Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-04-11
Destructive Fire!
FOUR HUs1NEss HOUSES HUHNEDss

Miraculous Escape from a Most Acfflni
COnflagrasiOn'
Yesterday morning between one and two oelocl
fire was discovered issuing from the rear OF tn
building on the corner Of Union street and Printers
alley, between College and Cherry streets. occupie,
by GEoRGE GRErG as a confectionery and a resi-
dence The fre-bels sounded the alarm and ou
gallant fremen hew to the rescue, and it require,
great energy and presence Of mind to rescue th
family Of Mr. GREI0, who occupied the upper storie
As residence. The fire when discovered had
made such rapid Roadway as to cut off retreat BY
the stairway, and the family had to be rescued BY
means Of ladders leaving no time or opportunity t,
save any Of the valuable furniture with which Mr.
GREIa had furnished his establishment. Indeed
with such haste did they have to make their retreat
that they were unable to save any of their wearing
apparel.
In the meantime, the fremen and others were
busiy engaged in removing the confectionery from
the store room on the first floor and succeeded in
saving large portion, though in greatly damaged
condition.
Every effort the while was being made by the va
riOus fire companies to check the progress of TIE
flames, but they had got such Roadway as to render
It impossible to prevent them spreading to the adj
joining building occupied by Mr.. J. FLOWERS a
jewelry store and residence and the efforts Of those
present, not engaged at the engines, directed
to the removal of Mr.. FLOWERS stock of jewelry
and furniture, &c, which was accomplished in a
markedly careful manner. Mr. FLOWERS himself is
absent having gone North few days since to pur-
chase additional stock.
The flames still continued their progress up
Union street, notwithstanding the uHceasng efforts
of the fremen and the building occupied by Messrs
BARNES Co, as eating house, and Mr.. JOIN LUCK
music and variety store, were fast crumbling be-
meath the terrible onslaught Of the devourng element
Alarge portion Of Mr.. LUcKs stock was removed
though it was greatly damaged.
The buildings on the opposite side Of Union street
were several times on fire and it required great eff
forts to prevent their destruction.
A stiff breeze had been blowing from .he south
west during the whole time of the fire. and carried
the sparks to great distance. A number Of stores
on College street and the Public Square were in i'm
minent danger Of being set fire. Indeed, some
three or four. including the Methodist Publishing
House, were actually on fire several times. Had
the fire got a hold on the opposite side OF Union
street or upon College streetor the PLblic Square,
we should have witnessed the most destructive
cOnfagraton that ever visited Nashville We trem-
bic when we think how narrow an escape the city
made from general conhagration.
As the fire attacked the building occupied by Mr..
LUCK, the wind veered somewhat 10 the north, and
it then feared that the fire would sweep every
building from that pontup Union and Cherry streets
to Bank Alley, including the residence of JACOB
McGAvoCK, Esq. But by almost superhumAn efforts
on the part of the firemen, the flames were stayed
in their wild career at Mr.. LUcKs building. That
gallant fireman, Capt. SToCEELIp remarked to us
yesterday morning that he could scarcely realize
how the thing had been done, so immirent was the
danger. He further remarked that it was the most
dangerous fire and most difficult to manage, that
we have had since the great fire Of 1856 which
burned the Nashville Inn, the Court House, and a
number Of business houses.
We find it difRcuit to get at the actual loss sus-
tanned from the fire, but hear it variousy estimated
at from $4,000 to $4,000 Mr.. GHEIG had his
stock insured with Messrs. NASH & MAEE for $1,000.
and his fixtures for $780, and his furniture was in
sured in the Commercial Insurance Company for
Sl,jOO His loss Will exceed his insurance by per-
haps $1,000. Mr. FLOWERS had his stock insured
with Messrs. NASH MlIR for s. 500 and his show
cases for $780, His loss will probably not exceed
-ivV -NGlLlltE JAlsNEe ~ 10 llOE LUCK were IN
sureI We DO not know what the loss Of the for
mer viii be, though it is supposed to be compare
lively light, Mr.. LUCKs loss is estimated at from
$1,000 to $1,000, though it may exceed the highest
estimate from the fact that much of his stock that
was saved is materially damaged.
The houses occupied BY Mr.. GEEIG and Mr.. Flow
sis belonged to the estate Of the late F. \. Nc
NARY, and were insured in the Commercial Insu-
rance for $4,000 each that occupied by Messrs.
BARNES Co. belonged to the estate of the late DR..
JOIN H. YoUSG and was insured in the Protection
Insurance Company for 1850; and that occupied
by Mr.. LUCK belonged to Mr.. VESSEL, of the firm Of
VESSEL. q THOMSON, and was insured in the Ten
nessee Marine and Fire Insurance Company for
$4,000 The loss on these houses will exceed the
insurance by as much probably as $1,000 on each.
Nothing is certainly known as to the origin of the
fire. though it is supposed to have been accidental
1t was reported yesterday that an employee Of Mr.
GREIG, who lodged in an apartment in the rear Of
the main building, seen going to his room At a
late hour Monday night considerably under the in
huence Of liquor. ard it is supposed by some that
he may have accidently communicated fire to the
building 1t may have originated in some other
way Il is fearful to think that the TOO free use
of liquor caused the terrible confagration Of yes
terday morning and the bare suspicion that such is
the case should cause him never to taste it again
STATE AGRCULTURN. BUREAU.-At the session of
the State Agricultural Bureau, held Monday night
Mr. CAvITT, from the committee appointed to report
suitable resolutions touching the death Of Maj E.
e. EASTMAN, late Secretary Of the Bureau, present
ed the following resolutions which were adopted
bv Il unanimous vote.
WHEREAS, Dealt, has since the last meeting Of the
State Agricultural Bureau, stricken from our midst
our late Secretary, Maj. f. G. EASTMAN; and where
as in his death this Bureau has suffered a severe
loss he having served Us faithfully since its Organi
alton and bv his arduOus lab0rs contributed large
e. III ant ftF tho