Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-20

Inc foregoing list appears In the Little
Rock Gazette of yesterday, and the same
journal says;
Newport ison the cast bank Of White
river, 81 miles below Jacksonpor., the
business Of which it has in a great meas
ure absorbed, and the population is be-
tween 5000 and 1900
Last Saturday was busy day in New
port. The town was thronged with farm
ers, and il was not until II o'clock at
night that the last of tho tired merchants
looked their doors and sauntared home
They probably congratulated themselves
on the booming" trade Of the day, little
thinking of the dire calamity so soon 10
wrcak upon tbeir pretty town its most
direfnl vengeance. At about the hour Of
| o clock Sunday morning the cry Of fire
was heard. A gale was blowing from the
south Before the echo Of the first alarm
had died out the flames shot up like an
explosion. A few moments later, and
the balf-dressed citizens were rushing
TO the scene. They hsd no time
to spare, and before a sufficient
number were on the ground TO stamp out
the fend at its birth, II was giant beyond
control, and the town was doomed Be,
fore giving particulars Of the destruction
of the vast amount Of property, we may
enable our readers TO better comprehend
it by brief description Of the location of
the town. The railroad passes through 1t
almost from south to north, White river
being omit west side in the shape Of q
crescent The main portion Of the town
is east Of the railroad tracks; lumber mills,
elevators, etc, occupying the SPACE be-
tween the tracks and the river. The
stores arc built on the cast side Of Front
street and faoo tho railroad. East north
and south OF the stores are the residences.
On the west side of Front street, at the
foot Of Hazel street was q railroad eating
house, an ice house, and further up the
street cotton platforms and small
buildings. II will be remembered
that tho wind was blowing from
the south, and FIRE broke out in
almost the southern extremity OF the
business part Of the place. In fact, it
originated in Logis Rertin grocery store,
or, nerhaps, that building vas set on FIRE.
The person who was sleeping in the build
ing was not aware Of the fire until he was
awakened by a neighbor, and compelled
/ 10 flee for hisliie. Newport is without a
| hrc organization ofany kind, and it is not
to be wondered AZ that the people were
manic stricken at the immensely of the
blaze The town was full Of tramps, who
would not work, and il was only with the
greatest difficulty that the colored people
could be hired to 'turn hand" Thiev-
| ing was rampant, and many arrests were
ImadC. No one Bas killed and no seriou:
atfrlys occurred : Many ofthe merchant,
believed from the first that the town was
lost, and saved as much Of their stock a.
i was possible 1t vas d grand picture oil
| total desip ltt'Cn, The flames from Ber.
tinfs spread south against the wind
llicking up Bertrots place, Z. L,
| Watson's store and two vacant
houses. From Bertinis north
it was quickly a grand sea Of flames, the
Iillogs'of frl ~ tiihes rolling completely
over ono building and igpitipg those be-
yond, only leaving foT awhile those be,
hind to add to the volume Of the fire.
The first north of Fertlni's was Sconyer
& Heimbachis grocery, and then followed
j. +. Ran, ,in's grocery and bakery, Ma
sons butcher shop, q small restaurant, s
kehrmanlg barrel house and saloon, Nag-
ner's barber shop to j. T. Williams 4
| Go. Is saloon on the corner Of Front and
Walnut streets. Without the slightest
pause tho flames leaned TIN stroots, sgal-
lowing On Chastines BUTCHER shop on the
opposite corner, and then i. Nelson
grocery, u. Grimes grocery Ames' gro
Gerry and saloon, Mrs. y. ljosohwitz' z's
/ dry goods and millinery store, Staley &
IPyles' iewelry store Harris & Co.'s dry
goods aud clothing house and Owens
barber shop. At this point stood 4 larg,
| two story brick block occupied by y
Brash, the clothier, Jgc9b NoGtenson
dealer in furniture, ana NJ L. Cohen
dry goods merchants. The building wa,
IgpQ Of tho best in the little city, and
low bravo spirits had Hoped and fought :,
stay tho progress Of the fire here; but 4
was all in vain. The gale almost forced
the fire through the walls, and In almos
less time than il takes 10 write il the blocl
vas swallowed up as was James d. Fills
berry's saloon, the next adjoining and sit
uated on the corner Just across TO th
south from J.. Hirsoh II Co.'s massiv
three s.ory brick. The fire at this point
! corner Of front and Hazel streets, not con
tont with their nor. hern march, iumpei
across TO tho west side Of bront and dc
; stroyed II T. Mortonsons railroad eatip
house, q large ice house, several plat
forms piled with cotton aud one ,
two small buildings. Going back 10 th
Elsberry corner We see a splid sheet ,
flames uniting with the flames from IN
D eating house, absolutely envhlop the frQI
o and south Side OF Hirschls three-stor
brick. No building could withstand sue
J, an attack. II was fierce and angry, an
. continued until the walls began TO crac
land tremble Bythis time the inside W.