Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-01
THE GREAT FIRE
100000 Worth or Property
Destroyed in a few Hours.
A Night of Excitement and Dis
aster.
FULL PARTICULARS.


more disastrous Eres than any year for pei
hsps hundred centuries. Jackson open
the year 1873 with a eonfagration-th
! most destructive experienced by her sine
( the civil war. One OF the leading bushes
| blocks Of the city was almost entirel,
swept from existence on Wednesday morn
ing, and property TO the amount Of $4,000
destroyed. The buildings We're on tn
/ corner Of Market and Laf4yett Streets
and extended down Lafayette, midway be
tween Market and Liberty Streets, anC
down Market % the Greer building, Nv,
/ doors north Cf Main, embracing ten two
| story business houses in the very heart o.
the business part Of the city.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The fire. originated in the back-room OF :
brick store occupied by Smith & Atwater
(eol.) on Lafayette street. and when dis
covered had almost entirely burned out the
inside Of that building and communicated
to the rear Of Perkins & Morgan's frame
store, which tronted on Market street.
THE ALARM.
The first alarm was sounded about hall
past O'Clock, and By O'Clock the entire
Fire Department and a large number Of
citizens were on the spot. But the flames
were beyond all human control, and all
that could be done was 10 save as much Of
the various stocks Of goods As possible.
To this work the hremen, aided by the citi-
zens, devoted themselves for hours with
commendable energy and gallantry and
considerable success. The flames, dashed
to increased fury by a strsng north wind,
rapidly leaped from house 10 house until
the Hopper, Nsncy, King and Hogsett
buildings were also IN light fame.
Several Of the buildings were wooden
and burned with ierceness really appall-
ing, and sent forth a heat strongly sugges-
tive Of the lower regions.
The flames did not crawl or creep along,
but bounded high into the air and then
broken by the winds, leaped from house TO
house in great red sheets Of dire destruc-
ton. In few minutes after the discovery
ten large buildings were one sheet OF flame,
a lake Of FIRE in the heart Of the city, hiss
ing, Ieething and roaring, inspiring strong
hearts with terror and exciting apprehen-
sions of universal disaster and ruin. At
one time it seemed as if the entire business
heart Of the city, with all its new and
splendid buildings and its accumulation Of
wealth was doomed TO suffer the dire fate
Of Chicago and Boston. But favorable
winds and the daring, herculean efforts OF
our fremen and citizens succeeded in con-
fning the bosom Of destruction TO the ten
buildings already in its grasp. Mounted
upon the Greer building, several daring
tiremen fought, dehed and beat back the
flames at fearful personal risk, some OF
them having their very clothes burned al
most on OF them; yet fighting still like he
rses, and saving the Greer and Miller
buildings-among the finest in the city
and checking the mad course Of the 'ire
hend." All honor to them.
LOSSES, ETC.
The losses, after careful inyesti cation, we
give as follows: Perkins and Morgan-four
buildings, two brick and two frame-val-
usd at $4,000, and only partially insured.
Hopper & Son, frame buildiag and stock Of
groceries, total value $4,000, but part of
the goods SaVed-no insurance. Ysneey
buildings, large frames, valued at 81, 600
insured for $4,000. Kings buildings, val
ued at s., OOO-insured for s., 800. c. T.
Hogsett's building, valued at S5,0oO-no
insurance. Vesey & Perkins, Grocers-
loss 81, 7G0-insured for $1,000. Sigmund
Mars, Dry Goods, loss 81 900, partially in
sured. B. McGettriek, Dry Goods, loss A.
bout 5000. MeNulty & McGettrick, loss
about $4,000, insured for $1,000. Red
wines Restaurant and Saloon, loss 81 600,
no insurance. Mrs. Langley, Millinery and
Dress Making, loss about $500. no insu-
rance. Smith & Atwater, COL, Dry Goods
and Groceries, loss $4,000, insured for ST.
600. j. p. Murphy, Market store, loss
$500, no insurance. Baum, Cigar and
Tobacco manufacturer and dealer, loss
81 900, no insurance. Mayor and Record
er's office, loss about $500. Robertson &
Bolts, Dry Goods, loss from moving goods,
$500, insured. D. Webster, col, loss $500,
no Insurance. Greer's building damaged
about 500. Total loss, S96,NoO 90.
Such is faithful inventory Of the most
disastrous conhagration III t ever visited
our city. We hope that the lesson It teach
es will not be lost, either u ION individuals
or the authorities.
INCIDENTS.
During the fire many acts Of heroism
were performed by mcEIbers Of the fire de-
partment and citizens. At great risk OF
life, valuable goods were saved from the
flames. As usual. many very wise and
knowing men, stood at safe distance and
suggested what ought TO be done. Indeed
their eloquence on the occasion WAS full
up to the standard. Mayor King, and
Chief McCabe were on the ground, and the
police, under their direction, prevented
stealing and disorder to any considerable
extent. Better work was never perform
ed in saving goods, and houses in a light
blaze were entered and valuables rescued
from the burning.
CONJECTUREs.
As to the cause Of the fire there are vari-
GUS cOniectureS. 1t would be wrong, il not
criminal, to publish all that excited men
have uttered on the subject. Smith & At
water, COL, in whose house the dreadful
fire originated, say they left their store ear
" in the night, after carefully putting out
the fire. They think that some one broke
into their store, and after helping himself,
set IRE to the establishment. We only
state tne Iacts, Is fepOTUcu 10 Us. Let the
public form their own conclusions.
THE LESSON.
This terrible configratiOn admOnishes us
to prepare and provide for such Yisitations
in the future. Let more cisterns be dug; q
fire engine purchased and well disciplin-
ed tire department organized at once. De
lay has already proved disastrous. Ths
principal square of the city, bounded BY
LAFAYETTE, Shannon, Main and Market
streets has several old frame houses on It,
which, if ever involved'in 4 csnfiagration,
would communicate the iames-in spite OF
all present fdcilities-to the entire block.
Think OF the consequences and provide
means to prevent them. This is one Of the
highest duties OF cur present city authori-
ties. Will they prove equal to the emer-
gency? We think they Will.
Proceedings of Circuit Court.