Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-18
FIRE!
The Flames Lick Up 100000 Worth
Of Property.
Tennessee Chair Mandatory Ware
rooms and Greenfield, AtweII a.
Sneed's Furniture Estab-
ment Destroyed.
FIRE
An Entire BLOCK Endangered.

An Entire Block Endangered.
At 1915 last night fire was discovered
issuing from the roof Of the three story
building on the corner Of Church and Col
lege, occupied as warehouse by the Ten
neSsee Chair Mandatory. The fire first
made its appearance at the southeast cor
ner of the building, in room used for up
holstering purposes, which necessitates the
use of oils and varnish, and it is supposed
the fire was caused by spontaneous COM
bustiOn.
All the fire engines were prompt in an
swering the alarm, as was also the Hook
and Ladder company. The engines were
distributed as follows: Hamilton at the
corner of Union and COLLEGE, StOckell at
the corner of College and Church, the
Eclipse at the corner of Church and Market
and the Deluge on Market about third of
the distance from Church towards Broad.
The Hamilton and Stockell played on the
front of the building, the latter throwing
two streams. The hose from the Deluge
was carried up the alley on the east side of
the building, while that from the Eclipse
was carried up to the top of Diekel * Co.'S
building on the corner of Market and
Church.
The building was
STORED WITH FURNITURE
from basement to garnet, the stock being
valued at $4,000, and in spite of all that
could be done, the flames spread rapidly,
and for more than an hour it was feared
that the entire block would be destroyed.
This fear gathered strength from the knOwl-
edge that the immense building adjoining
on the east and occupied by Diclel x Co.,
was filed with whisky.
At half past eleven the furniture estab-
lishment of Greenfield, AtWell 81 Sneed,
Immediately north of the Tennessee Chair
Factory ware-roOms caught fire, and in halI
an hour the stock, valued at SlS,O0,, was
entirely destroyed. The Mattress factory
of Ed. II. Miller, which adjOined Green
field, Atwell & Sneed's, then caught and
was soon destroyed, nothing whatever being
saved from any of the three establishments.
At u o'clock portion of the
SOUTH WALL
of the Chair Factory warerOoms fell out
into the street, and few moments later the
West wall Of the same building fellOut into
College street. Then the corner between
these two breaks gave way and fell with a
great crash, the flames shooting upward in
immense volumes after each giving way of
the walls.
The streets for several squares around
were packed with spectators, hundreds of
men having left the various balls being
given by the Irish societies. Many of the
spectators assisted in carrying goods from
BLOOMTHALL's CHINA STORE,
which joined Miller'S mattress factory, rs it
was thought that this building would also
catch fire, but fortunately it did not.
As this article is being written, at one
o'clock this morning, the flames begin to
show signs Of being subdued, after being
played upon by five three inch streams for
over two hours.
During the early part of the fire the
Deluge Engine did not work properly, for
some reason, but finally settled down to
her work.
Messrs. Greenfield, Atwell & Sneed had
been receiving goods for several days, and
but yesterday had received large shipment
of fine furniture. Mr.. Atwell has been
using a room in the upper part Of their
store for a sleeping apartment, but had
gone TO the Commercial last night to sleep
with brother. All his personal effects,
among which was a new suit of clothes
purchased last week, were in this room and
were all consumed.
Messrs. Greenfield & Sneed were present
from soon after the discovery Of the fire,
but after the fact that their establishment
was endangered became known, it was inn
possible to remove any Of their stock.
THE Loss.
All the buildings which were burned
belonged to Mrs. W. T. Allison of this city.
That occupied by the Chair Factory and by
Greenfield, Atwell * Sneed was valued at
100000 and is reported fully insured, but
We were unable to learn the companies.
She also owns the buildings occupied by
BlOOmihal and Miller. The latter was in
jured about a thousand dollars and was in
sured as follows: Queen of Liverpool,
800, other companies s., 100.
The Tennessee Chair Factory Company
lose their entire stock. About half the loss
is covered by insurance as follows: Etna,
$500; Hartford, 5000: Home n. Y,
$1,000; Queen of Liverpool, S2,5O0-S5, 900,
Of which companies Ross Gale and Thomas
are agents. The Chair Factory Company
is composed of A. G.. Ewing, President;
w. S. Thompson, Secretary; E. Taylor,
Sup't., and NJ. Burns. Greenfield,
Atwell and Sneed were insured for about
$4,000, having $1,000 in the 1Etna, of
which Ross Gale and Thomas were agents,
$1,000 in the State, of Nashville, and 5000
in various other companies.
The entire amount of damage cannot be
much less than 100000, and it is entirely
owing to the untiring exertiOns of the Fire
Department that the entire block was not
destroyed, and the wind was blowing in
exactly the right direction to bring about
that result. The fire was one of unusual
fierceneSs while it ragged, and it seemed to
be almost impossible to gain upon it.
MI. Ewing resides six miles from the
city, and probably did not hear Of his loss
until this morning. He has been very
unfortunate in this line, having been
burned out of his business house a year or
two ago. Greenfield, Atwell & Sneed lose
every dollar they have in the world by the
burning of their establishment, with the ex-
ception of the amount they will recover
on insurance, as all their means was
invested in their business. They were do
ing large business at this time, and had
Just laid in the finest stock of furniture
they ever had.
This fire is by far the most extensive
Nashville has witnessed for many years,
and, if the alleged origin of the flames is 4
true one, it should serve as warning to
all persons who use oils and wooden rags.