Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-01-11
From the Memphis Eagle Thursday.
GREAT CONFEDERATION,

A whoie Square Aimost IN Rmus Loss Of lht-
man L.it!-- Estimated Loss Of I,opety beiween
$ljo,Od0 and S200.00O.
Early yesterday morning our city was thrown
into intense excitement by the occurrence Of one
Of the most extensive and fearful confngratons
with which it has ever been visited. involving not
only an immense destruction Of property. but Of
human life. Nearly the whole square, from Ad-
ams TO Washington street, on Front Row. is one
complete mass Of ruins. Amidst the scene of dis
aster produced, it ia quite impossible to determine
with accuracy to what extent losses sustained
and the whole number Of those whom they TALL.
The fire is supposed to have orr siaaled in n bow
lingaaloon. kept by W. j. Whitsitt. which was
nearly in the ccntor Of tho square, aud is thought
to bc the work of an inccndiary. Some however,
cay that it originated in an ad oinug house kept
by an lrishman n boarding house. 1t was o.
clock yesterday morning when first discovered by
Mr.. Teufel who was one of the first that gave the
alarm Of fire. at which time the wind was blowing
from s. W. to N. T., Int changed from s. to NJ,
causing the flames to spread through the square
with astonishing rapidly. Nearly qnarter Of an
hour had elapsed from the time the alarm was Civ
On before the Fire Companies arrived. and, owing
to the difficulty of getting water, and the strong
wind that Was blowing at the time the flames soon
made such Roadway, that all efforts to subdue them
were unavailable. About fifteen buildings
destroyed most of which were brick. and three
store houses.
A large amount Of stock of various kinds WINS
aid to be in the cellars buried beneath the ruins
Several times during the day there we're heavy ex-
plosions. rs Of guupowder and other explosive ma
tsrial, which caused the crowd to scatter hitter
skelter, in the quickest Of time.
DR.. H. Slepyp, Of Fire Company No ;, had q
narrow escape, for he Was standingon stairway,
holding the hose and playing stream of water
when 1t was so hot his hands crsped, when the
walls fell all about him.
man, called by somc Davis. by others Rein
hardt, and by others again Brewert was literally
smashed by the walls OF one of the buildings fall
| ing on him. lie was AEON dug out of the RUNS
but he was lifelsss. The Firemen were raising
subscription yesterday with which to defray his
| funeral expenses.
1t was also thought that others were under the
ruins. as woman and two children were seen
trying TO make their escape, and it was supposed
they hndnot time before tho walls of an adio;n
ing budng Tell against the one in which they
were, causing ii Instantly to fall. Aud it was also
stated that negro wis last seen in the same
house.
Report said last night that two meu were miss
4 ing, Mr.. Davis, and Mr. Reinhardt. The de.
velopments of to-day will probably settle the mat.
tel Our opinion is, however, that there was No
other loss Of human life.
| Fl ,ht persons are said to have sustained more
or less injury; among whom, said to be Davis
slightly injured. and one Smith who was quit,
badly hurt. Thcse managed to save their lives b,
! crawling under counter before the walls wer,
broken in.
This is ono Of the largest confagratious that ha
| occurred in Memphis for many years. And
may be regarded rs highly fortunate that the fir
sprsad M farther. For, at the time, the wind wa
blowing sufficiently strong to carry Goals nearly
| mile. ..-. -l.
We beard tho loss rarisusly estimated at fror
S200y 900 to $4,000. We think that rather hg
md nil - fr,r
Fire Companies deserve much praise for the cue,
]. ~ and untiring perseverance, which theyv mantle,
ted, in endeavoring to subdus the destructive Gle
ment.