Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-05-23
FIRE AT FORREST CITY.
The Thriving and Prosperous Town
Almost Burned DOwn-Fearful
COnfsgratiOn.
Nearly One Hundred Thousand Dollars
Worth OF Property Destroyed
Etc Etc.

| Special 20 the Appeal
FORREST CITY, ARK, May 22.-The
following is the TFmes's account Of the
fire here last night:
The alarm Of fire was again sounded
in our city about two o'clock this morn
ing, and this time proved to be no ca
nard, as the flames soon burst through
the roof Of the Forrest house, large
frame building on the north side and on
the western end of Front street. The
flames rapidly covered tie building,
forcing Mr.. Brooks and his guests to
make hssty retreat, all of whom lost
their wardrobes. The house was owned
by MAJOR o. Rhodes, and was valued at
5000, being insured for $500, and the
furniture for $1,000. Mr.. Rhodes's loss
will reach $1,000. Mr.. Brooks, the les
see, lost everything. Insured in the
Peoples, Of Philadelphia, for $500, and
Atlantic and Pacific, of Chicago, $500
on building, and $500 on the furniture
and stock. From the Forrest house the
flames leaped across the alley, firing the
building occupied by Webb & Vaughan
on the east as q lager-beer saloon.
They lost everything. The building
was owned in Memphis, and was worth
5000, and was not insured. The
flames continued going eastward, next
devouring the building owned by John
R. Gurley, and occupied by him as q
saloon. But little of his stock was saved,
and on which his sIOssreaches $1,000 inclu-
ding the building. Dyes's drugstore was
the next to follow, though he succeeded
in Saving the larger portion of his stock,
but in damaged condition. DR.. Dyes's
building was worth $1,000, and insured
for $3.50 in the Atlantic and Pacific, of
Chicago. He also had policy for $50
on his stock in the came company. His
loss Will reach $1,000. The house former
ly occupied by Brown & Wolfe, but at
the time of the fire vacant, wss the next
doomed, and was valued at $1,000, with
no Insurance. Then came the building
on the eastern corner of Washington
and Front streets, owned by Memphis
firm, and occupied by John R.
Gurley as a dry-gOods and gro-
Gerry house. Mr.. Gurley had but
recently added to his stock, and he is
probably the heaviest loser. He sue
ceeded in saving 3 large portion of his
stock, yet his loss will reach $1,000 or
SIC, 600. He was insured as follows:
Virginia, $1,000; Etna, of Chicago,
$1,000; Peoples, Of Little Rock, $500;
Peoples Of Philadelphia, $500. In the
same building, second story, was the
Western Union telegraph Office, but
Mr.. Priddy, the operator, managed to
save all the instruments, and their loss
will be small. The building was in
sured in the Clay Insurance company, of
Newport, Kentucky, for $1,000. About
the time this building was half-buTned,
the remainder of the block running
north was discovered to be on fire in
several places, and the streets were
crowded with people making efforts to
keep the flames from the east side of
street. The following is
list of the sufferers on the north
cad of Washington street, west side:
Jake Morris's saloon and confectionery,
$4,000; the building was owned in
Memphis, and was valued at $500; no
insurance. John n. Cotton, loss on
building 5000, and $4,000 or $4,000 on
stock. Mr.. Cotton saved some Of his
stock. The second story was occupied
by DIR. Dooley, dentist, and J. P.
lawyer. DIR. DOoley saved
and his loss will reach near
$500. Mr.. Thomson saved portion
Of his library, and his loss will not
reach above $500. Mr.. Cotton had no
Insurance, his policy having expired at
twelve o'clock Thursday, fourteen hours
before the fire. Stewart & Bros. loss on
an unoecupied building, $780, Mrs.
Coles loss on her building, in which
there was a bsrber-shop, $500. The
barber, Reed, saved everything. The
house belonging to the estate of Thomas
Carroll, deceased, and occupied as q
meat market, was burned, loss $1,000.
The next building burned was an
office, valued at $500. The millinery
store OF Mrs. Reynsud was owned by
Mrs. Winthrop, and was worth $500; |
no insurance. Mrs. Reynaud's loss viii |
reach $500. The last building to burn
was the residence of Mr.. Kit Cobbs, who,
u attempting to save his neighbors'
lost, with his residence, nearly
N Of his household and kitchen furni-
ure. His loss is fully $1,000; no insur-
nee. There are many surmises and ru-
nors as to the real origin of the fire, some
ttributing it to defective flue, while
thers lay it to carelessness. However,we
now that defective fue has heretofore
cen the cause of frequent alarms.
!