Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-20

HEAVY LOSSES-BIG INSURANCE
A Fire That Burned the Heart of
| the City and Carried COnssernation
Everywhere-ThoF Flames Nubdued
After Twenty or Thirty Business
HOuses Had Been Destroyed.
Nashville Special to the Louisville Courier
Journal, 18th.
One of the most destructive fires ever
known In this city occurred this morning.
A few minutes before 10 O'Clock an alarm
sounded from box No. 4, and all the engines
In the city were on the spot IN few sec
| onds. The fire was discovered to be In the
large paint aud oil house of Warren Broth
ers, corner of College and Church streets.
1t originated in the cellar, and the proprIe-
tors and employees barely mad time to escape
before the flames burnt through and envel-
oped the whole ho1se. Everything was lost,
including books, valuable papers and cash.
The stock was valued at $50, 900; insurance
SO, 600. The fire extended to the whole
sale whisky house of George A. Dickle
q Co., and entirely consumed It. This
house was on the corner OF Market and
Church, east OF Warren Bros and communi-
Gated the flames to the hide and feather house
OF Shyer Bros, thence to j. A. BANDS stable,
North Market street. On account of the
winds blowing in q contrary direction the
flames were arrested here and the stable
saved. During this time the destruction was
In progress on Church and College streets.
The flames from Warren 81 Bro fired the
house of Cherry. O'Connor q Co., southeast
corner of Church and College; Ryan d Ryan,
southwest corner, and the Western Union
Telegraph office, southwest corner; all were
totally destroyed, aud the loss to the West
ern Union Telegraph Company is greater
than can now be estimated. All the valuable
records and fine instruments were burned;
also the contents of the District and
General Superintendent's Office. Manager
Fisher succeeded in saving the contents of
his safe, but in doing SO got severely
burned. The fire continued In a southwest
erlY direction and entirely consumed the
Noel Block, just completed, and valued at
$65 900; insured for $50, 600 The telegraph
Office was in this block. The other build
ings destroyed were Cheatham, Pearce 81
CO., wholesale liquor house; loss $50, 600;
insurance small. Atwell 81 Sneed, furniture,
everything destroyed; insurance about two
thirds. G. Blumenthal, glass and china
ware; Philip Schneider, furniture, entirely
burned; loss not known. L. Moses, uphol-
stery; J. Batter, secondhand furniture;
Wenseler's boarding house, Joseph
C. M. Duff's paint shop; W.
8. Rswson, carriage manufacturer; Patrick
Sloan, blacksmith. The Noel block was oc
cupied by the telegraph company, Parks &
Caldwell, insurance agents; MOZART Bros. &
Eastman, insurance agents; aud the South
ern School Agency, all OF whom lost to
some extent. At one time it seemed that
the Daily american Office would be burned
down in spite of all efforts to save it. 1t
was burned considerably and damaged to
the extent of several thousand dollars. It
was owned by George E Purvis, and valued
at $l6 600; insured for $1,000. The Ameri-
can Publishing Company lost very conside-
rably, but will issue paper tomorrow, as
usual, but not from the same building.
When the fire was at It's height
the appalling announcement was made
that the water supply was exhausted. The
engines at the water works have been out
of repair some time, and although there
was enough water in the reservoir to keep
up the stream, 1t could not supply all the
engines constantly and they frequently
had to stop. kilograms were sent to
Clarksville for an engine, which was put on
the cars and brought nearly to the city, but
when informed by wire that it was not
needed, /. was sent back. kilograms were
also sent to Louisville to be In readiness,
and the track was kept clear that the en-
gines might be sent here in three hours
time. These precautions were necessary, as
IL was feared at one time that whole blocks
would be swept away.
The roof Of the Maxwell House caught
fire several times, and also the adjoining
buildings. Several small houses In the rear
OF the american newspaper Office were burn |
ed down and other damage done, the |
amount Of which cannot be known for sew |
eral days.
Several flremen and others were injured |
6vyk Go11 AnI4- I,,k IL 4. y
that any one was killed or injured seriously. |
AS soon as the telegraph Office was de-
stroyed, the matter of sending dispatches
became a serious consideration. The Ban
'aer had no Associated Press to-day, and the |
american will doubtless have very little to-
morrow. Manager Fisher had, however, ar
ranged wire before O'Clock to connect
North, and dispatches were soon flying thick
in all directions.
The fire began at 10 o'clock and contin-
ued furiously until half-past one. At that
time the 1remen had it under control, and |
soon all danger was passed, though the
engines continued to throw water until
nearly night
The burnt district embraces the ruins of
five houses on the northwest corner of
Church and College streets, running east to
Market; three houses on the southeast
corner of the same street, two on the north
west corner OF the same street, and five on
the southwest corner of the same street;
also two houses on the northwest corner of
Market and Church streets. About an area
of square In all was destroyed.
The Western Union manager here de-
serves credit for the promptness and skill he
in resuming business at the old
stand. Notwithstanding the great crowds
on the street, have not heard of single
accident and of but one pickpocket. There
are reports tonight, however, that several
burglaries occurred in resident portions of
the city while the occupants of the houses
were viewing the great fire. The fire absorbs
everything to night-even the victory of
Hindoo and the childish action of Conkling.
The following insurance companies sus-
tain the following. Losses: Ross, Gale &
Thomas, agents of the North British, 81 GOO;
Queen, 5000; German American, $4,000;
Ktna, $1,000; Hartford. $1,000; National,
&, 900; Home of New York, $5 500: Con-
necticut, S., 500; Hart Bros and Eastman,
Pbenix Insurance Company
Of London, $l3 500; Guardian OF London,
"a 900; Imperial and Northern Of London,
81, 600; Fire Association of Philadelphia,
81 coo; London Assurance, $11 500; Franklin
If PhiIadelphia, S., 1000: Pnenix Of Hart
lord, $4,000.
losses: Royal of Liverpool, 81, 800:
La Confance of Paris, SO 500; London and
$1,000; Traders of Chicago,
3, 900. H. L. Claiborne, agent, sustains in
Lancashire, $500; Liverpool, London and
9Iobe, $500. Georgia Home, w. G.
Nelson, agent, sustains In the Phoenix
If Brooklyn, 5000; Insurance Com {
)aDy of North America. 5000 |
Morrow & Co., agents, lose 81. 900 in Ham
,urg and Msgdeburg and S4 900 in Spring
ield Company. The State Insurance Com.
,any Of Nashville sustain loss of $53 OOO.
rhe Commercial Insurance Company OF
his .city, carry policies amounting to
92, 900, and estimate their loss at $50, 600 |
The Equitable of this city claim to have I
ost 81, 500.
This foots up $2O5, $50, and is nearly the
otal loss.
TIE PANAMA GANkT-Tha lafaqf in | {