Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-07-16

James, IlOrthWaf1, was an open space
several hundred feet square. There was
a good hope that If q stand was made al
this hotel the flames would be prevent.
ed from crossing tie open space. On
the west side there was no such barrier.
1t was certain that the whole row would
go, and then crossing Van Buren, make
its way to the Palmer house. Opposite
the st. james stood four-story marble
front, covering about four numbers.
These We're divided from the building
/ south by single lot, twenty-five feet
! wide, "a mere bsgatelle," said every
body; and nobody anticipated that that
little space would check the flames; but
/ 1t did. Fortunately, splendid
FIRE-PROoF WALL
/ mad been reared to the south. Madly
/ the flames beat against it, and went
clear over the building, setting fire to
the st. James, but this wall stood the
test grandly, and though there was fire
to the south, and Ere to the east, and
not a piTlt of water thrown upon it, the
building stands there, at this writing, a
savior of untold millions. It was the
citadel Of the confisgration. It's sur
render would have given the whole city
over TO the ravaging enemy. Instinc
lively every one in sight of the scene
appreciated the importance of the posi-
ton, sud when the building to the
south tufnbled together with thunder
ing crash, thereafter harmless,
SHOUT FROM FIFTY THOUSAND
THRoATS
rose high above the roar of the confia-
grafton; it was the moment of moments
during the progress of the fire, and fifty
was il commemorated. While this
building stood the brunt and onslaught
of what might be called overwhelming
odds, four-stoTy brick building-appa-
Tently out of all danger-on the corner
Of Wabash avenue and VanBuren street,
took fire from the 5t. James hotel. An
upper window had been left open; a
curtain was set on Ere by stray spark,
and in moment the whole interior, al
ready filed with hot air, was a sheet of
flame. AS the flames shot forth,
A CRY OF ANGUISH
was wrung from the spectators; for il
seemed inevitable that now two more
squares must fall sacrifice; but fortu-
nately the flames were confined to that
and the adjoining building, and the
northern limit was reached. Having
hitherto Stunned Michigan avenue, it
now turned veno mously upon it, making
its way along Congress street, and con-
sumed the Oceanic building, the struc-
ture that once did duty as the fremont,
and one or two others, and then was
finally and effectuslly squelched just in
time to save those noble structures, the
MattisOn and Gardner houses, and the
Exposition building. The wooden Gu
pOla of the German Evangelical church,
corner Of Polk and Third avenue. was
set on fire by sparks, and the church
was almost destroyed before the flames
reached the wooden buildings immedi-
ately south of it. at this point an ef-
fort was imade to blow up some
OF the buildings, under the direc-
ton Of Mark Sheridan, Colonel
Lippinoott and Captain A. McCloud.
A keg of powder was placed in two
story frame building at SO Polk street,
and the destruction of the building was
complete. Powder was next placed in
a frame building on the southwest cor
ner of Polk street and Third avenue.
By this time, however, the flames were
SO close that before the place could be
closed out they had crossed the street |
and broken out north Of Polk. Several
attempts were afteTward made to blow
up DululHg5 on olaJe Street, DeLWeeu
Polk and VanBuren, notably at the st.
James hotel, but nothing effectual was
accomplished. 1t was impossible to OBJ
tain powder in sufficient quantities to |
accomplish the work.
ANOTHER FIRE ALARM.
Another fire broke out this evening |
which created considerable cOnsterna- |
ton for a time, but the flames were 4
soon subdued. The loss was about sixty /
thousand dollars.