The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-02-18
The Fire ut "Fiye l,ofnts.o

After the great fire in 1871 which
destroyed more than sixty buildings
in Monroe and caused the loss of six
hundred and fifty thousand dollars
worth Of property in the aggregate, IA
fire district, including the principal
business streets of Monroe, was estab-
lisped. Wooden buildings were hur-
riedly erected near the depot, and this
part of the city was christened, and has
since been known as "Five Points,"
quite as much from the fact that, un-
like the notorious Five Points of New
York, six points Counted by the street
crossings) meet there, as by the fact
that the location, like its namesake,
had no very enviable reputation for its
morals.
Visitors to this part of town Sunday
morning found not many of the build
ings erected after the great fire left
standing. and were curious to know
the reason. The question met with
the answer that about half an hour
after midnight of Saturday, fire was
discovered lin the back-room of the
store, corner of DeSiard and Hart
streets, occupied by VIM. Hamilton,
coiored Baptist minister, as q grocery
and provision store. The alarm was
promptly given, but an unruly horse
delayed the arrival of the fire en-
CINE several minutes. Meanwhile, the
flames had reached Dobson's livery
stable and were threatening Hamilton's
residence in the rear of his store which
was eventually saved by hard work
rendered l,y spectators. The fire en-
CINE W ent TO the cistern at Mr.. Kuhn's
residence, and threw thence stream
of water on the brick saloon occupied
by Mr.. Heckin, and saved that build
ing, as that, also, known as the Over
ton house, by a timely flow OF water.
Dobson's stable was nearly emptied
before it was covered by the flames, but
the building, two-story house, was
burned, and the fire communicating to
the building adjacent went along out
the street to O'Kelly's corner, con-
Stunning O'Kelly's store and large
part of the contents. The flames did
not cross tie street but large Goals
were flying continually toward the
north, the wind lying in the south. The
shingle roofs of several houses were on
cause two cabins across the street be-
longing to II. G. Dobson, where burn
ed, and other houses would have been
burned, but for the fact that men with
buckets of water were on the roofs.
There was n large number of people
attracted to the spot by the burning,
and the confusion, as is usual at fires,
was conspicuous. Those whose build
ings were threatened, as well rs those
whose buildings were burning, were
apparently in doubt what to do, and
most of them were impatient OF advice
or assistance. The colored men, per-
haps, and those who effected the most
were those who had not nothing at
stake.
We append an estimate of the loss,
damages and insurance so far as we
have been able to obtain this intorma-
ton:
VIM. Hamilton, stock and damage
to household furniture $1,000, iusur-
ance $1,000; H. g. Dobson, loss and
damages $225O, insurance $1,000; F. p.
Stubbs, building $3.50; Estate E. Gross,
building $3.50; Lehman, Abraham 4
Co., building $1,000, insurance $500;
w. II. II. Mullin, building $500, In
surance $1,000; A. Campbell, damages
$3.50; John Tenne, stock $1,000, insur-
ance $500; H. O'Kelly, stock (part
saved) and building 10000, insurance
$1,000; C. J. Herring, damages by re-
moyal $500.
AFTER THE FIRE,
Col. O'Kelly will occupy the build
ing owned by him in rear of his store
and is having it repaired for that pur
pose. Messrs. William and Thomas
O'Kelly are experimenting the change
Our young friends had several relics O
value to them which they will miss.
Mr.. Dobson has leased the stable adj
joining the city calaboose.
William Hamilton has opened in the
warehouse in rear of Campbell's lat.
saloon, and Mr.. Campbell has rc.openet
l