Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-04-11
Tue DESTRUCTIVE ELEMENT.
CaSweIi-s Furniture Mandatory
BHTHt d-InceudIRry Fire.

CasweIrs Furniture ManuFAetory
Barns d-IncendIRry Fire.
The fUraiture mandatory of Mes
Sis. VIM. CasweIl & Co., situated on
Ciinch street, near the crossing of the
Maryyille railroad, was destroyed by
fire before day yesterday morning
The alarm was given about o'clock,
and the fire was well under headway
/ then, rendering it impossible TO save
anything from the building. 1t burn
ed with wonderful rapidity, and was
almost uncomfortable in 8 short time.
The fire department was out prompt
ly, and certainly did some effective
work and deserve much credit therefor
One OF the steamers was on the
ground ready for work in about fifteen
minutes after the alarm was sounded,
and y hen both steamers got TO work
and brought their streams 10 bear on
the building the leapirg and madden
ed flames were soon tempered down
and exlipguished. II was through this
woI K, and the heroic efforts Of the fire.
men and others, that large stacks IF
valuable lumber in the yard were
saved, snd thsy even saved : pile of
very fac lumber, which was rightin
the midst of the IRE stacked up in the
lower story Ct the building.
The building, which belonged TO
the firm, was an old plank one, not
very costly Itself. They had, how
ever, = good stationary engine, by
which the factsry was run, and a
quangIty OF fiue machinery. They
carried on an extensive business "a
putting up furniture, ETC.. to supply
their mammoth furniture store on
Gay street, and there we're at the time
or The FIRE over 1 600 pieces of unfin-
ished furniture in the factory, all de-
stroyed. The machinery, tools, etc.,
wee q total loss, nothing being Tes-
cusd from the ruins suitable for use
The properly vas valued at about
s., coo, or in that neig b borhood, and the
firm held insurance en- il in companies
represented by Capt. John NJ. Brooks
70 the amount Of $1,000 only. This
makes il n serious loss, which falls
heavily on one of our most euterpris-
Jog business firms. This is not all,
however. They had employed al the
factory about fifteen hands, besides
several other dFesSers and finisheTs st
the store, ail OF whom are thrown out |
Of employment. Many of the work |
men at the factory had their own kits !
or tools, all they had to earn 8 living
with, aud they were lest.
The dwelling house jIst across
Clineh Street was in imminent /
peril and the occupants emptied |
il hurriedly. But for the
very damp and rainy state
of the weather, and the fire engines,
it would certainly have burned. The |
wind vas very high, and, but for the /
dampness, no doubt othsr destruction /
would have resulted. Those fated oil /
barrels belonging to Rodgers Bros,
which are waiting for the finishing OF 4
3 vault, were also near by again, and 4
had TO Oe moved.
Alter s thorough investigation We /
can srrive at LO other conclusion than /
that il was the work of the incendia- |
ries' torch which has been applied /
so frequently in the city of /
late. The fire in the boiler had +.
been taken out early the day before to /
do some work about it, and the build /
ing wss thoroughly gone through at
six O'clock and there was no sign of /
fire. It was impossible for it TO nave .
caught that time OF night, except by
iBcendiarism. This ineendiary BUSH
ness is growing monotonous and I
and there needs to be a
few hemp pullings or something Of
the kind 10 stop It.