Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-07-15

Il
arrangements at once TO remove thu
mails to a place of safety, and all needed
teams were pressed into service, and By
eight o'clock the last loaded wagon lief
the building and the place that had beer
the depository of the United States mai
centering here was deserted forever, fol
at ten minutes of eight the building frs
caught, and by hslfpast eight the build
ing was mass of flames
The wind by eight o'clock had almost
died away, which assisted the fire depart
ment to hold their position at the corner
where the postoffice was situated. Al
half.past clock the northeast corner,
occupied by our postofice, was mass
of flames. However, as a very high
and heavy brick building adjoined the
postoaice on the north, there is no doubt
that the spread of the fire north on
Wabash avenue from this point has been
checked. Among the buildings destroyed
on the east side of Wabash avenue was
the church building formerly occupied
by the congregation of Robert Laird
Collier. 1t seems somewhat singular
that this conhagration should be checked
at the same place where our previous
big fire was checked. The mails were
all removed to the sub,station on the
corner of West Washington and Hal
stead streets. Between Eldridge court
and Harrison street, on the east side of
Wabash avenue, some dozen handsome
buildings were destroyed, while the
whole of the west side of the street be-
tween these limits every building was
leveled with the ground, and looking
westwardly the same dead level Of ruins
was presented so wildly engraved on
the memory of our inhabitants in 1871.
THE FIRE GAINING.
Contrary to the hopeful expectations
expressed at half.past eight o'clock, the
fire has gained upon the fire department,
and, in spite of all efforts by our whole
fire department, at halfpast ten o'clock
the FIRE had progressed northward and
taken in the block on the east side of
State street, which were low wooden
buildings, and on Wabash avenue, north
from Harrison street, one block and
half, taking in both sides of the street,
and working over along on Michigan
avenue to the north, toward the EXPOSE
ton building. The FIRE is at present
between Van Buren, and Jackson streets
in its northern limit, and burning with
great ferceness. At present the fire is
beyond the control of our
fire department, and engines are on their
way from Bloomington, Illinois; Milwau-
kee, Wisconsin; Aurora, Illinois; Elgin,
Illinois; Racine, Wisconsin; and Dixon
and Amboy, Illinois, to assist, aud 1.-THE
wind does not increase or change, there
are great hopes now that the fire may be
crowded into the lake, as intimated at
six CLOCK in these dispatches. Among
the notable buildings which have been
destroyed are the Michigan Avenue Ho-
tel, st. James Hotel, Continental Hotel
and the Adelphi Theater.
The southern bounds Of the fire are
now at No. AIS Wabash avenue, just
south of Eldridge court, 5ls State street,
near Harmon court and 1913 Third ave-
nue.. Between Peck court and Twelfth
street, on the corner of Peck court and
Wabash avenue, is the only point where
the flames have any hold. The fire orig
mated in a paint manufacturing shop,
on the corner of Twelfth and Clark.
Some workmen were mixing paint and
an explosion occurred which ignited the
building. On the north the fire has
broken out on the corner Of Michigan
avenue and Congress street. The Michi-
gan Avenue Hotel is on fire, and it is
probable the Exposition building and
art gallery can be saved. On State
street the fire has passed jackson, and
is within one block of the Palmer House.
On Wabash avenue it is almost up to the
corner of Jackson, and the Madison
House is in imminent danger.
One fireman has fallen through root,
and was killed by the fall A policeman
had his leg broken while attempting to
rescue boy. One engine belonging to
the colored men has been burned.
STILL RAGING.
AZ ten minutes past twelve o clock the
wind being westerly the fire was confined
to very near Van Buren, street, on the
north. Gilbert & Simpsons furniture
warehouse on Wabash avenue, running
through to State street, was on fire, but
with fair prospect Of subduing it. The
Gardiner house is safe, as is also some
hail dozen stores on the east side oil
Wabash avenue and south side Of Van
Buren, street. The building occupied by
the Spureman 4 Hand Marble Company,