Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-16
pEsAsTRoua FrRE.
Total Destruction OF Powers and
Hunts Carriage Factory-SerfOus
Damage 90 other Propexty-Ffendizh
Work OF am IncendiRry.

Total Destruction OF Powers and
Hunts Carriage Factery-sersOus
Damage 90 other Property-Ffendfzh
work Of an Incendiary.
The alarm of fire at II O'Clock last night
was occasioned by the burning of Powers
& Hunts carriage factory, on North Market
street. The fire was first discovered in the
rear of the factory, in the department de-
voted to wood work, where the fires had
been carefully extinguished when the men
quit work before night. Those acquainted
with the situation of the factory, and the cir
cumstances attending its destruction enter
tain no doubt as to the origin Of the confa-
gration-all agreeing that it was most I'M
questionabiy the vile work of an incendiary.
What could have been the object Of the
miscreant who set this fire must remain for
the present entirely matter of conjecture.
The building was one of the largest in the
city devoted to manufacturing purposes, and
owing to the considerable quantity of wood
work about the structure, and the large guam
tity of combustible material used therein,
burned very rapidly, making fire difficult
for the Fire Department to get within
check. Although the Department with
their machinery were promptly on the
ground and quickly at work, tine flames had
previously gained such Roadway and spread
so as to render it impossible to prevent the
total destruction of the factory and nearly
all its contents. In fact, the entire contents
of the rear and second story were destroyed,
and what was yesterday large and
well stocked building is this morning
mass of blackened and shapeless ruins.
Much of the finished work in the waTeroom,
buggies, carriages, etc, was saved, and this
constituted all the property possible to be
rescued from the devouring element. From
the factory the fire communicated with the
rear premises of the residence Of Mr.. Frank
Sparks, next adjoining on the north side,
and from there to the roof Of the residence.
of Mr.. VIM. II. Townsend, both buildings
being very considerably damaged
by fire and water. The damage done to
the two residences mentioned would have
! Leen prevented but for the fact that the
hose in use were either imperfect or had
beeu cut at various points along the Line.
The supply of water would have been ade-
quate TO prevent a spread Of the flames, but
for the circumstance that the hose was cut
| or bursted in so many places The residence
| Of Mr.. Sparks has a metal roof, which
fact did much towards preventing its de-
Structlon. The damage to the building will,
however, exceed $1,000, and the injury TO
the residence of Mr.. Townsend will exceed
| that amount. The loss of Powers & Hunt
will amount to about $4,000, and they
! have insurance for but $1,000,
, which is held against the Globe
Office. The people of Nashville, and
especially these interested in the manu-
featuring progress being made in the city,
viii deeply regret this blow to that inpor-
tant branch Of local industry, as well as the
! very serious loss it infiicts upon the worthy
and enterprising proprietors Of the factory.
1t is also matter Of very deep regret that
this lamentable occurrence throws out Of
employment, at least for the present, a
number Of skillful and worthy workmen.