Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-10
MEMPHIS AFIRE.



the Largest Confiagrs.taon which has
Devasted the City for Ten Years
Loss S2eo,OoO. e
MEMPHIS, Sept. S.-The most destruc-
tive fire which has occurred here in ten
years broke out this morning at 2:3O at a
shoemaker's shop, No. AZ Second street.
Owing to the long drOuth and eombustlbie
materials OF the surrounding buildings, be-
fore the engines were fairly at work the
flames had spread 80 rapidly that it was
thought the great Chicago fire would be re-
peated, as within half an hour after the fire
was discovered the entire block from Union
to Monroe was on fire, and the air was
filed with sparks, which ignited In numer-
GUS places, some fully ten blocks distant.
When the fire reached the extensive car
riage works of Bruce & Co., many guests
Of the Peabody Hotel, believing that the
building would follow, hastily evacuated.
The streets were crowded with people, who
were rendering valuable assistance in re-
moving goods. But day was breaking when
Bruce's mandatory fell with terrible
crash. Its huge walls and roof smothering
the raging flames inside, soon enabled The
firemen to obtain control. But nOrthward
the flames had spread to Braekett's liv-
cry stable, Wallace g. Gibson's car
Tiage-works, and Farris' livery stable,
aud IN fact swept everything to
Union street; and for long time it
was feared that the operarhouse, with the
post-ofice, court-rooms, ETC., would be
burned. The streets were filed with the
goods of the inmates Of the small shops on
Union street, many of whom barely es-
capped with their lives. The total loss will
not fall short of $4,000 about, one halt of
which Is covered with insurance, nearly all
in local companies, of which the fernando
and Merchants ara the heaviest losers.
The following are the principal sufferers,
tagether with the insurance, so far as it can
be learned: w. S. Bruce & Co., carriage
manufacturers, SIPS, 900, insured $4,000;
w. s. Greenshaw, buildings, $50, 700; John
Overton, building, $1,000, insurance un-
known; Sam Tolwell, buildings,
$4,000, insured; G. II. Brackett's
livery stable, $4,000, insured 1O,OOO;
Phil. Transiala, $4,000, insured
81, 900; ], M. Transiala, saloon, $1,000, in
sured ST 800; Richard G. Floyd, printing
Office. S4.3CO, insured 81 500; John Hunter,
tailor, $4,000, insured $1,000; Wallace q
Gibson, carriage works, $4,000, insured
So 900: Charles McGhee, tailor, s., 900, in
surance unknown; DR.. Saski, office $1,000,
uninsured; James Flaherty, undertaken,
5000, fully insured; John @. LanieI, real
estate agent, $500, none; Fred Loeding,
tailozL 81, 500, fully insured. In addition to
thes6kre Farris' livery stable, Walsh, un-
dertaker, and q number Of small shops,
many of the proprietors of which are left
without anything. Bruce's establishment
was the largest in the South, and large
number of men are thrown out OF employ
ment. But they announce that they VIII
commence building tomorrow.
MEMPHIS, Sept. 9.-In addition to the
losses by the Ere yesterday morning as
stated in last night dispatches are Wheel
ing, Rickens & Co., wood and willow ware,
s. 600, uninsured. r. G. Brinkley, build
Ing, 10000, insured for ten, besides large
number of Attorneys offices. The total
loss ioots up S260,000 with insurance $780,
600. The following are the losses of In
surancs companies: Mississippi Valley,
Memphis, $4,000; Etna and Phoenix Of
Hartford, Security and Franklin, of Phila-
delphia, $1,000; Phe nix and Continental,
New York, S25, coo; Queens Liverpool,
$4,000; other 10 sses a re divided betw cen
the fernando, Peoples and the Mem pms
Life and General Insurance Companies Oh
Memphis.