Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-04-22
DESTRUCTIVE FIRES IN CHARLOTTE.

About o'cnck, on Friday afternoon, a
quantity Of cotton ON the platform of the
Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta and Rich
mond and DanviIe Railroads, at Charlotte,
took fire and in very short time fully 5000
bales were in flames. Every effort to put 1t
out at first was failure, for the wind was
blowing almost a perfect hurricane. The
current of the wind from where the fire orgi'
mated carried it directly in the direction OF the
North Carolina depot, or rather the offices OF
that company, and the large and spacious
warehouse and depot Of the Charlotte, Colum-
bia and Augusta Railroad, and in thirty min
utes after the fire alarm had been given, both
of these buildings we're on fire. Most of the
books and papers were gotten OUT but the
transfer of the fire from the burning cotton to
the depot was so rapid that very little time
was given for the removal of any freight, and
the forked tongues of the flames soon licked
I'D S50,OOO worth of valuable freight, inclu-
ding the value of the buildings. About this
time the large wooden building belonging to
w. J. Black, and formerly the Exchange
Hotel, was in imminent danger, bnt by al
most superhuman efforts it was saved, after
catching on fire several times The large
cotton platform, recently erected by the Car
olina Central Railroad, was at this time in
most imminent danger, and, communicating,
as it did, with the foundry buildings Of Capt.
John Wilkes, and leading in the direction of
the wooden buildings which are situated just
west of the foundry, everybody felt that ex'
ira efforts must be made to save these build
iugs.
Flakes of the burning cotton were carried,
in some instances, hundreds of yards, as chatf
before the wind, and we're communicating the
fire in many places in the direction of Me-
chanicsvile. The first was the large wooden
building just to the east Of the burning depot,
and in an incredibly short space of time, the
old lanyard buildings and several other
houses in that vicinity, were in flames. At
this time, the old Peter Brown house, occupied
by B. c. Henry, Esq, as a boardlng.honsee'
took fire in the roof, and building in Iiddys
ward was seen to be on fire. In an instant, 1t
was discovered that G. H. Elms' stable and
Col. Myers kitchen were in flames. About
this time, fire was communicated to Robert
Beatty's residence, on 7th street, and it was
burned to the ground. Not less than dozen
houses in this part of the town were on fire at
this time, and as the wind was blowing ter
rible gale, little hope was left of saving this
portion of the city. BY almost snperhuman
efforts, the large mansion OF Col. w. II: Myers
was saved, and also the residence OF John l..
Brown, Esq, and the further spread of the
fire in this direction was stopped.
Among the losses must be added very
large quantity of furniture, which, on being
removed from the residences, was, in many
instances, damaged nearly as badly as it des'
troyed hv fire. The houses burned were offices
of the North Carolina Depot, the Charlotte,
Columbia and Augusta railroad Depot, dwell
ing belonging to Mrs. Brown, etc, Browns
tannery, North Carolina Railroad blacksmith
shop, wood shop and blacksmith shop be-
longing to Mrs. Brown, tenement house on
Trade street belonging to Mrs Brown, the
old Peter Brown residence, Tiddy's stable,
w. r. Myers stables, G. H. Films stable
residence of Robert Baily on Seventh street.
Messrs, Sanders & Blackwool are the
heaviest losers in cotton. They had ON the
platform ,401 bales of cotton, and not more
than 175 or 200 bales were saved, and most
of that is in very damaged condition. They
we're insured in various companies to the
amount of $l0l 900. Supposlng the cotton
saved to be worth $4,000, their INSURANCE
is $4,000 in excess of their loss
Stenhouse & Macaulay lost only about
twelve bales-all insured.
S. B. Meacham, agent, lost twenty five
bales, valued at S2,200-all insured.
Burroughs & Springs lost several car loads
of guano, fully insured. Companies repre-
sented by them lose $37 900 insurance in the
city.
Oates Brothers lost 20 bales, valued at
about $4,000. Total loss, no insurance.
Messrs. Mauney & Bros, of Kings Noun
tain, lost 10 bales, valued at 500; no insur-
ance.