Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-02-15
FIRE AT mARYvILLE.
Destructive CcnhagratIon on Tuesday
Night.
All Caused by InHammabIe oil.


All Caused by InnammabIe oil.
Yesterday morning we learned the following
particulars of a destructive fire that took place
at Maryville ON Tuesday night resulting in the
destruction gor several buildings and serious
damage to others:
THE FIRE
broke ont in Dr. John Morton house. on
Main street occupied as a dwelling and office.
in which there was store-room not then IN use
The doctor went into the basement to draw q
can of Illuminating star oil, .about seven clock,
carrying a candle in q small tin lantern. There
were two barrels OF oil in the cellar and in
drawing the oil it spattered out from the spiget
and communicated to the candle inside through
the apertures on top of the lantern and in "a sec
ord time the sF7f tT
OIL CAUGHT FIRE,
burning the doctor severely and commune
Gated to the floor and ceiling and in an incon-
ceiyably short period of time the entire build
ing was wrapped in flames, and entirely con-
stunned,
Ee.- ANOTHER ACCOUNT fa
states that Dr. Morton had the proprietary
right to manufacture an illuminating fluid
known As Morning Star Oil, and had been
making a quantity during the day, some of
which spilled on the floor, saturating it, and
that as he went TO draw the oil the bottom of the
lantern fell out and the lighted candle falling
on the floor set it on fire.
Dr. Morton endeavored to extinguish the
flames by stamping on them and was badly
burned on the face, and it is thought received
slight internal injuries from inhaling the flames.
He acted like one bewildered, staying inside Of
the burning building until his friends grew
alarmed for his safety. He was finally forced to
leave by Charles Wallace, or the probability is
he would have lost his life. Elras EffEg
THE FLAMES SPREAD RAHIDLY
and soon communicated to the saddle and har-
ness shop of w. B. Scott, adjoining, a small
frame building, which was soon in blaze, and
burned down, with all the tools and large
stock of leather sfF aF. TcTE
The next building destroyed was the dwelling
house of w. G. Mckinley, in which was his law
Office A portion of his library and furniture
was with great difficulty saved, the latter in a
THE DAMAGE. 22h1
Mr. Charles Gates residence was considerably
charred. though not rendered untenable. SCOTS
printing office was also injured on the outside,
but we are glad to learn that his paper will not
sustain any loss by. damage to material or in
volve its suspension Mr., B. +. Wizards
dwelling was Slightly damaged. 10 sv =
The postofficc was in a small building on Mr..
Kinks lot, in which was matchmaker shop,
suffered pretty badly, number of articles be-
ing carried off in the confusion, which have not
yet been recovered, while clocks were broken
and scattered around promiscuously.
Almost all the citizens gave up their carpets
and bed clothes to be used as protection to the
buildings in danger, which We're saturated in
water and hung up in front of those threatened.
Mr. J. NJ Greer suffered some loss and consider
able Inconvenience in this way, stripping his
floors and beds so efectually us to not leave
enough of the covering of the latter for his
family. The actual loss is not yet accurately
known, but it is roughly estimated at between
five and six thousand dollars, with no Insurance.
-.a.,-.f INCIDENTS. AND ACCIDENTS s,E- a
In short time after the fire broke out tile
entire population was on the ground working
with all their might with the limited means at
their commandments and wet blankets
there not being q fire eng ine III the place. Near
ly every dwelling had a cIstern in the yard
aud many were emptied in the effort to subdue
the fumes. The glare of the burning build
ings brought many of the country people into
town who worked as hard as the citizens to stop
the spread Of the fiery elements.
Messrs. McGuiley and Carter were absent at
the time of the fire, attending Court ut SEWER
vile, and were not aware of their loss until it
WAS all over.
Alex. Kennedy, Jr., while working like
hero, fell from T. top of Mr. Gates house to
the ground, and was severely bruised, but lot
dangerously. n
Prof Sharp WAS burned, though t. What eX-
tent we did not learn.
Though laboring under the disadvantage of
working without organized effort, every one did
his utmost and especial credit is due to the
students for the timly aid rendered. 1t is
thought that the heavy rain on Tuesday doubt
less prevented greater disaster than the one re-
corded, though that is bad enough.
Now, that is over, it may seem like locking
the stable door after the stecd is stolen, but with
the unfortunate lesson fresh in their minds it
would be well to expend few hundred dollars
in purchasing fre-engine and organize com.
pany, for there is no telling when q similar
danger may again threaten the commu-
nifty.
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The Pittsburgh Cable LightningRod is no
uncertain speculation or article of doubted
merit. 1t has been thoroughly tried, tested and