Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-01
DESTRUCTION.
Damaging Fire this Forenoon
Loss $50, OOO---James 4 ROOEa's
Wagon Factory Again
Burned Down.
A Serious Damage TO Memphis
Interests.

and Fourth, about 10 o'clock to-day,
in the paint shop ofthe establishment,
doubtless caused by a cigar or a pipe,
though the use ofboth were positively
prohibited. The flames spread
quickly throughout the establish
ment. Through some unexplained
cause, either a misunderstanding Of
the signal, or on account of the
wretched state of our highways, the
iire-engines were late at the spot, and
the flames were bursting through the
windows before water was thrown.
The hose carriage OF No. 3 had an
axle broken in its effort to reach
the scene, and the flames. had
progressed too far to be. subdued be-
fore the fremen could get their work
in effectively. The result was that
adjoining buildings were threatened
with destruction for a time. The
theater across the alley had the win
dow frames scorched and a
few glass panes warped and broken,
but no other harm resulted
to that structure, no water having
been thrown. The stage was not
deluged as some reported. The stage
carpenters and theater men kept close
guard and worked to save the struc-
ture, and no harm of Importance was
done. The tarred roof of Pearce,
Suggs & Co 8 cotton shed was at n
atlise but the flames were extin-
guished with little damage to the
building and none to the contents.
Soon after the fire broke out the
flames caused a tank of oil to burst.
The fiery fluid scattered over the
person of Henry Lindsey, a col
Ored labOrer employed by the
wagon making firm. His clothes
were quickly strippedby persons near,
and his life was saved, though his Hesl !,
up aud down the back, was scorched,
in fact nearly roasted. The central,
or main three. story brick building of
the firm, with the machinery, is a
wreck, and but little of value will be
saved. The stock within it was very
heavy, and its value approached $40
600. The machinery was worth $l0,-
coo or $4,000 more, and the building
is set down at SIS 1000. On the whole
the insurance in Memphis and Mem
phis agencies is $4,000, of which S13,-
600 covers the builing and machinery,
and the remainder is on the
storehouse building and stock at
the corner Of the alley, this part being
saved intact. The lumber stored on
a lot adjoining vas also covered to the
extent of $1,000 or whereabouts, and
this is uninjured.
The fact James, Rosa 4
Graham was one of the most enter
pricing and useful in the city. 1t, in
fact, was our leading mandatory a
very heavy business having been car
ried on throughout the past fa.l and
winter season. The leading members
of the firm are all men of great
energy and industry, untiring indeed
in their efforts, and their we're no
dronesin their hive Ofbusy men from
the chief proprietor down to the
errand- hoy, less than tive years ago
the firm was burned out and sustained
a very heavy loss. Much sympathy
was expressed at the time in all
circles, and it afforded the public
pleasure to find that they would be
able to rebuild and resume their very
useful enterprise. At the present
writing it is uncertain whether
or tot the concern will be
in condition to rebuild again
Their losses are exceedingly
severe, and it is feared hat they viii
not resume operations, at least fol
some time to come. A dozen or more
leading citizens expressed the convic'
ton during the forenoon that We
could have better spared any other
structure or interest in the city thar
that of James, Roosa & Graham
wagon factory.
The insurance on the partdestroyet
was laid as follows In the New Or.
leans insurance company Of New
Orleans, $500; the Association o.
Philadelphia, $780,; Western o,
Toronto, 1880; British American
$3.50. Total, $4,000. The companie,
named are all good and sound and viii
pay without a murmur. The insur.
ance was divided-S7OOO on the build.
ing and 5000 on engine, boilers anC
It's connection of fixtures, machinery
stock of wagons, agricultural nipple
ments, etc. The $1,000 laid on storage
shed and contents, and $500 OF
lumber will not be recovered, al
there was no loss TO speak of on
either. A pair Of hose laid to a tanl
and always ready for an emergene!
was turned on to the fire in its in.
cipiency,b but no water could be forced
through, aud this unexpected
feature prevented the FIRE from beinl