Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-12-05
Fayetteville AblazeI
Largest fire in Thirty-four Years
Six Business Houses Lost,
An Incendiary's worki

the thrilling cry, "Firel and th
bells aided in sounding the alarm
calling for efforts to conquer th
flames. A large number of cit
zens were promptly on the spot
but Too late, as when discovere'
the whole interior of Vining
StraDes drugstore was ablaze am
the flames were about ready 1,
burst through t h e windows
Nothing was saved that was ii
the building-the entire stock wa
destroyed, together with the larg
and valuable assortment of jewel
ry, clocks, watches. etc., in tb'
same house belonging to Mr.. A
D Ruth. The safe in which tn,
watches, etc, were kept was open
ed on Tuesday, and the valuable'
discovered almost ruined by the
heat. As already mentioned, the
fire had SO far advanced when
discovered as to forbid an attempt
to enter the building, yet a case
of drawers in which Mr.. Ruth
kept gold filings, gold coin, tools
and other small articles was found
about thirty yards in the rear of
the house broken open. The
building was not insured, was
worth probably, $4,000, and was
owed by Frank Moorehead
Vining & Strane's stock was worth
1000, on which there was an in
surance of $500. A D. Ruth
stock was valued at $1,000, with
with an insurance OF $500.
The next building north was
occupied by Mr.. D J. D:mock,
Ills stock was
worth about $500, about one half
Of which was saved. The build
ing was owned by Mr. Frank
Morehead, and was worth, perhaps,
s. 500. No insurance on stock or
building.
Next, the West Side Book Store.
owned by J. W. Goodwin, Esq
Most of the goods saved, stock
worth $900--damaged to the ex
tent OF 500. House belonged to
Frank Moorehead and worth ST..
300. No insurance on stock or
Next, the hardware store of
Blake & McPbail. Stock valued
1t S3,500-insured for 50, 1000
lbout one half Of the goods saw
ID. Building owned by A j
roon and uninsured.
Next came the substantial bull
ling occupied by Wilson & Fran
lis. Their stock valued at $4,000
was piled on the Square in dem
,ged condition, and was insured
or $4,000. The building was
,wn,d by A. j. Toon, was not in.
ur, d and was worth So, 900.
The next and last consumed
vas Ward 81 Shorts store and
lin house. Their stock Ct which
perhaps two thirds was saved, was
vas worth, proba bly,. $4,000 with
IN insurance If $1,000 The bull
ling was insured for 5000. and was
owred hy Johnson & Morehcad
DR.. 3 G. Newman's books and
Instruments, which were in the
lrug store, were consumed.
Col 10. G Carrigans books and
,apers in bis office over tie drug
tore were destroyed.
The goods in business houses
IN the west side If The Square
we're removed TO places ci safety,
,ut fortunately the fire was u, t
Flowed to extend south Of the
where it originated. For
i while il seemed that the whole
vest side was doomed, but the
timely arrival and llicieut service
If the engine, aided by The strip
ping of shingles, saved it.
Some Of the buildings, if not
all, will soon be replaced by 9th.
IT'S of modern sly lie.
If as some suppose, the fire was
VI incendiary origin, it is difficult
% imagine any punishment foo
severe for the miscreant who
fred it.
The following are the compa
MES holding the insurn &c risks,
md the amount of each, ON stocks:
Vining& Strane in Home. N. Y
ST, 500;Pl enix. Hartford, 81 500;
Manhattan, N. Y, $500.
A D Ruth in Manhattan, N.
Y, $500.
Blake & McPhail in Scottish Com.
mercial, 81. 500; Phoenix. $1,000.
Wilson & Francis in Home, N.