Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-03-23
Destructive Confiagraiion ON
Main street.
A Grocery burned Ont on
Front street.
Incendiary Attempt I'm the
Country.
OfLosses and
Insurance.

at two points during last night, hrsl
among the better class Of business build
ings on Main street. between Adams and
Jefferson, and afterwards on Front, near
the corner Of Washington street. The
FIRE ON MAIN
involved the burning out OF the upper
story Of the brick store house No 224'
and the injury, to q considerable extent
of adjacent property. This building is
three stories high, and was occupied by
Messrs. Rice 4 Engel, dry goods deal
ers, who had on hand at the time a
large and valuable stock of goods. The
FIRE was discovered frt between eight
and nine o'clock, by parties passing
through the alley in the rear Of the estab'
lisbment, by whom the alarm was given
The flames seemed to have originated
Immediately under the caves Of the rooi'
which was OF shingles, and spread so
RAPIDLY that before the engines reached
the spot the entire upper portion OF the
structure was enveloped and the streets
lighted up for blocks around. The de-
partment we're never more promptly TO
work. however, and the suddenness OF the
outburst of the flames was only equaled
by the suddenness of their extinc-
ton. The volume of water thrown
upon the burning pile was very
large, and consequently the occasion
of much damage to goods in the lower
stories, to which the fire did not extend.
The roof of the storehouse No. 222 like
wise caught before the arrival OF the
steamers, and the water thrown upon 1t
also descended in torrents to the apart
mepts below. This house, however, re-
Gently occupied by Taylor 4 McEwen,
was vacant at the time, and hence the
damage by water was very trifing. The
building No. 226, occupied by William
Jack. dealer in china and queensware,
escaped unipjured by the fire, but here
apain the water thrown upon the roof de-
scended below and caused some damage,
though very little. The injury to the
buildings was really confined to Nos. 222
and 224-the entire upper story OF the
latter being completely burned out,
and the roof of the former badly
injury. Messrs. Rice & Engeps stock on
hand at the time of the fire was valued
at about $4,000, and their loss will
hardly fall under $4,000. They were
insured as follows: North American,
New York, $4,000; Home, New Haven,
Conn, $4,000; Queen, London, $4,000;
Continental, New York, $4,000 Inter
national, New York, $4,000; Htna,
$5OOO Mr.. Jacks loss, through injury
of stock, will not exceed probably $1,000,
which is fully covered by insurance.
The building No. ga is owned by Mrs.
Mary Stevenson, of Lagrange, Tenn
Her loss will probably reach $4,000, which
is partially covered by insurance. The
building No. 222 is the property of VIM
Fellows, Esq, of Brooklyn, N. T., whose
loss will not exceed $4,000, and who was
fully insured in Eastern companies.
Misses wilkins & Gogen, milliners, who
occupied store No. 22O, will suffer lightly
from damage done to goods by hurried
packing.
The origin of the fire must remain a
profound mystery. No one, it would
seem, had been in the building since
three o'clock the afternoon previous
Three clerks in the employ of MessrsD
Rice Il Eugel who roomed in the story
where the flames were first discovered,
were all out and state that no fire had
been kindled in their room during the
day. Mr.. Rice was at church when the
alarm was sounded and knew nothing OF
the conAagration until after service.
FIRE ON FRONT STREET.
Between three and four o'clock this
morning, a second alarm was sounded,
and the engines, which had barely re-
turned from the fire on Main street, were
again called to another quarter of the
city. The alarm in this case was occa-
stoned by the discovery of flames in the
rear of the one story building, No.
1904 Front street, occupied as a grocery
by James Holmes, Esq, agent.
The fremen were again promptly on
hand, and quickly stayed the flames.
Mr.. Holmes loss will probably reach
$4,000, much of his stock either being
destroyed or badly damaged by the two
elements-fre and water. His insurance
amounts to $4,000 in the EIua, of Hart
ford. The building, which is owned by
U. B. Shelby, of Charleston, Ind, was
damaged to the extent Of about $1,000,
upon which there was no insurance.
The fire was very evidently the work of
an incendisry, it having originated from
the outside in the rear of the building,
where a quantity Of shayings were found
scattered on the ground this morning.
IScEYDILRIsN IN TIE COUNTRY.
An unsuccessful attempt was made to
FIRE the church at McGee's Station, on
the NJ. 4 c. R. R., during Saturday
night, but the danes we're discovered
aud quenehed before any great damage
was done.
During both fires in the city last night
We cannot commend too highly the gal