The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-06-04
erepessy 1nsslsc1 AIis.3s:-lsAstante
AS3.0oo -estsal Less Aa9.07o.

Prepeny 1nsslscA AOis.Ss; -lsNsrants
.ooo-lsssal less AaS.63o.
The night Of April 10Th and the morn.
ing If the 9Nh will long le remembered
in the history of Natchitocles as marking
one If its most caiamitous epochs. On
this day one Of the most destructive con.
dagrations occurred which ever visited q
place Vi this size and which ii WAS ever |
the misfortune Of ancient Natchitoches to
suffer.
Abont 1880 o'clock On the night Of the
nineteenth VI April the bells Of the
churches rang out the alarm. The citi.
zens were aroused from their sluml'ers to
discover that nre hal broken out in the |
very centre Of the most populous section
and among the business houses Of the
city.
When frat discovered the flames were |
seen issuing frvm the very apex IL the
qaa,lrilateral roof of what has been known
N Fontenot's Hotel, lately purchased and
kept by Frank Mcdaniel. This structure
was tall, three-story building, the first
story leing built Of brick, having been
used in I'VE ol,len time as sjsil. The
two upper ho"rS were constructed Of wood,
and dOrmer windows crOwning the high
roof. Situated on st. Denis street, it
towed for above the surrounding build.
ings.
The night wss still one, but owing to
the nature III the structure and the lack Ut
any Kind Of tire apparatus, it was found
impossible to reach the blaze. The flames
Tapped their fiery tongues heavenward nm
Ill the whole roof was one mass Of fire..
The citizens now began the hasty removal
Of all their goods and property along st.
Denis street, and for . time the widest
confusion and excitement prevailed. Soon
an organized effort, such ~ it was, was
made with the means ut hand to stay the
flre In the rear and southwark, the wind
being from the sOuth-St. Denis street
runs east and west.
The Are soon spread westward along
the streat, snccessively destroying q livery
stable, occupied by Jones johnson, then
q small frame residence aud tho residence
and boat aud shoe shop Of Otto schs6rath.
Here At the Office Of Chaplin, Drang'iet 4
Chaplin, desperate fight Was made, aud
the flames were checked. In the mean
time the fire hal crossed st. Denis street
and destroyed what wan known IA the
Mes~i row, ,,eing the original coNrt-hoass
here, building belonging to Mr.. Jos.
Henry, the Phoenix saloon, and travelling
up Front street, burned the dry goods
and grocery stores If s. Nelkin and H.
Bath, gu tho corner Of Front and Horn
streets. At this point the citizens made q
desperate, heroic and successful effort to
stay its progress to Mr.. Pradhomme's par.
tally are-proof building. Several times
it wasin flames, and was put ont, not
witstanding the intense heat. On it,
safety depended the salvation If thu
whole upper part Of the city, and the peo.
pie we'll knew Il. They finally gained
the victory over the fire.
On Horn street II SOON burned negr.
aaloon, the residence IF Wesley Shepheri
and email building adjoining. On THU
square, On 81. Denis street, another stand
was made st Leon Himch's livery stable
, extending the whole width Of the squsr'
to Horn street. Although several time
on Are, It Wa finally saved.
The fire In tho meantime had extende,
10 the hotel kitchen, and then to TIN
kitchen in the rear of H. A. Wslmsley'
! splendid residence, fronting on Churcl
: street. Il had also recrossed st. Deni
! street, ON Trout, from Nelkin's store +
Mn. J. p. Campbelps. Up to this tim
. the old ballroom, . long two-story bhcl
building, filed with Offices and contain
. ing the vi4dicstor and Register printing
9 Offices, adjoining the hotel on the east, ha
! escaped unscsthed but with the FIRE O.
. both ends and sweeping close mp to II i
tho rear from tho stOre.rOOm of H. Licl
0 tenstein, brick and slate could no longe
!. Withstand the white heat, and the fame
swept into and through its window II
4 vest pillows. It vas the last building I
y succumh, although in the very centre q
y the burned district.
II Mr.. wAlmaley's residence was soon
flames, although most strenuous effort
, were made to cave it. But human pluc
t vas no match for the hot breath Of Il
;. fire, doing ito fearful work. 1t crept dow
: Front street destroying the stores Of Nm
!. Up. Campbell, H. Lichtenstein, Levy ,
70 Phillips and ]. A. Ducournan T. Son, Il
4 Lest nsusd being On the corner Of Chur.
y. and Front st'estss opposite the residen.
No Of Mr.. A. Lecomte. Here blankets N
= water were plentiful and the baildipg
= brick. A noble fight, well prgspised ~
ID determined, WAS made and stopped Il
In flames southwartl. aa8 H .7
y Next TO lr. Walmsley's residence sto,
= . long servaut's house, then the offices
Ne d.. A. p. BredA and his brother, J.
Y Breda, attorney, Both baildinss We
n down and tho Catholic church s1ayed 4
further preQes Of the As in this din
tion. i eE88i n8stl a5f ssfl