Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-04

9hW
The Memphis and Louisville Railroad
Shops Destroyed By Fire
The Incendiary at Work
Loss, $4,000.

At72 o'clock last evening. the work
shops Of the Memphis and Louisville rail-
road were fired by an incendiary, and
burned down in few hours. The build
ing was a one-story frame shed Of but
little value, but containing machinery
and materials Of great value to the com
pany. The property lost included the
engine shed, machine shop, carpenter
shop and water tank.
Superintendent Flynn estimates the
aggregate loss as follows: Five engines,
valued at $4,000. These engines are
either totally or partially destroyed, it
being impossible to estimate the damage
until they cool of and are examined by
the machinista Three tenders, parti-
ally destroyed, valued at $4,000 each;
machinery in shops, valued at $4,000;
pattern and carpenter shops, valued at
$4,000; eight box cars, five destroyed
and three badly damaged, worth $500
each when new; oil room and paint shop,
valued at $500; buildings. valued at
about $4,000. The estimate of the
actual loss is nearly 1925, 900, and upon
which there was no insurance. The
blacksmith shop was saved.
THE INcENDIARY.
John McCarty, the incendiary, was
formerly fireman on the road, but was
discharged in August last as incompe-
tent and worthless. Since that time he
has repeatedly applied for work, but
was refused. He has been in the habit
of lettering around the shops for some
time and was regarded as a dangerous
man.
Dennis Roach, the Waterman, says
that McCarty came into the Master Me-
chanic's Office and Immediately engaged
in row. Roach was knocked down by
McCarty, who then struck match and
set the papers in the Office on fire. Lee
Thomas, night Waterman, hearing the
row came in with club and was dis
armed by McCarty, who held pistol at
his head Thomas ran out, got a pistol
and fred at McCarty as he ran down
Hill street. Shots were exchanged be-
tween the parties Not long afterward
McCarty presented himself at a house
in the vicinity and stated that he had
been shot in the breast and that the
bullet was inside of his body, from the
effects of which, he stated, he suffered
great pain. He was reported to have
been seen on jefferson street and at an
uptown bagnio early this morning, but
these may be groundless rumors.
SAVING PROPERTY. n
The fire department, under Chief Nc
Fadden, reached the scene too late to
save much property Nopublic cisterns
are in this part of the city, and it was
almost, impossible to get at a private
cistern. The fremen and employees of
the road did everything in their power
to arrest the spread of the flames. When
in the midst Of fire and excitement VIC
see men coolly and calmly doing all in
their power to check the FIRE and save
the property about being destroyed, as
we saw Mr.. Flynn, Superiendent, Chief
Mechanic Walsh, Major Waldron, Jas.
Speed, and other officers Of the Louis
vile road last night at the fire, we can
not help bat think that the systematic
training that railroad men have got is
worth more in times of excitement and
turmoil than that had by any other class
of men. They obey with will and
work with purpose. This simple and
effective rule saved all the movable
property of the Louisville Company last
night that it was possible to save.
OUT OF WORK.
The destruction of the shops throw
about one hundred mechanics and the
same number of laborers out of employ
ment, there being in all about two hun
dred men employed in and around the
1t will take several months
before the machinery and materials can
be replaced by the company, but if this
kind OF property is left to the me |of
every miscreant and villain the m
pany may conclude to locate their shops
at some otherpoint. Let the incendiary
be arrested and punished to the extent
r. ALL L.,