The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-09-20


ANOTHER. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.-We had
calculated on a good sleep yesterday morn
ing after the late hours we had kept the
night before, but about O'Clock, and just
as we had turned over to sink afresh into
the arms of Somnus, the fire bells again
pealed forth an alarm. Upon looking from
our window this time a dense smoke was
rising from the direction Of Fourth and
Main Streets We fastened to the scene,
and on reaching Main Street discovered
the store room in Pasey's Block, between
Fourth and Fifth Streets, and occupied by
Vickerys Brothers, as a grocery and pro-
vision store, wrapped in flames, an6 a
large crowd of people congregated in the
streets awaiting the arrival of the en-
gines The firemen and horses had not yet
got rested from their run to- and from
Sharp's Enlargement, and it was some
time before they reached the scene Of ac-
ton. The new steamer arrived first and
commenced playing on the fire. Next
came the Eagle. (hand engine) No. l, and
got on a good stream of water, and were
quickly followed by the Union No. 2, but
although three heavy streams were poured
into the burning building, so fierce were
the flames that all efforts to subdue them
were vain. The flames rolled up in mas
sive volumes, filling the damp air with
sparks and cinders, and threatening the
surrounding buildings.
There were several cans, of gunpowder
in the store, and'before we arrived one of
these exploded, bursting out the front
windows and slightly injuring two or three
men. Mr.. Ed. Hebb was considerably cut
with broken glass about the head and face,
and James Farmer and another gentleman
were slightly injured. Two or three other
light explosions of powder and coal oil
occurred, but did no damage farther than
to feed and increase the flames as they
ragged and devoured all inflamable materi-
al within it's reach. The building across
the alley, occupied by Zebra & Zinck as a
trunk store, was on fire frequently in the
roof, but the stream turned on it for mo-
Inent extinguished the flame and confined
the destfuetion to the one building.l At
length, as the joists burned of, the side wall
next the alley swung out and crushed in
the roof of the building occupied by Zebra
and Zinck, which was only two stories
high, and also the windows in the second
story. Most of the goods were carried out
of Zebra & Zinck's trunk store, and many
goods were removed from the store of Chas.
McJohnston, two doors below.the building
on fire. The block having been built with
high fire walls, and covered with tin, the
fire did not spread. 1854 ~ l.t = R.g4il
A great deal of smoke passed through
joist holes in the wall, and issued from the
third story of rooms next to the one
burned, and considerable water was
thrown in through the upper windows.
The engines, s~e presume, did ali they
could under the circumstances but we can
nothelp believing that if they had thrown
the water into the lower part of the build
ing, it would have proved more effective
The fire is supposed to have been caused
from water accommodating inT an excava-
ton back of the lot and coming in contact
with unslaked lime, of which some 200 bar
rels were stored in the cellar The safe was
taken out after the building had burned
down, and when opened the contents were
found to be entirely preserved. Vickery
Brothers estimate their loss at between SI2,-
900 to $4,000, on which they had a policy
of IS, 900. A policy on the building, we are
told, had expired but a few days ago and
had not been renewed. Zebra Zinek's
loss will probably be 500. McJohhston
suffered slight loss by the removal of their
stock of goods. Evansville. for the past
five years. has been particularly exempt
from fires, but they have. been more fire.
quent this year than usual, and we think
| it would be well tomore thoroughly organ
ize and drill the fire department. Practice
in handling an engine or a nozzle is just
as necessary to make perfect as in any
thing else.
| b.
THE RAIN.-Never since the days OF
J, Noah-and then Evansville was very