The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1876-12-02
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
Burning of St. Martins Block on Mis-
sissippi Street,

sissippi Street.
Thursday nIght, shorty after .
o'ciock, fire broke. out in the central
building of ST Martins block. extend
ing nu Mississippi street from Rail-
road Avenue. tu Crescent Place. and
despite the efforts ot the fire depart
ment, aided by citizens and the crew
of the steamer Assumpti0u. VIII" wele
sent To the ST. rs by that ;;ublic spir
tied geIitleman Captain jos. Dalteres,
the deynuting flames destroyed the
entire hiock, composed oi five bnilti
ingS, one al which WAS entirely If
hi mex, The other four having brick
fr"ntS only. The file originated in
room occupied by an old Spaniartl,
BAIT Chciami, who kept il small fruit
store in the adjoining apal tiuent,
and is supposed To have been caused
by the burning of !, long stick "t wood,
one end of which WAS left lying III
the fireplace, the oril.r extending ont
on the floor beyond the nrick health.
Bart had gone 10 the coffee house. ol
the rurner. and il was during his at'
:. zee that the flames communicated
ta the huiiding Alarm was given by
WEtchman Snmerville and others, ami
augmented until nearly the entire
population of ponaldsonyille was OH
the streets and a majority in the i'm
mediate vicinity nt tlt ire The fire
companies were promptly on hand.
aud although it WAS impossible Ia
save any vt the St. M,,rtin hpilding>,
owing to the high north wind and The.
inflammahle material of which the
houses were constructed, yet by nu-
firing exertinns the iiremelt succeeded
IN preventing the flames from COM
mnnicating to adjoining houses. This
was accomplished 10y pulling down
Mitchcll's stable aud Keeping the
,is shop of Lnuis Racke, ia the rear
III Moicic'S coffee house, helugcd with
water Under the unf;t, nrahle cir
cumstances this was an achievement
by 40 means insignificant The flames
burned sierceiA far more t!laa an hour,
shedding ii lurid light all over town
a.,5 emitting 4 constant shower of
sparks that We're carried Ia distant
ioislts 10y the u ind, causing aprre!'rn-
sion of other fires, but fortunately
none occurred.
The principal Loser by this e"nti;,-
grafton is MI Emile ST. Martin, who
owned all the buildings destroyed.
Their value is variatisiy estimated. ar
from 34aH t" sfiiliaD Mr.. St Martin
usually kept his property Insured,
oui his last policy expired IN Septtm
ber and Was not renewed.
Aiessls. Nuna md PrudIiommt
Aollcre, propii.tors of the rotft">
i,nslse ut the corner OF Railroad Az.
etue and Mississippi street, lost IA i"s-
t.sn Of the fixtures Of their establish.
ment. an old billiard table aud guam
tity u. liquor ia barrels and kegs. a
mnu,-y box containing ahonl $4tW was
saved. as we're NEST of he bar fix
tnres. The loss Of the Messrs. MOI
iere IL probably from $500 to $500.
Mcssrs. Mitchell & Co., of the liv
cry stale were fort nate in saving all
their horses. mules, bugsies, harness,
feed. ctc. Tktir loss was confined to
the destruction Of their stable shed,
wl,ie', was pulled down to prevent
the spread of the flames.
Mr. Chas. Ol,erkamp. the hari>er.
lost "a few raZois aud ,ient;s' toois,
while old Bur. is min,,s j fee dollars
worth ~f truit.
-.-Sa---
S,NEe,s Gre.Ar %ss0VS.