Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-19
INSTRUMENTATION.
A WeIl-Known Business Row and
Dwelling House Consumed.

used as a tobacco stemmery by Mr.. Nc
Daniel, an old citizen. There was frame
addition to Menefee's store, In which was
stored a considerable quantity of corn.
The proprietor had been dealing consider
ably in grain, buying in the ear, and she'll
ing and shocking and sacking in this part
Of the building. How the FIRE originated
is not known, but it was first discovered by
Morris Noah, one of the newsboys Of the
UNION AND AMERICAN, who was proceed
ing down the street with his papers. He
Immediately ran to the Hook and Ladder
House on Summer street, rang the alarm
bell and aroused the fremen from their
slumbers.
From this frame addition, in which the
fire originated, the fire spread with great
rapidity, and very soon the entire block
was enveloped in flames. The fire after
wards communicated TO a stable in the
rear, which contained a lot of mrles in
tended for shipment South. They had
been received at late hour on Saturday
night. The nickering of the mules, and
their terror-stricken appearance, as the
flames spread through the building, was
distressing to behold. A policeman, who
reached the spot when almost the entire
structure was in blaze, secured an ak and
succeeded in liberatiDg twelve of the ami
mails, all scorched and scared, while two
were burned to . crisp, having become
blinded by the fire and smoke, and unable
to find their way out.
Notwithstanding the fact that the wind
was blowing east, the fire then communi-
Gated to the old johnson residence, adj
joining the Norvell Block on the west, and
this building was also nearly completely
destroyed, much to the discredit of the
Chief Of the Fire Department, who is just
about as much fitted for his place as bull
in china shop.
The Norvell Block was one Of the oldest
brick buildings in the city, and when il
was erected years ago, was regarded as tho
finest business structure in the State, OF
POLITICALLY speaking structure of majes
tic Frame" Ii was too costly for the times
and the owner never realized much from
the investment, hence its name "NorvelPi
Folly"
Some years ago, the lots on which th'
building stood, were put up 10 the highes
bidder, and purchased at low figures. Th'
store on the corner of Cherry street, ant
the one adjoining we're the property Of ]
Bloomstein and E. Ellis, both of which
have been unoccupied since the frs
Of the year. The next two on the Yves
were owned by John Lnmsden, and occu
pied by Sam. Bradley as grocery, and pro
vision store, and the store occupied b.
Alfred Menefee, belonged to Moulton ant
Reed.
Bloomstein and Ellis, owners Of tn
corner stores were insured for $4,000 in on
Of Farnsworth & Clark's agencies. On thu
other two stores adjoining, John Lumsder
had policy in the State Insurance Com
pany for $4,000, and Moulton and Ree'
were insured in the Planters of Memphi
for $500. Sam. Bradley, had an insur
ance of $500 upon his stock 10 the Stat
Insurance Company, and Menefee unfor
tunately had no insurance.
The johnson residence was formerly tn
properly'o of James johnson, Esq and i
now owned by his heirs, represented b.
Dempsey Weaver, Esq. The building wa
insured in the Tennessee Marine and Fir
Insurance Company for $4,000, and it
estimated that $1,000 will cover III
/ damage.
Mr.. Bradley and his wife were arouse,
from the mornings profound slumbers b.
the smoke and flames, and escaped from al
/ upper room in their night-clothes, th
newsboy, Morris Noah, before mentione'
as having given the first alarm of the fire
rushing back and securing the baby, VIII
had been left in The room in the hurry an
| confusion.
A policeman Gays that Mr.. Menifee wa
brought forth from the burning buildin
just in time TO escape horrible fate. S
frightened was he by the danger, the nois
and tumult Of the fire, that he is said b
have tainted before he could get across tn
street.
Shortly after the FIRE broke out, an,
sometime before the arrival of the Chief G
the Fire Department,,on the ground, Capt
VIM. Stockell, the veteran Fire King il
the volunteer days, was lending a helping
hand to stay the fiery element. His En-
residence was only short distance abov,
the fire, and that and other buildings il
the neighborhood threatened destruction
Going to Capt. Ed. Horn of the Fire De
partment, he requested the privilege o
introducing plug stream to the rear 0
the building. Certainly" replied Capt
Horn, take the plug at the corner, and
will send some of the firemen with you
Capt. SlOckell then proceeded TO the plug
and after making an attachment, discover
ed that the crank was broken, and he coul,
not turn on the water. Addressing negr
belonging TO the Hook and Ladder Truck
he asked him for a monkey-wrench. Tn
reply was ego to HI, you id old fool
| He mold no otfeptinp 10 tla rap,grb on,
sent up to his own house to get the instru
ment, but in the meantime, Tom Perry al
rived with a wrench, and the waite
was turned on, aud under the direction
Of Capt Stockell, the building fronting
| on Cherry street, Immediately above Tia
| NorVell Block, we're saved from destruC
ton. Tho Captain highly compliment
the fireman who had the pipe, and cay
that he worked faithfully, and like tru,
fireman, going where his services wert
mostly required. After working at tina
point for some time, a stream of watel
from one of the steamers was turned il
that direction, and was doing more dam
age to the men under Capt. Stockell'S con
troll than il was to the FIRE. Capt. Stocked
here observed Bentley, the Chief of the De
partment, and requested him TO have the
stream turned. The reply was "go to
HI, you id old fool, and leave the
ground Immediately We report this
episode TO show the animus Of
the fends who are now running
the corporation machine. Instead Of
being thankful for assistance from
men of acknowledged experience, they