Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-11-14
THE FIRE At WITTSBURG.
A Town Ready for the DestrOyer-Frame
Stores and Frame Dwellings,
and No Alleys,
Disastrous COnfiagratiOn-A ThriTisg
Town AImest Laid In Ashes-Etc,

On the night of the seventh instant
the citizens of Wittsbur0, Arkansas,
were suddenly aroused by the startling
cry Of "Firem Every Que, men, women
AID children, lesped from their beds
and appeared at windows, upon balco-
bies, and in the doors of their several
dwellings. In an incredibly short time
the whole place, from one end to the
other, was lighted so brilliantly as to
present a scene both grand and awful.
The town was composed, without ex-
ception, of frame buildings, which, after
so long a drouth, burned as splinters of
kindling. The business houses, with
here and there an exception, were situ-
ated in a row extending up and
down Front street, next to the river.
Unlike most villages, there are no allies
aud the houses were almost jammed to-
gether, forming one long high pile of
highly combustible material. When
first seen the flames Issued forth from
shed-rOom attached to the building on
the end of the row owned by Mr.. Dodge
Tradu of Memphis, which building was
occupied as the Office of the Wittsburg
Gazette. This was almost Immediately
enveloped in flames which soon leaped
over and covered a large unOccupied
house, the property of the daughter of
the late Mr.. D. SpraggiDs; thence the
large warehouse, the property of Black,
Estes & Co., of Memphis, which being
a mere shell, was soon consumed. Next
was a small house occupied by a jewell
Ter, and from this the fiery fiend shot
his terrible blaze across q small open
space and instantly the grocery Of Law
son & Son was consumed. There being
no one present belonging to the estat-
lishment and not q thing being re-
moved the whole effects of the fire was
rendered more terrific by the ex-
plOsion of several kegs of gunpowder.
simultaneously with the explosion
the house occupied by Mr.. John Daniels
as a saloon caught, and thence the
house of AppleWhite & Thomas, COM
municsting with that OF l.. n. Block &
Co. Both houses soon shared in the
terrible cOnhagratiOn. The next and
last building of the row was the two
story spacious house OF d. Block x Co.
Almost adjoining this was large gully
which separates the business houses Of
Thos. l.. Standby, G. Werner * Co,
with the new drug store of Wence d
Mitchell, from the burning mass. This
having been leveled across formed q
in keeping the. remaining buildings of
the town from sharing the same fate.
The large warehouse situated across the
street, known as Chappell's warehouse,
containing several hundred bales of cot
ton, was almost miraculOusly saved by
the united efforts OF Mr.. A. G. Allen,
Mr.. g. NJ. Arnold Mr.. Isaac Block and
others of equal firmness and energy.
On second street, the small building,
the property Of L. n. Block,
occupied as an Office by 7. E.
Ware, Esq, and DR.. w. w. Robins,
caug, ana was soon in ashes. Several
other buildings ignited from the
flying cinders, but were easily controlled
by Yigilant watchers. The fire was ev-
identity the work of incendiaries, who,
for their nefaTious work, certainly Sc
lected q night most favorable to the cit
izens, as not a breath of air rustled the
withered leaves upon the trees; every
thing seemed hushed in the awful glare.
The total loss is estimated at about fifty
thousand dollars, which, for town OF
three hundred inhabitants, is very
heavy. Messrs. ID. Block & Co., l.. n.
Block d Co., Applewhite d Thomas,
were by far the heaviest losers. Hsv-
ing quite full stock on hand and so
i;ttle time tonly two hours) it was i'm
Dossibe TO save but 8 comparatively
snail amount. c. Hurd & Co, Thomas
4, Stanelly, Hurd & Mitchell, R. & B.
Rlock ]. n DObsOn & Co, sustained
snme dam ~ge by moving their goods;
their gtoTebo, Ses were unhurt. Seven
Of the mercbants we're partially covered
by insurance. while osslaers were not In
sured at all, theirs being an entire loss:
| This should be a warning to all sSWhs Oh
this character, and if possible, mcSns
provided for the eXtinguishing Of fire.
With a small cost, a good engine and 3
sufficient hose could be procured, which
by prompt and efficient use, might save
them from destruction by this terrible
! element.