American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-08-07


hundreds of men were soon at the
scene of the conflagration. The
flames were discovered first in the
building recently occupied as a pho
t)graph gallery, one door north of j.
w. Luckett's store, and, having en-
wrapped this with mantle of fire,
they rapidly extended to the adjOin-
ing buildings, making their way with
equal and uninterrupted speed to
both ends of the street, north and
south, simultaneously. After remov-
ing as much as possible of the goods,
everything that could be effected by
undisciplined and unOrganized labor
was done to save the buildings, but,
they being entirely of wood, some of
them containing highly cOmbustible
matter, this was soon discovered to
be vain, and abandoned as fruitless.
Then enSued "a scene of such lament
able and terrific grandeur as we hope
we never again may be called upon
to witness. Fifteen or twenty light
frame buildings of highly inhamma-
bic pine, wrapped in solid sheet of
flame, casting gigantic light far out
into every direction, and filling the
midnight horizon for miles with the
glare of its baleful conaagration, pre-
scented a grand spectacular, scenic
display" fromre beholdingwhichmay
Il mercilul Providence spare our peo-
pie for many a year to come.
! In less than three hours from the
beginning of the fire, the devouring
element had reduced one-fourth of
the business portion of the town,
with the exception of a single build
ing of brick,) to mass of Goals and
ashes; and now, as we write, we
look from our window towards what
was so recently a busy, bustling,
prosperous row of buildings occupied
by some of our most prominent mer-
chants and mechanics, and behold in
its stead line of tottering chimneys
and heap of Wondering rubbish
and it is with gratitude that we re-
member that nothing but the calm.
ness of the night, the lack of wind
the special interposition of Proyi
dence, it seems, in our behalf, has
spared us the misery of beholding
our entire town, perhaps, in the
same unsightly and lamentabIe con.
diti0n.
Never, perhaps, was there more
complete demonstration of the incf
fcctuality of undisciplined force
against the ravages of fire. Although
there were many hundreds of per
Sons-nearly all of them men-on thu
streets within a few moments after
the alarm was given, their numbers
were unavailable, and their labors
except in moving small portion o.
the goods, were Intellectual. Not {
single building in the line of the fir
could they save from destruction
not single obstruction could they
place in its path, till its course was
checked on one end by the thicl
brick wall of J. b. Sherrard'S store
and on the other by the width of the
road and a row of protecting CHM
. trees. just think of six or eigh
hundred men, strong, able and anx
ious to work, standing with thei
hands in their pockets, powerless
with all their strength, for lack O
, discipline, commanders, and instru
; ments wherewith to combat the dc
strOyer. 1t was Il sad sight, and on
: Of which the good sense of propert
holders should prevent the repet
ton. We give below u synopsis c
{ lOsseS-as accurate as could be oil
tanned by a reliable reporter; bu
we would state that at this time, ov
[ ing to the confusion and hurry inc
} dent to the fire, it is, perhaps, onl
partially correct, and we shall civ
a more reliable statement in OF
next.
Il Cassell & BauChn-drug store
- loss byremovaI and burning-S3, 90
= Insurance, : 200.
n Mrs. Sims-milIincry-loss vcr
=, slight-not known.
u DIR. NclsOn-Oflicc and residence
- about $1,000.
= j. A. Reid dry goods and groc
- ries-5 800. building owned |
Ia X. Kidder) loss 81 ,S00-insured.
- j. w. Luckett-dry goods and 81
ceries--Ioss So 800 insurancc$5, OC
: building owned by II. Kiddcr
= 81 500
w. j. Curran- boot and sh,
stOre-loss S., 100; insurance 81 sc
S. Magruder--stOre house, unOcc
;. pied-s3, 000-insurance $4,000.
Bunne & Lindeman-saddle al
"a harness shOp-loss 81 800. (Buil
ing about 81, 50O.)
N. Wenkler-shoe shop-IOss ~
u insurance $3.50.
~ }. NJ. llale-grocery-Iosss s., 80
y insurance $1,000. building own,
by VIM. McBrde-ahout -. 900.
j. Farrcll-bakcry-loss 81 90