Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-17
Terrible COniiagrati0n.
Three Buildings Consumed on thS
Public Square---S2OO,GO Worth
Of Property Destroyed.
THE BODY OF CHARLES MoOREs CONSUMED
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
THE ALARM.

morning our citizens were aroused by the fire bells.
At first, it was the general feeling that the alarm
was one of those which of late have barely sutced
to make short newspaper paragraph But cOnsid-
cradle apprehension was created when volumes of
smoke were found be issuing from the extensive
Wholesale store of Cooke Moores Il Co, adjoining
the International Hotel on the Public Square. The
engines were promptly the spot, but about half
an hour wasted in an Intellectual effort to con-
meet with the ire-plugs College street It seems
that when the new water pipes were laid in this
.horoughfare the water temporarily turned of.
The Superintendent had ordered it to be turned into
the plugs again, but the employe to whom the in
tructions had been issued had neglected to obey the
orders Finally connections were made on Market
street. near the ST. Charles Hotel and at other points,
several csterns being brought into requisition.
FIGHTING THE FIRE.
Meanwhile the flames, though smothered were
making rapid Roadway within the building. The
alarm had spread far and WIDE and an immense
crowd had collected on the Square. The door in
front had been broken open, and dozen of buckets
and coil Of rope, the only article saved without
damage were taken out by citizens to be us ed
in subduing the flames. An engine was sent to the
rear and began to throw steady stream through
side window, while three others were stationed IN
front In spite of all exertions, however, the flames
spread with great rapidity, and soon rose IN vast
sheets and innumerable fakes of fire foated off, set
Ting on roofs half mile away. The second and
third stories, occupied lodging rooms, had been
deserted at an early hour, many Of the occupants
escaping by the back windows, the front exit being
cut of Very few saved anything of the content
of their rooms. The fire originated in the counting
room, but exactly how is only matter for conjecture
PROGRESS OF THE CoNFLAGRATIoN.
The night was very cold, and the flames shot up
in lurid sheets with fierce intensity; shedding all
over the square and various of the adjacent streets
the light OF mid day. The ruddy glare even illu-
minated distant parts of the city, tempering the
darkness to a mellow twilight and glittering on the
far-of spires ard roofs. The scene was grand and
sublime. The hot blaze crept out of the windows,
curling around the woodwork in fantastic shapes
while the volume of the flames swelled up from the
center of the building, with a sullen ar and the
dense clouds of smoke gathered like # thun-
der-clouds over the devoted building, unchanged
with embers and cinders, gradually drifting off with
the breeze to the westward.
SCENES OF EXCITEMENT.
The guests of the international Hotel, next door,
were thrown into CONSERVATION, and fastened TO
quit a locality threatening much danger. Men
and afrighted women swarmed out OF the door, car
rving with them trunks valses, and bundles which
they sought to deposit IN places OF safety Many
parties apprehcnding confagraton OF the entire
block began to remove valuabes from various stores
Quite number of these articles were afterwards
stolen. As the barrels of whisky in the store Of
Cooke, Moores & Co. caught fire and exploded, Ike
bursting shells in q siege the flames seemed to surge
up with an intenser effort and were swept over the
high walls of the hotel The cornces took fire and
for time apprehensions were entertained that It
would be impossible to save the building. The hotel
Kitchen with three fine ranges, furniture, utensils
and provisions was entirely consumed. 1t Is mis-
take that the fire originated here, have heard,
as many persons were in that part of the house af-
ter the alarm.
SPREAD or THE FLAMES.
Despite the exertions Of the fremcn at clock
u. g. Mt 1,,r rYN,r-
ton of this building with stores of Furman 4 Co.,
| and Adams, Gibson & Co, were soon reduced TO a
mass of ruins. The front portions, with parts of their
contents were saved in damaged condition. Here
the confagration was stopped with but very little
damage to the adjacent buildings.
! The engines were kept busy until hait-past eight
o'clock this morning in subduing the fire, at which
all retired except the Eclipse No l, which contin-
ued to pour a stream of water upon the smouldering
| ruins for two hours more.
FINDING THE BODY OF CHARLES MOOREs.
At about 10 O'Clock the cLarred remains Of Chas
Moores one Of the firm, were found where the count
ING room had stood. The lower limbs were entirely
consumed, nothing remaining except the ribs, the
heart the lungs, the entrals, and pieces OF the skull
forming a cinder-covered sickening mass, smoking
like meat on the broil, and emitting the smell 0!
roasting beef. How he came to his desth is, Of
course, only matter for conjecture An inquest wa:
held, eliciting new facts The remains were con
placed in a neat coffin, and transferred to Edgefed
oPENING THE SAFE.
Mr.. HousIy was employed to open the safe O
Cooke Moores & Co. which was done with Difficult
tv The contents were found all SAFE but somewha
scorched though not enough to iniure their value
TIE LOSSES.
The loss of Cooke, Moores & Go. cannot be e1
acty determined, though it is estimated by the Sc
Nor partner to be some 100000 moro than thu
amount of assurances. policies having been taken il
several Nashville and Louisville companies.
The loss of R. S. Page is from 5l5,0oo to $4,000
no insurance.
The loss of Furman s Co.. in clothing and dr.,
goods is laid at $4,000 with insurance for S25, 900
The loss of Adams, Gibson & Co. is estimated 8
$4,000, with insurance for half that sum.
Two thousand dollars will probably cover the los
of the International Hotel and 5000 that of Skif
Wills mainly from water.
The three buildings are almost a total loss, whci
probably will be covered by $4,000. One belonge
to Alexander Fall, q second to r. 5. Page, and tn
third to Mr. McGavick.-NashUitie Press 8 Time
Norris p1 I