The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1868-02-07

HhAR AHNNR $3.50
spared the visits of the dread FIRE
king and onr citizens had began to-
think that such a thing as a FIRE was
a very unlikely visitor, Suddenly and
without warning, a fire broke out
and in three hours, some of the largest
buildings in town were in ruins.
now IT OCCURRED.
About l o'clock on Monday morn
ing MIR, Gus. Kennedy brother of
A, Kennedy, Jr, who was sleeping In
tho back part Of his brothers store,
Main street, two doors west OF Gay,
was awakened by a sense of being
%sutfocatsd. Hastily gathering up his
clothes which lay on a chair by his
bedside he rushed for the front of the
store, and before he could make his
entrance into the open air his hair
was singed and he was otherwise
scorched.
AT that hour, there were of course,
but few passers.by and it was some
time before the alarm could be given.
The Court House bell was rang Wig.
orOusly, and some of those who first
came on the ground attempted TO
ave some things from Mr.. Kennedy's
store, but the smoke was so intense
that il vas scarcely possible to see.
Those who first went into the store
are of the opinion that the fire was
caused by the explosion Of a coal oil
lamp, which seems probable, from the
fact, as stated by Mr.. G. Kennedy,
that on retiring ut night, he had left
q coal oil lamp burning, though he
had turned the wick down very low.
The lamp stood at the far end of the
counter from the door. In an open
ing in the floor, just under the end
Of the counter, were stored some bags
of feathers, GOTTEN mattresses, &c,
and the fire getting into them, caused
the dense smoke which drove back all
who attempted to enter the store.
H STEAa ENGINE.
About al hour elapsed after the
alarm was given before the engine
was got on the ground. During this
time the crowd assembled was en-
gagged in carrying out the drugs,
medicines, &c, from the store of
Messrs. McCIannahan & Brooks which
was the next door to the burning
building and from the law Office Of
Messrs Logan, and from tie Dew
Drop Inn, which was the next door
east. Most of the liquor, however
from the Inn we're only saved from
the flames to be swallowed up by
many of those attracted TO the scene
After the enginge arrived on the
ground, the fires had to be lighted
in it, and much precious time was
lost in hunting for a Ratchet to chop
up kindljng wood and in procuring
t%urpentine to pour on the wood so
as to make it burn the quicker. Once
started, however, the engine done
well, ill q plug blew out OF the few
when the fires were pat out. By
this time, however, the water in the
c%istern, corner of Gay and Cumber-
land streets, as we'll as that on the
n corner of Gay and Main %steets,
was nearly exhausted so that the
engine could not have done much
more service.
II SUFFERERS.
From Kennedy's store, in which
the fire originated, the flames spread
eastward. The next building west
was occupied by Messrs. Brooks &
McClannahan. These gentlemen saved
all their goods on the first floor, but
got nothing down from the second
story. The next building west was
empty in the lower story. On the
second floor, Messrs. logan & Logan
had q law office. We believe all
their books and papers were saved.
In the anne building with A. Ken
needy, the Government had 3 bonded
warehouse, with'S4,S0O worth of
liquors which were all burned up. On
the east of Kennedy's was the Dew
Drop Inn. The most, of the liquors
in it were subsequently, drank up by
the crowd, In the third story OF this
bgidiDg the Odd Fellows had q
Room The hall was hand
furnished with new carpets
furniture &c. and the regalias of the
members which had lately been pur-
chased and were very fine, were in one
Of the rooms. The Lodge lost every
Some of the members during
the progress of the fire, attempted
to force their way into the Lodge
room, but were driven back by the
South of the corner, was a
small one-story building, occupied by
DR.. Tadlock, rs an Office and dispen.
sary. Adjoining this again, was a
brick building, occupied by
Messrs. Nelson 4 Cruzo, general
dealers. The second story, or q part
Of it, was occupied as 4 law Office, by
Judge Jones. The stock of Messrs.
Nelson & Cruze was nearly all car.
ried out of the store, but was sub
,equently stolen by some of those
who are always ready to pilfer when