Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-01-22
have made an advance more in accordance
with the modern discoveries and improve
ments in other branches of industry.


ments in other branches of industry.
TERRIBLE CONFEDERATION IN SMITHvILLE-
SEVEN BUILDINGS ENTIRELY CONSUMED IN
MEsE LOSS OF PROPERTY, AND GREAT DIS
TREss. The little town of Smithville was
visited by a calamity yesterday morning,
so terrible and destructive in it's form that
it's recollection will never cease to awaken
in the minds of the inhabitants pictures OF
the dread disaster with which it was at.
tended.
The particulars of this disaster have been
gathered from the reports of those who
reached our city from Smithville after its
occurrence. About 4 o'clock yesterday N or
ming the kitchen attached to the portion Of
the double tenement building of Mrs. S.
B. Everett occupied by Col. S. u. Thurs
ton, was discovered to be on fire. The oc-
cupants of the house were aroused by those
who had discovered the fire, but SO great q
progress had it already made, that barely
time was allowed 10 remove themselves and
effects before the whole building was con-
sumed. The other side of the tenement
was occupied by an officer of the United
States. The flames were Immediately com
municated to the house of Mr.. Mark Rey-
nolds, above the Everett building, which
was entirely destroyed, and to the follow
ing buildings below, which were also to-
tally consumed. viz {: the store occupied by
Mr.. E. Legg, and owned by Mrs. Everett,
and the store built by Dunn, Dwinelle &
Co., and occupied by P. Prioleau & Co.
But even here its progress was not stayed.
The street at this point is about 80 yards
wide. but taking advantage of the stiff
breeze blowing a manner favorable to the
furtherance of its destructive ends, the fire
crossed this street and enveloped in it's
consuming embrace the dwellings of DR.. w.
G. Curtis, Mr.. L. Prioleau and Mrs. Lock
wood (the last occupied by Mrs Duffy,
scarcely Yestige of which now remains.
After accomplishing all these destructive
manmuvres, the confagration seemed to
have spent its force, and there being no
other material within reach, about o clock
it at last persisted in its own embers. The
dwelling of Mrs. Duffy, on til street i'm
mediately in the rear, caught it is true, but
this was extinguished before any damage
was done.
The loss thus occasioned is terrible one
for the little place of Smithville. From q
personal knowledge of the property, and
Oh comparing it with the opinions of those
who ought to be acquainted with the val
ne, we are enabled to give the following as
the probable estimates. They are GER
tainly none too large:
Loss of Mrs. Everett on building occu-
pied by Col. Thurston and the government
officer, $4,000 on store occupied by Mr.
Legg, $500. Loss of Mr.. Reynolds, Oh
dwelling, $500. Loss of Dunn, OWN
nellie & Co. on store occupied by z. Prio-
leau q Co., ST., 200. Loss of DIR. ". 6,
Curtis, on dwelling. $1,000. Loss of Mr..
P. Prioleau, on dwelling, $3,OUO Loss of
Mrs. Lockwood, on dwelling occupied by
Mrs. Duffy. $4,000. Total loss $13, 300
This includes only the loss Of buildings
There was not ono cents worth of insu-
rance on the whole amount. The goods in
the stores of Messrs. Legg and Prioleau &
Co., were safely removed. except ten bar
rels of wine belonging to the latter parties.
This is covered by insurance, the stock
being insured to the extent of ST 600. The
other sufferers were enabled to remove all
their valuable effects before the dwellings
were consumed.
This is a sad blow, and as conse
quence, gloom and distress are seen and
heavily felt throughout the whole town.
The sufferers and inhabitants have our
sympathies in their aftiiction. The cause
of the fire seems unknown, though we have
heard it vaguely stated that it was due to
incendiarism. In the absence of any posi-
tive grounds for the belief, we forbear Civ
ing this for anything more than vague
statement or conjecture. Time will pro-
badly develop the proper cause