Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-12-19
TERRIBLE FIRE DISASTER.
Fourteen Lives Lost-Several Per.
sons Injured.

terrible disaster Ny hrei "hlCn oSCuiicu
this morning and resulted in the death of
fourteen persons and the wounding OF
several others. About quarter past
three o'clock flames were seen issuing
from the rear of the confectionery estab-
lishment of Joseph Specht, at 36 Madison
street, which is four story brick build
ing, about one hundred and twenty-five
feet in length, situated at the corner of
an alley. The alarm was Immediately
given, and several citizens and the Fire
Department hurried to the spot By this
time the fire, which originated in the
cellar in the rear, was making
rapid Roadway, thick volumes of
dense, black smoke ascending and
filing every room in the large building
There were about twenty-five persons
asleep on the third and fourth floors,
who, becoming awakened, appeared at
the windows and shouted to the people
below to save them. Ladders were pro.
cured, but they were too short to reach
the windows, and it appeared as if the
terrified persons who were shouting for
help in agonizing tones could not be
helped. Many of them fell back, over
powered by the smoke, and died. One
man jumped from the fourth story, fell
on his head and was instantly killed.
Chief Waldraven entered the front part
of the building went up stairs, where he
found Mr.. Specht, who was endeavoring
to break open the door of an adjoining
room in which were Mr.. Jehle, his wife
and child. They succeeded, found Mrs.
Jehle insenSible, carried her out, when
she motioned to the crib for her
child. On going TO the crib Mr.. Jehle
was found by the side of it on his hands
and knees, dead. The child was found
in the bed, uninjured, and carried out
Mrs Jehle died a couple of hours after
being taken from the building. Fourteen
persons we're lying dead in the offices of
DR.. Knode and DIR. - this morning,
where they had been carried. Seven
white males, one white female; two
males, two females and two children, col
ored. The names Of the dead, as near
as we could ascertain them, are
as follows: William Jehle, who kept
variety store on Main street, near Madi-
son; Mrs. Jehle. John Houck, confec-
toner, jumped from fourth story window,
killed instantly. A German confeetioner
named John. Augustus, waiter. Frank
Reidelheuber, pastry cook. Philip, a
candymaker. German cook, who has
worked for Mr.. Specht for several years.
A negro boy named Tom. Lucy and
Dolly, negro women, and Lucinda and
her two children, also colored. Among
those who escaped from the building we're
Mr.. Specht, who was asleep in the third
story. Victor Swasburg, bookeeper, and
Lewis Correl, clerk, who reached the
ground by aid Of the fire ladder An old
lady named Mrs. Yarby, Miss Sallie Lee,
and a daughter of Mr. Specht's were
saved by aid of ladders Joseph Partell
jumped from a fourth story window and
fell in the mud; his injuries are not very
ser;ops C. Waller let himselff fall from the
fohrth story and caught a window shutter
below, from whence he was rescued by
ladder. Chief Waldraven particularly
distinguished himself in his exertions for
the relief Of the sufferers, and succeeded
in saving several. Col. Hepburn, W. c.
johnson aud J. W. Penn, private watch
man on Main street, and a policeman
named Brown, were among those who
manfully exerted themselves on the oc-
casiou. The fire department paid their
attention to the FIRE, and soon succeeded
in subduing it. The damage to the bald
ing and stock is estimated at seven
thousand dollars, which is fully covered
BIZ Insurance. The origin of the FIRE is
unknown. and supposed to be the work
Of an incendiary. Mr.. Specht was up
shortly before three o'clock, when there
was no fire or any sign Of il 70 any part
Of the building The fire was confined