Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-13
KNOXVILLE.
The Late Fire-Incidents of the Con
nagratsOn.

Hagrats0n.
At breakfast time yesterday, Gay street
from Cumberland to Clinch, presented a
ruinous and desolated appearance.
Where the evening before had stood as
fair block of buildings as any other in-
land town could boast of, nothing res
NAMED but lettering walls and heaps OF
rubbish, while piles of broken lumber,
boards, shingles, rQy door and window
well nigh impossible All around were
piles of boxes and barrels which had
been carried or rolled out of the burning
buildings; crowds of curious citizens
anxious TO see with their oW u eyes the
ruins of the greatest fire which has ever
visited Knoxville, thronged the sidewalks,
while the red-shirts of the firemen and
and the blue coats of the policemen gave
a semi-military air to the surroundings
From the time of our going to press on
Wednesday morning, the flames gradu-
ally diminished and became less fierce,
till about clock, when a stiff breeze
from the westward famed them into life
again and the smoke and sparks few
against the buildings on the. east side Of
Gay street to such an extent as to cause
fears of another eonhagration. The
Holston Fire Company No. 2, (eolored)
was ordered out and stationed at the els.
tern, corner of Gay and Cumberland
streets. Their hose was laid through
the latter street to the rear of the ruins,
and for an hour or two water was
thrown on the seething mass of eoals.
At The same time heavy shower of rain
fell, which aided greatly in cooling the
red-hot bricks. Gangs of men and boys
did Igood service in throwing down per-
tions of the walls which were still
standing, and thus prevented ali danger
of accidents happening to incautious
curiosity seekers, who are always around
on occasions of fires.
During the morning Mr. W. C. Ingles
had lot of men at work, getting his
safe out Of the runs When found, it
could not be unlocked, and had to be cut
open. The contents were found in good
order.
INCIDENTs.
The safe of Rail & Boyd stood in the
street the greater part of the day, till the
firm got settled in their new location.
Mr.. Rail is in California at present,
settling up the estate Of his brother, who
died there short time since. Mr. Boyd
is in New York buying goods
Daring the progress of the fire Tuesday
night, the lady bOarders at the Lamar
House became greatly alarmed, and one
or two had their wardrobes packed
Several OF the merchants on GAY, ops
posite the fire, had portions Of their
goods taken out the back way
Messrs. Ccwan, McClung IL Co, fur
nished large supply Of buckets, which
were used 10 aud about various buildings
close to the fire
Mr.. McEwen furnished number Of
blankets which after being wet were
hung over the doors and windows Of the
Press and Herald building, and for
which kindness the proprietors of the
journal tender him their thanks.
Nearly every store On Gay street, withr
in a square either way Of the burned
buildings was crowded with goods, saved
from some of the burned stores, and it
was late in the day before some Of them
were cleaned up and put to rights again.
The gas men dug out the main in the
street in front Of the ruins during the
morning, and turned off to stop cocks,
though it seemed as if gas could be seen
burning among the ruins during the
greater part of the day.
We understand that Mr. w. c. Ingles
had policy of g, 500 on his store, which
expired only few days ago.
We are pleased TO learn that Col.
Brownlow, who was injured at the Ere,
was able to be on the streets yesterday.
James T. Lowrey has also recovered suf-
6ciently to be removed to his home in
the country.
The police are making search for prop.
erty stolen during the late fire; with their
due vigilance, we are confident that they
will be enabled to recover some of the
property
LOSSES.
1t is yet impossible for any of the 5uf-
ferers by the fire to tell the exact amount
of their losses. Great quantities of the
goods saved were in damaged condition
and probably are not worth half their
original cost. The aggregate amount of
the losses will be about $4,000, of which
probably one half is covered by insu
rance.
The press and printing material of til e
old Free Press newspaper were stored IN
the second story of Bearden's store. 1t
is, of course, a total loss. A portion of
the material belonged to Ex Senator Da.
vid T. Patterson, and the ramainder to
Col John Williams of, this city
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
Those who were first at the scene Of the
fire states that it appeared to have COM
menced either in the back room Of the
second story of Bsardens store, or be-
tween the ceiling Of the second story and
the floor OF the third, and that it was
probably occasioned by fire from the
fiue OF chimney, as the flames were burn
ing close to the chimneys The fire did
not as stated yesterday, commence in Mr.
Havelys paint shop, as he occupied the
front room of the second floor Of Bear
den's store, there being two rooms be-
tween him and the rear wall of the bull
ding.-KnorUW Press and Herald
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