The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1876-12-21
TERRIBLE CONFEDERATION.
TwCnty-SeVen Houses De
slFOycd--TVyO Business
Squares Swept out
Of Existence.
Loss One Hundred and TWENTY
five Thousand Dollars.
Insurance Very Eit6ie--
Not Much Property
Saved.
NO LIVES LOST.
DETAILED PARTICULARS OFIN-
DIVIDUAL LOSSES.

One O'Clock Friday morning, Decem-
Der 10th, opened sad page in the his
tory Of Bolivar. 1t is believed that the
incendiary torch was applied to the rear
portion of Jake Osborne's saloon, the
northwest corner of the squace. A stiff
breeze blowing from the north aad
changing to the northeast soon developed
a Gre of fe0rful magnitude for this local
ity. Persons living near were aroused
and soon gave the alarm. The town bell
was sounded, moning citizens to the
rescue. A large number promptly re-
sponded and worked TO exhaustion to
stay the rayages of the flames and to
save all the perIshable properly possible
BY two o'clock the fire had consumed
Osborns's and Alvin WaFrsn's saloons
and was wrapping within IT'S witheFing
folds Nicely AMI Fantress' Harrington )
wooden buiIaing, occupied by r. A. Os-
bOrne's eaddlery establishm mt, and Gen
Neely's private railroad Office. So dry
and combustibIs was the material, there
having been no rain of any consequence
in this section for the past two months,
that the structure soon yielded to the de-
vouring elements. Nothing could be
saved. The Ere passed onward and Mrs.
bypass millinery store was its 4 ext
victim So violent were the flames that
this building and contents rapidly disap-
- r1,o l.
n ercantile establishment of Adams,
Welons & Co. The fire attacked the
upper side and roof of this building frst,
and when Geo. Adams, clerk, vino was
sleeping in the store, was aroused, the
flames were leaping in at a window near
by his bed. lie rushed to the safe to
save books, paper and money, but he
could not secure the unfastening of the
combination lock and had to leave it.
So soon as the front door was opened
the large stock of dry goods was an easy
prey to the advancing FIRE which was
famed into still greater fury. Only a
few articles could be saYed. The post
office, which was in the front of the
store was consumed with quite all its
contents. Nj Tom Joyner, the post.
master, secured a drawer containing
stamps and stamped envelopes. Adjoin-
ing this building was the new, large and
handsome drug store of DE-. E D. Moore.
By this time the ravages Of the fire were
so terrific and the heat and smoke so
sti1iing that but little Of his newly laid
in stock could be saved Some of his
costly silver-mounted counter cases
were carried out, but the great bulk of
the stock was a total loss Wade Harvey,
clerk, sleeping in the store, escaped In
the rear of the store was a room contain
ing oil and other c0mbustibles. When
the fire gained this point the flames shot
skyWard with a fearfully terrific glare.
Before, however, DR.. Moors's stere was
reached the one between him and Adams,
WellOns & Co, used by Ramsey & Harris
as a cCtlon stoI ohouse was in ruins.
Over DR.. Moore's store were the law
Offices Of Gen. J. J Dupuy, aud Frank
Williams, ESQ, and the Office of DR.
Nelson, dentist; these, of course, were
destroyed. Next came VI D. McNeely's
dry goods store. It, TOO, soon surren-
dered to the flames not, though, before
portion of the stock was saved.
Nov the corner was reached where
the Kahn Brothers kent large and rare
assortment of dry goods. The Kahn boys
who occupied the upper part of the store
as chamber, were aroused and hasten
ed to secure the contents of their safe,
which they did. Then, by the assist
anee of others, they tumbIsd out of the
building a small part Of the stock and
/ lodged it around the Cogrt House
grounds. Connected tt ersvish in the
rear was the large jswelrY czsablishment
of r. L. Lightfnot 4 Co Ur Ligh foot
saved, in damaged coadI.I a a portion
of hiE stock, bus the most vsluabIs por-
ton was in safes which had to be left.
The fire swept on and dsvoured in turn
DR.. P. T. LOnss' once aud books and
medicines; C. A. Hillsr's law office. and
Dr. Neely's oGcs and contents. In the
meantime tse inmens. volume or sharks