so extern
81, a. &C. L
Eour town on the 29th of May, 1881; but is
He'd the best part of the business portion of Fay
sof goods. 1t has travelled over the same giound
las that fire, except that it stopped short of a
Elhird of the space then destroyed. AS near
aas we can count there were tfty-three front
stenements destroyed, (of which about half
were handsome buildings,) besides the valua-
bic warehouses, &c., in the rear and on the
sback streets. The loss can scarcely be less
than three hundred thousand dollars, but is es
ltimated by many at 100000, of which from
is 25, 900 to Isl, 900 were insured.
We proceed to g we list of the sufferers
Jas accurately as the confusion will admit of.
4 North Side Of Hay Street.!
James Kyle. large brick store on Marke
kSquare, with heavy stock of goods. Los:
k$45, 900, insured for $4,000.
Isaac Dodd, large 2 story brick front store
and dwelling, and stock of goods. Loss $40,
1000, insured for 5000.
Estate Of Margaret Pearce, store building
Loss $500. Not insured. This was occupied
by Owen Houston' whose lossis $780, insur
I'M, Beasly, store and stock Of jewelry
O.
H. Branson, two story dwelling and store
Loss 1900. Insured for 800. These wer
-Aoccupied by Mrs. Brown as Confectionar,
q and dwelling. Her loss is probably $500
E Insured for 1000.
i Double tenement, one story, owned by J
NV. Sanford, not insured, the stores were &C
e kcupied, the first by G. P. Malett and tn
s Rockfsh Company, as an office, books saved
s zfurniture only lost; the second by E. Glover
sjeweller and matchmaker, who lost 1900 t
k$2OOO, every thing he had, and along with hi
sown, some 100 gold and silver watches in hi
: khands for repair; no insurance. One stor
e Building owned by T. l.. Hybart; occupie
! Nby 7. ]. Johnson, as shoe shop. Doubl
etwo story building. with warehouses, owne
9 kby T. L. Hybart, occupied by c. B. MaIIet
whole loss in goods not insured, is about ST.
kOOO; and by D. & w. McLaurin, whose los
BIS 5000, insured for 1850. The building
: sworth $500.
J.. The four next two story tenements, wit
warehouses in rear, belonged jointly to I. J
SCurtis, and the estate of Whitehead. Los
$4,000. Insured for $500. They were occupie
.sby E. Fuller, who lost $500, insured for l50(
$ SNott & Briggs, loss 5000, insured for 40O(
sAnd G. LutterIoh, loss $500. Insured.
] Double two story building, owned by D. A
: aRay, one occupied by R. w. Hardie as
bookstore and Bindery, whose loss is 1000
Eal he had. No insurance. The other occu
e pied by D. A. Ray & Co.. whose loss is 75Ot
seof which $500 is covered by insurance.
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