Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-22
APPALLING CAFASTROPHR.
The Burning Of Speeht's RestaurRnI--
Fourteen Lives LOst--Fuli Account of
the Calamity.
From tbe Memphis Post, Dec. ig.

From the Memphis Post, Dec. 10.
One of the most frightful and appalling
disasters from FIRE which it has been our
fortune to witness, occurred last night, in
the burning Of Speeht's restaurant. The
building occupied for this purpose stands
on the south side of Madison street. 1t is
four stories high and nearly two hundred
feet deep. The front is of stone. On the
second story is a balcony extending nearly
the width of the building. Above the
third story is a similar balcany which, how
ever, is but five or six feet long. The first
floor front was occupied as a confectionery
store. In rear Of this was a kitchen, bak
ing and confectionery establishment. The
ovens and machinery were in the rear
cellar
The second floor was occupied as a res
taurant 1t was served in magnificent style,
and was the resort Of the elite of the city.
Mr.. Specht slept in the front room on the
third floor, and Mr.. William Jehle, wife
and babe in the room adjoining. Others of
Mr.. SpechPs family and employees occu-
pied the remaining rooms on the third and
fourth floors, -.
Last night Mr.. Specht and family did
not retire till about 2 O'Clock. Mrs. Specbt
was out of town At about $40 this morn
ing he heard a cry Of fire, but not at first
thinking it serious, did not rise. Again
he heard the cry and scented strange gas
in the room. He rose, and looking out of
the window ON the alley side Of the house,
saw the flames bursting from the rear and
lower window. Tn smoke was rolling up
in dense and suffocating clouds. Fearful
screams were heard from every window.
The FIRE bells successfully Wakened the diff
ferent portions Of the slumbering city.
The engines were in a moment laundering
throughlthe streets, and such a cry of "fre"
and agony was heard as will not soon be
forgotten. sasE pa
Mr.. Specht shouted and beat at the door
of the room occupied by Mr.. and Mrs.
Jehle. He could secure no response. He
tore down his curtains, tied them together
and to the iron baluStrade on the third
story, and climbed down to the balcony on
the second story The fremen were al
ready there. The ladders were put up and
manned with speed worthy of those brave
fellows. Mr.. Spechts children--Joseph,
lad of thirteen, and Stella, miss often
Mrs. Yarbra, his mother-in-law, and Sarah
Lee. a neice, who were in the front rooms,
were rescued. Mr.. Swanbury, the book
keeper, and Mr.. Korrell, a clerk, were
brought down the ladders from the fourth
story.
Among those whose daring and energy
deserve the gratitude Of every human per
son, are Capt Reed, Capt Waldraven, and
George McGinn, of the fire department,
and officer Brown, Of the metropolitan POI
lice. All of these assisted in the rescue
The rooms we're filed with smoke, but they
made their way into nearly every apart
ment.
We believe al who were then alive and
uniniured were saved. Officer Brown
broke into Mr.. Jshele's room. he was
living in one corner, and his wife on the
floor near the bed The only signs of life
with the former was the beating Of the
heart and the pulse. He died In few mo-
ments after reaching the ground. Mrs.
Jehie could not speak, but her mothers
love was stronger than death. She mo-
toned agonizingly toward the bed, in
which lay her infant but month old. She
was brought down, but survived but few
moments. Her babe was saved by being
covered with the bedclothes, and still lives.
In the meantime, several of the inmates
had attempiedso save themselves from the
smoke and the devouring elements. by leap
ing from the fonrth-siory windows. Mr..
Joseph Barthol, a nephew Of Mr.. Specht,
Jumped from that story into the alley, and
striking in a mud-hole, saved his life. IL
was a fearful leap, but though severely
bruised. not bone was broken.
OF all who attempted thus 10 escape and
reached the ground, he is the only survivor.
Mr.. Walter, a clerk, leaped from the same
story, and was fortunate enough to catch =
blind on the third story, TO which he chung
till rescued by the fremen. IL was a won
dsrful escape. These had all leaped be-
fore the fremen gained access 20 their
rooms. They found theother unfortuhates,
who renlained in the rooms, lying on the
hoors or at the windows sufocated
The survivors and the dead were re-
moved 10 the Offices Of Doctors Knode a
Rives. in she next building. The former
necaiyet eVerV attention, and the latter
were laid on. for burial As tenderly e cir
cumstances would permit. OE6cer hanan
was statianed al the entrance 20 keep the
crowd ont. He allowed us ACCESS. 1t was
a horrid spectacle.
In the ofiee lay Mr.. VIM. Jehle, in real
grave clothes. lie was young man OF
great promise Is merchant His adver-
tisenens as wholesale notion dealer has
for sometime past appeared In the columns
Of the P6ss. He vas only tweuiy-sFen