Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-12
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE In KNOX.
WILLIE.
Total Destruction OF Kennedy'S
Block,
Estimated Loss over $4,000.

proved to be in one of the most valuab
Q blocks Of buildings in town, and, whe
first discovered, had SO far progressed .
to render any resistance to the spreadir
: and deyouring flames by the ordinar
means perfectly futile. First, the THO
: black smoke curled up in thick column
then the red glaring flames burst fortl
and for a time fears were entertained tbs
the entire block would be destroyed, an
in all probability the most vulable por
tions of the town. Fortunately shove
of rain had fallen yesterday evening, an
at the time the fire was at its worst
slight sprinkle OF rain was falling. Thi
prevented the flames from communica
ting to the shingle roofs adjoining the fir
| The colored fire company was prompt
ly on hand with their engine, and imme
diately commenced as best they could t,
throw stream Of water on the burn
ing buildings. They worked manfully
throughout, and by their energy and eff
cheney, deserve, and-wiH receive, thI
thanks of the entire community. AL
will agree that they, by their efforts, con
tributed materially toward stopping tbs
spreading flames.
The steam engine was also Out
promptly, but was somewhat slow in get.
ting up steam, and from some cause was
slow in getting to work effectively. After
getting to work they very soon exhausted
the supply of water at Smiths corner,
and then moved to Main street. A short
time after getting to work there, one OF
the tiues of the engine was bursted, and
before it was repaired the fire had been
arrested.
The fire is believed to have originated
in the room occupied by Mr.. Hayely, a
painter. 1t was said by some to have
originated in the Masonic lodge room,
but We conVersed with Mr.. Cruze, and
he assures us that he extinguished every
spark of fire before leaving the room.
Theiloss is heavy. At no time in the
history Of Knoxville has there been q
more destructive conhagration. The
flames ragged for more than two hours,
bidding defiance to every effort to stop
their mad career. The loss will amount
to fifty or sixty thousand dollars. OF
this, about forty thousand dollars is COW
cred by Insurance. in such companies as
the Home, of New Haven; Home, of
Georgia; Phoenix, Hartford and Etna.
Messrs. Rayl & Boyd, one of our
largest retail dry goods firms, were COM
PEELED to remove their stock The build
ing they occupied was entirely consumed.
The greater portion of their stock was
saved, though in greatly damaged con-
dition. They, we learn, were insured
for $4,000, which will probably cover
the greater portion Of their losses. The
building was the property of Geo. NJ.
White, Esq, and was worth about &c.
OOO-insured for $500.
Next to Rayl & Boyd was the drug
store OF W. q. Ingles Il Co., a valuable
stock, valued at about $4,000, we learn,
with an insurance of $500. A great
portion of their stock was also removed,
but it is well-knOwn that it must suffer
great loss by such removal.
The wholesale liquor store Of r. NJ.
Bearden contained very valuable stock
of goods. We are unable to give an
estimate of the value, but suppose it will
reach $4,000. The greater portion of
this stock was lost-covered by insurance
to the amount of $4,000. The buildings
occupied by Ingles & Bearden were
owned by W. s. Kennedy, and were
worth from $4,000 to $4,000, with not
a cent of insurance.
In the third story of the building was
the Masonic lodge room. The entire
furniture of the lodge was lost, which is
no small loss. The furniture of Masters
Lodge, Pearl Chapter, and the Command
cry, was entirely consumed, with no in
surance.
The building occupied as provision
store by George NJ. White & Son, was
destroyed, with no insurance. The stock
of goods was mostly carried out, but,
like everything else, in damaged condir
ton. We learn the goods were insured
to the amount of 81 800. This will
PROBABLY cover the loss. On the second
floor of this building was the millinery
establishment of Miss Mary O'Keefe.
Her goods were all removed.
By the vigorous efforts Of few gentle
men, the building occupied by Mr.. Moses
as a hardware store was saved. He,
however, removed his entire stock, and
will suffer considerable loss.
The stock of M. F. Smith & Co, auc-
ton and commission merchants, was re-
moved, and the house occupied by them
torn down. They will also suffer loss,
but how. much we are unable to say.
The house occupied by P. Shropshire as
an auction room, was also torn down, to
prevent the spread of the flames. Stacey
& Angel, at the corner of Gay and Cum
berland streets, under the Lamar House,
removed their goods. At one time, it
was believed the building belonging to
Mr.. Parks, on the corner of Gay and
Cumberland, would be consumed, in
which case the Lamar House. and preb-
ably the entire square on which it is
situated, would have been consumed.
Mr.. Jacob David also removed his
stock of clothing, and will, no doubt,
entertain a serious loss.
Some wooden buildings on Cumber~
land street, adjoining the st. Nicholas
Restaurant, were torn down.
In the second story of the building
occupied by r. M. Bearden, was press,
type, etc, enough for newspaper office,
which was lost. 1t belonged to Col.
John Williams.
1t is impossible to give anything like
correct statement at this late hour OF
what the entire losses ara, but they will
approximate to the figures above given.
Fears were once entertained for the
safety Of the Ramsey and Deaderick
Block, on the opposite side of the
street, but Providence seemed to favor
the town. The Press and Herald
office was in such danger that the pro-
prietors commenced to move the type
and fixtures.
At liz o'clock, the flames seemed to
have spent their fury, and ceased to
communicate farther Men, worn out,
began to retire to their homes As is
generally the case, few men fought the
devouring elements with their whole en-
ergy, while others, not few, stood by
without. making..an effort to save the town.
We regret to have to announce a Sc
rious accident which happened to James
IT, Lowry, while heroically doing every
thing in his power to arrest the flames
He fell through the second floor of a
building, and was seriously hurt, some of
his limbs being broken
Gen. James P. Brownlow also fell and
was badly bruised We consider it very
fortunate that amid the tumbling in of
burning walls, tearing down buildings,
and throwing around timbers, no others
were hurt
We will now enter into lecture upon a
more efficient organization of our fire de-
partment. Certainly all will now see the
necessity for it
As we write, the streets ,are almost
clear again. A few drunken fellows ap4
pear gleeful, no matter if the town was