The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1870-05-16
FIRE..
IMMENSE DESTRUCTION or PROP.
ERTY.
TWO MEN KILLED AND SEVERAL,
WOUNDED.

giant block of buildings, the scene of bust
ness hustle and industry, is now shape
less mass of charred and smoking ruins.
About half past three o'clock this morn
ing a dense column of black smoke was
seen rising from the roof ofthe st. Nicholas
Hote-a large four story brick structure,
situated on the Ohio Levee just below
Sixth street. The alarm was promptly
sounded, and soon from every portion of
the city came men, women and children,
most of them we are constrained TO be-
lieve with n purpose to make themselves
useful, but too many to look on and graft
fy curiosity. The fire companies were
there among the first, and with all possible |
haste set about the work before them.
For few minutes the flames were con-
| fined to the room in which the fire origi-
mated, and this brief interval was employed
in the removal of the hotel furniture. To
this work a score or more Of willing hands
were industriously devoted, but before they
had removed any considerable portion, the
rooms and halls filed with dense black
smoke, that drove everybody below. 1t
is thought that less than one-fourth of the
hotel furniture, carpets, ETC., were saved.
| Anticipating the entire destruction of
the building, the attention of the crowd
was now turned to the lower portion of the
building. The fire companies poured three
heavy streams upon the flames, and so
checked their progress us to give
time for the removal of all the movable
property and fixtures of the basement and
tho first story. The former was occupied,
in part by Louis Herbert's saloon and
restaurant, and in part by Phil. Towards
steamboat butcher shop. The first floor was
occupied by the First National Bank, and
by Walker and Sissons saloon and billiard
hall. All the moneys, books, papers and
effects Of the bank were removed in safety /;
but all the balance of the property and
fixtures saved, were more or less damaged.
BY this time the entire upper portion of
the building was on fire, the flames now
and then streaming from the front win
dows, and placing in great peril the frame
!, buildings adjoining. For time II was
n thought that the storchouse of Mr.. Scott
g Wiiie would inevitably be burned. AT
Q this Jopcturc Mr.. A. b. Stafford rushed TO
}. the thisd.story Of the burning building
i and sought to close the shutters Of the
. windows that overlooked Mr.. Whites
: building. While pursu,sg this purpose
D the plastering overhead came down with "A
, crash, Knocking Mr.. 5. down, and, for tho
: moment senscicss. He was drawn from
, his peril by some person who happened to
see him lying ON tho aoor
and thus escaped, having only an incon-
siderable burn to remind him Of the or
deal through which he passed.
The contents of Mr.. Whites building -
one of the largest stocks Of dry goods in the
city-wcre removed to the express office,
in the adjoining block. As his building
escaped he will doubtless reopen II. soon
rs he can replace his stock.
The frame building on the lower .ide
Of the burning block, was occupied by Mr..
e. T.. olmsteds stock Of bookstores APP
pretending danger both from fire aud
falling Walls, Mr.. Olmsted caused his goods
TO be removed to the lcvee. As they were
greatly scattered, il will be quite impos-
sible for him 10 recover all of them.
The building next 10 Mr.. Olmstead was
occupied by Mr.. Herman Meyer, tobacco
mist. Determined to be on the safe side,
he removed the greater portion Of his
stock, leaving only II few shelfgoods in the
building-articles which he could carry
out on short notice. The stocks in the
buildings below Mr.. Meyers were not dis
turbed
During all this while the fire companies
were hard at work, with no expectation of
drowning out the fire. but with the view of
saving the adjoining buildings. That
they worked faithfully and fearlessly,
no one can deny. There was
no danger they did not defy no duty
they did not cheerfully perform. Two of
them, Ed. Dazonia and Charley Gilhoiler,
managing the Arab nozzle, venturcd with
in the walls of the burning building, and
directed stream into the very mids, Of the
roaring mass, but the venture nearly cost
them their lives. A crash was heard, aud
the young men We're developed in cloud
of smoke, embers and scorching sand.
They reeled from the opening,
blackened and scorched, and were
conducted TO their rooms. They
were burned about the face and neck, and
somewhat hurt by the falling debris, but
their injuries are not thought TO be mortal.
Mr.. Tom Kerth, standing near by, was
also scorched, but not seriously,
We cannot say too much in praise ofthe
aremen. The Iiibernians covered them
selves all over with glory, keeping con-
slant stream playing upon the building
l from first 10 last. Mr. William WcHale,
president of this company, showed him
self first class freman-a real "jewel of a
boy But where all did so well, it may
seem invidous to discriminate. Weldon, |
of the Arabs Bcerwart and Schulz of the
Rough and Readies were fearless, active
and tireless doing all that men could do
under the circumstance.