The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1881-04-27

ellis Office, H. Safford's and H. B.
Wa.msley's Offices, Geo. Duncan's bar
Der shop, and G. J. Smiths 29s Saloon.
The next building to it attacked was
on the South corner of st. Denis and
Front streets, occupied by Mrs. j. P.
Campbell's grocery and dry goods
store. In turn, the business houses on
Front street, belonging to or occupied
by H. Lichtenstein, Levy Il Phillips
and A. Ducournau, succumbed to the
flames. Here the fire was stayed at
the large residence of A. Lecomte.
The loss entailed in the destruction of
houses and goods and damage in NOV
ing stocks is variously estimated at
from SIZE, 900 to 100000 The insu-
rance will cover about one-quarter Of
the property destroyed
The following is partial list of pla
ces insured: Mcdaniel, $4,000; Vindi-
Gator, $1,000; Mrs. Campbell, $4,000;
Lichenstein, $4,000; Levy & Phillips,
$4,000; Ducournau, $4,000; II. i.
Walmsley, $1,000; S. Nslkins, $4,000.
At times it was thought that tho
whole city would be laid in ruins, as
several places caught fire from sparks
and falling cinders, but watchfulness
prevented it and fortunately there was
not much wind blowing. except that
engendered by the fire. 1t burned
over four hours and with no fire appa.
ratus to battle with the fiery fend.
The citizens worked heroically and
eventually successfully, with buckets
land hand-pumps.
| Nearly two squares are in ruins to-
day; over twenty buildings, residences
and business houses are gone, and
Daught remains of their fair proper
tons save brick walls, chimneys aud
!; smoking debris. The streets were FILL
ed with goods and the bank of Cane
river lined with an indiscriminate
) mass of every conceivable article,
which had been thrown over the abut-
ment in front of the town to prevent
J their destruction bv the flames.
1t is generally believed, with veil
grounded suspicious, that this terrible
disaster to the city was the work of an
incendiary, as the fire, when first dis
covered, was on the roof, in locality
where no fire had been used, and only
small in proportions when discovered.
In fact, as far as can be ascertained,
e there was no fire used in the main
] building yesterday. It is difficult to
imagine what conld have been the pnr,
pose of such diabolical act. Natchi.
toches has been singularly exempt
from fires. The conf1agration could
have been stopped had there been any
apparatus here to combat it. Negotia.
tons have been pending some time fol
the purchase of steam fire engine
Its presence would have saved thous.
ands. of dollars worth of property
last night.
Natchitoches has never been visited
by such disastrous confagration, and
the ruin is fearful to contemplate. II
is impossible at this early hour to givt
d individual losses, aud possibly the
Il amounts of insurance may be CHROME
d GUS in some cases, having been hur
r riedly collected after a nights figh
: with the fiery element.
: The indicator will be suspended
= only temporarily, as steps will at once
j be taken by Mr.. J. H. Cosgrove, thu
: proprietor, to procure a new outfit
G His Office was large and complet'
: one, but the General is full of vim ant
: energy, and will not rest content unit
8 his outspoken journal is once more il
g the hands of it's subscribers. You
i correspondent is worn out, sore and il
d need of rest. Hence excuse this hast
If lily penned sketch of our misfortune
!. and all errors. Yours, ETC.,
d w. H, r.