Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-16

ness portion again, which appeared at one
time imminent. This time the FIRE Origi-
mated in low frame building, used for
storing rags and adjoining an oil factory
that stood between Fourth Avenue and
Clark streets on Taylor street. The great
FIRE of 18Th originated in a stable. In both
cases the fire commenced in tlie centre Of
neigib0rhood occupied by wooden build
ings and there was also stiff southwest
breeze The conditions for great confla-
grafton were not wanting, but, fortunately,
after burning I'D nearlt twenty blocks, the
flames were stayed ct the very dSors of
the heaviest business blocks, siiH three hr
four of the best hotels.
Editorial Comment.
TIE Tribune says editOrially: Every
oool-headed observer of the fire must have
felt that we have paid g light penalty for
allowing cur magnificent business center
TO be surrounded with wooden roOkeries.
We have come off cheap. The great gilded
martyr around whom the fagots have been
so profusely piled, has not yet burned to
death. Perhaps this small calamity will
show MS how TO save 1t; perhaps not. There
are some 60 acres of territory burned be-
tween the fagots. and the victim. The gap
may be the means of saving what is lett.
II so, let us thank God that the predestined
fate of every wooden building in large
city is to be burned sometime. We have
now offered up go acres of our cOmbusti-
bles as a sacrifice TO the genius of free in
stitutiOnS-mesnirg, thereby, the freedom
Of every man to keep tinder box and an
oil factory where it suits him best. Would
that we could say that this Is the last OF
such mad folly. L Is not. Chicago still
has thousands upon thousands Of wooden
shantieS to feed future fires, and 90 down
they will all in good time.
The Rise ard Progress of the Fire
A Graphic Description.
The following general description of the
progress Ofthe fire and the efforts Of the ere
department 10 get il under cOnjfol is fur
nished by the Times. Nearly east Of TIE
shanty WHERE the FIRE originated was large
brick oil refinery, the interior Of which,
with It's large tanks of oil, was all ablaze
before the arrival of the second engine.
The heat emitted by the burning of its in
iiammable contents was intense, and when
the wall fell but a minute after the first
steamer began to play upon it, the whole
neiehboTLOod for q radius Of thirty rods
around seemed TO burst fCrrh into one siIii-
ultaneOUs blaze. Just north of the rag
shop was a story and a half barn filed with
hay which famed up In an instant, and the
Flying VYisPs Of burning Hay
lit on the roofs nearly a block away. With
such rapidIty did the fire spread after It was
first discovered that two horses in this barn
were burned TO death before they could be
rescued. The eight or ten engines in the
fIsJ district were speedily OF The ground.
and the most Of them took their stations
on ClaIk street where Marshal Benner al
tempted 10 check the northern spread OF
the flames. Engine No. y aud one other
was stationed on Fourth avenue. and Wig
orOls fight with the advancing fJe was com
menced al this point. IN enmInutGs after
the first alarm The pine slauiic5 stretching
eastward toward FOu1S avenue were all
aflame for nearly half square. Al $40
| O'Clock, eleven minutes after the first alarm
was ont, Marshal Sweeney turned on the
! second alarm, and the engines from the
greater part Of the south division and from
several Of the west side engine houses were
soon at the scene Of peril. The heat aris-
| ing from that half acre of
BIazinS Pine Shanties
was terrible, and the breeze stifened as the
| heat increased, bearing destruction to the
dry roofs that lay in the path of the de-
| stroyer. y large part Of the augmented
| fire force was concentrated on Fourth ave-
nue., halfway between Taylor and Twelfth
| streets, where they worked with terrible en-
| ergy TO stay the progress of the advancing
enemy. In twenty minutes after the first
| alarm the roofs Of the buildings on Fourth
| avenue were all atire for a width of dOz-
| en- buildings north Of No. 2S5. At 4:Jl
! O'Clock, eleven minutes after the second
alarm, the general alarm was turned on
| by Assistant Marshal Petere. This last
warning brought TO the spot the entire fire
force Of the city a. the time the alarm was
| struck. Seven of the WeSt-side engines
| were at a small fire on the corner Of Ash
land avenue and Twenty-secOnd street, and
they were thus retarded nearly half an
hour. In less than half an hour the en-.
gines that were posted on Fourth avenue
directly in the path Of the fire, were
Compelled 20 Beat n Retreat.
AL succeeded except engine company 81
the cOlOred company of the force, who de
| layed a minute too long and the flames
bursting upon them before they had at
| tached their horses to the engine, they
1
| handsome steamer was warped and twisted
into a mass of iron and steel, half meltel
in the fiery furnace that girdled it. Tn,
fire had swept diagonally across the blOcl
to the corner of TAYLOR street and Fuurtl
avenue, AM was rapidly eating its wal
through the remainder of the block font
ing on Clark and Taylor streets. TIN
Marshal stationed number Of engines OI
| (rlawl- - nd OF ,rt 4.
stay the northern progress Of the flame
along that thOroughfare, but the shantie
from which poured
A swarm Of Fallen Women
laden down with wardrObeS and fmnilur
| were ripe for destruction. and no sooner la,
the torrents of water eXtinguiShed the fir
in one building than the roof of tinde
boxes still further to the north would burS
into fame. But the most of tine Marshall
attention was directed 10 the front OF tn
fire, and every energy was exerted to sta,
its march. AT the corner of TayloT ant
Fourth avenue, large amount Of hos
was concentrated and every effort was mad
10 keep the fire on the west side of tn
avenue, but the driving wind was
Laden with Burning Brands.
which lit on the roofs beyond. and kindle,
them in an instant. The Olive Bqplis
Church was the first building TO 90 on In
east side Of the avenue. In little over al
hour after the first alarm, the fire ha,
swept over the space between Clark stree
and Third Avenue, and had reached Poll
on the north. The southern boundary a
the burnt district extended east, in almOs
a straight line. running nearly parallel witt
Twelfth street and about 600 feet north O
it. The aim of the Marshal was still {,
fight the fire from the front aud TO cunteS
As ably as possible its onward march 20
ward the better built portion Of the city
The front line Of the fire was uobly battle,
with 10y the fire boys, who were doing thei
hest and br.IveSt when the gale TO whicl
was due the most of the mischief, carrie,
destruction over their heads, and
Enclosed them on Either side
with a wall of fire. They pulled up stake
and went Ia the front again where the un
| equal battle was renewed, but their effort,
were in vain. Their efforts We're power
less to save the acres Of dry pine roofs Z,
the westward and so the fire swept on Is 4
| PLEASED. hardly turned from its course N
inch hy the efforts Of The department. uuti
| 70 reached State stIeei, which the flame.
now attacked. Having reached State street
The fire was IN its glory. Two-storv frame
| was the Trlie aud a suhStaufial strr,cs,,rst l..