The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-08-24
A TERRIBLE CONFEDERATION.
A Whole Block Of Buildings Burn
ed.


shop OF Patterson & Council, Just
below. the north east corner Of the
square last Tuesday morning al
about IL o'clock. It is said the
| fire originated from a planning ma
chine being ignited by friction and
it spread so rapidly that in few
moments the whole building was
in flames. Alfthe stores and dwell
ings in the place were at once empt-
led of their occupants and vast
crowds gathered about the burning
building. A high wind famed the
flames and fed them with a resist
less force. The family grocery
store of Geo. N. McGrew caught
fire instantly and in few moments
/ was one sheet of fame. The de-
vouring element then Tapped its
fiery tongues over the whole block,
and as we had no fire engines and
but few water facilities, it became
apparent that all efforts to stay the
progress of the flames would prove
Intellectual Jackson's Livery Sta
bic, Rainey q Bros Broom Facto-
~ and Livery Stable, the dwelling
house of E. S. Williamson, the new
store house of Geo. n. McGrew
which was in course of erection,
the family grocery and saloon of
Choate & Nelson, and the grocery
store of R. Harris, were entirely
consumed. Owing to the rapid
progress of the flames only a small
amount of the goods in each store
was saved. The livery stables
managed to save their horses, car
riages and buggies but lost all of
their provender. Jackson's new
and beautiful omnibus, the "John
c. Brown" was considerably dam
aged by the excessive heat. 1t was
thought for time that the confia-
grafton would extend to the north
side Of the square, but by almost
superhuman efforts it was stayed,
although the house occupied by
Barber d Tarpley, on the corner,
was considerably damaged. The
Childers Block, in which our Office
is located was for awhile in immi-
lent danger. The sashes and stills
of the windows were badly scorch-
ed and the heat in the different
rooms was intense. The kind as
sistance of our friends saved us,
however, and we desire to make a
public acknowledgement of our
thanks. To Messrs. Rory Taylor,
Charley Bell, W. H. McCallum, Al
lie Caldwell and others, we are es-
pecially indebted for valuable as
sistance.
During the fire a bomb-shell ex-
ploded in Harris store and several
pieces of it were found on the pub
lie square. The results of this ter
rible confagration prove conclusive.
" what the Citizen has so earnest /
" asserted before, viz: that a fire
engine and FIRE company in Pulaski
are absolutely indispensable. It
seems that nothing short of a ca
lamity as severe as this tremendous
fire, by which thousands of dollars
in property are destroyed, will con
vince our citizens of this fact or
induce them to take active measures
towards defending themselves
against the ravages of fire. A good
engine and a well organized fire
company would not only render
property more secure, but it would
save our merchants enough mo-
ney in the way Of reduction on in
surance premiums to pay for the
engine and the expenses drumming
It. Below we give a rough esti-
mate of the losses incurred by the
fire. 1t is impossible at present
to give an accurate statement:
Patterson & Cornell, machine
shop, $4,000, no insurance; Geo. n.
McGrew, family grocery, on stock,
$500, no insurance; f. S. Viii
Hanson, on furniture $3.50, no in
surance; Geo. n. McGrew, new
store house $500, no insurance;
Jackson's livery stable, building,
feed, &c, $4,000, no insurance;
Rainey Bros, livery stable and
broom factory $4,000, no insurance;
Choate & Nelson, grocery and sa-
loon $500, insured for $1,000; R.
Harris, family grocery, $4,000, in
sured for $500; F. Flaxman, dry
goods $1,000 insured for $500; G.
w. McGrew, buildings $4,000, no
insurance. Several of the parties
mentioned above saved small guam
titles of their goods and effects,
but are unable at present to give
anything like the exact amount.
q III