Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-22


Destructive Fire Ou Church street
Loss s2O, OOO-Insurance sII,OoO-In
efficiency Of fire Fire DepRfnlene
About O'clock yesterday morning frt
broke ont in millinery establishment on
Church street, opposite the Stacey House
in the building belonging to n. f. Allo,
way, Esq, and adjoining the McKendree
Church The alarm was given immedi-
ately by the ringing of all the city bells
NeFer was there exhibited a scene of more
| splendid confusion in the history of fires in
this city. The new fire department, un-
trained in their duties, reminded us Of a
| camp of militia in which bombshell had
been thrown at night The engine from
South Nashville rushed frantically towards
the Capitol, passing the fire aud then came
back down High street like a hurricane, to
/ the vicinity of the fire. Before HE engines
| reached the spot the streets were crowded
| with people, all anxious to do something TO
guell the surging flames. Though one of the
engines was only few squares from the fire,
alarm was given till an engine was on the
spot. The negroes who have charge Of the
hook and ladder company were enjoying
blissful dreams of corporation checks,
long after the fire was under full
headway. 1t is said that they had to be
walked up in order to see the fire, though
it occurred in less than one hundred yards
of their engine house Before the engines
were fully at work. the fame had burst
through the roof and was painting pana-
roma terrifcally grand on the clouds which
hung over the scene. After the engines got
10 work, they made desperate efforts, but
the orders were given and countermanded
with such rapidity that no two worked to-
gether, and Babel never heard snch a
mongrel compound of negro iargon. The
building was a two'story brick residence,
with small frame stores on the 'front.' The
porch was sustained by large square
framed pillars, which fed the devouring
element with the most combustible ma
terial. Not one-half Of the time was the
water thrown as high as the top of the
house, when, if the engines had been
skillfully manned, they might have thrown
three converging streams to the top of the
McKendree steeple.
Why this apparent tampering with the
demon fire is not known. In the first place,
there was not sufficient steam and the hose
were not directed with any skill or pre-
cision.
Seeing the ineficiency of the fremen.
Capt Stockell, an experienced fireman in
the old department, stepped up to one of
the men and commenced giving some in
structions, but he was abruptly told that
his suggestions were not needed. A stiff
wind sprung up from the southeast,
which alone saved McKendree Church,
as the roof was on fire at one time.
The house on the corner of High and
Church streets, recently sold by DR.. II. A.
Achison to the Odd Fellows and occupied
as boarding house by Mr. Shepard, was
in imminent danger all the time the roof
having caught several times. The build
ing was occupied as a residence by Prof.
Joseph Jones, Of the Medical College, who
had moved in only few days before. One
of the stores was occupied by Crane & Co.,
as a retail drygoods store and the other
by Mrs Higeley, as a millinery es,
Enlistment. The fire ragged as long as
there was combustible material to feed on.
As to the origin of the fire we have only
the following facts: 1t broke out in the
millinery establishment of Mrs. Higeley.
On the day before the fire, Mrs. Palmer,
who was working in the establishment
discovered that there was smoke in the
room, and at several times during The day
went into the back room to see if il come
from the stove. The fire had died out in
the stove, but the smoke continued through
OUT the day. She thought it perhaps come
from the furn zee, which was under the
main part of the building. She left the
room at 8 O'Clock the night of the fire,
and says there was still some smoke
in the room, DIR. Jones informs us
that this lady came rushing into his IL
brary the day before the fire, and
asked if there was anything burn
ing in his room, saying she smeIt
something burning. The millinery es-
adjustment was insured few weeks ago
for $4,000 in the Planters Insurance Com
pauy of Memphis. Prof. Jones and family
barely escaped with their lives. Mrs.
Jones did not have time to dress, but had
to fee with her little children in their night
dresses. Arson Nelson, Esq, who has sleep
ing apartments in the building, would
have lost his life if it had not been for the
thoughtfhlness of DR.. Jones, who went to
his room and awoEe him in time to escape
the flames which were then tapping their
forked tongues around the whole building.
Mr.. Nelson lost many valuable papers.
Prof Jones lost almost everything he
possessed on earth. He had, perhaps, one
of the rareat collections of scientific works
in any private library in the South. His
library contained three thousand volumes,
many of them having cost him twenty dol
lars in gold apiece. In his library were
many valuable manuscripts, containing his
scientific researches, and the history of
many important developments made in his
medical studies during the war. The books |
and manuscripts were badly damaged by
water; his loss in this respect being two
thirds of their original value. These man
uscripts have been the result of many years
of close, critical study He also lost
all his surgical instruments and many
valuable pieces of silver, given as testi-
monials of professional regard. Professor
Jones had no insurance, and his loss was
at least $4,000. In this sudden calamity
he has the earnest sympathy of a commu-
nifty which appreciates his eminept attain
ments and high Christian character
Crane & Co., dealers in drygoods, lost
their entire stock. Insured for $4,000, one
half in the North American and one-half
in the Security Company, both of New
York; fully insured.
The owner of the building had $500 in-
surance in the Commercial Insurance Conn
pany of this city.
Mrs. Higeley was insured in the Plant
ers' Insurance Company of Memphis for
$4,000; fully insured.
Musical Concerts.
Mr. J. b. ROMANS The lady managers
or H. -