The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-08-03
2HE FEARFUL FLAMES

Aarm OF lire WAS sounded from tho down.
town engine house, and the first four mes,
urea strokes Of the bell told that it wa, in
'ne Fourth ward. 1t proved to be the
uhuer'aklng establishment of Ed Smith
located at the northwest corner OF Main and
o. faui streets, The building was large
tWo-sIory frame, composed OF well seasoned
pine, and 1t went like so much finder. The
hremen got to the scene in good time and
did good work IN checking the IRE, but /,
sproaa with
SUCH RAPIDIrY
shat the two adjoining frame houses, a two
story frame laundry, two-story frame
known as the European house, and the out
houses and stables of Mr.. Smith were all
wrapped IN tempestuous flames that grew
more furious as the fire progressed. The
residence Of Mr.. 4. Black a two-story frame
fronting on Elm street at the opposite cor.
ner OF the block, on which stood the burn.
ing building, together with the outhouses
caught afire, and all the efforts OF the fire.
men, who fought the aggressive flames
calamity, proved futile, and
TIM BEAUTIFUL HoNR
that existed but few minutes before was
soon a charred and blackened mass OF
smoidering embers. All this time the
widest excitement prevailed. The tiremen,
who were assisted by a number Of citizens,
were battling with the contlagration, men
were rushing here aud there saving goods,
and the women stood wringing their hands
In agony. Some of them were so much OK
cited that for al least two blocks Oft they be-
tl,Ai 4
tects out. A slight breeze was
blowing from the southeast, and il
looked at one time as though
THE ENTIRE BLOCK
was in danger Of burning, but, fortunately,
stll breeze began to blow from the south.
west, which changed the course of the
flames, and IS there was no material close
enough to feed upon they were confined tc
Ed smiths, the European house, the laun.
dry and the residence of Mr.. Black, all o.
which We're burned to the ground. The
heat was intense, and it was difficult for tb,
hremen TO get close enough to throw watel
with good effect. BY thi, time the tire
ragged turiously, and the long, forked
tongues OF flame shot upwards to the height
OF hunured feet or more. The sidewalk,
on both streets were filled with men
women and children, lookers.on. Furni
ture and household goods vert
strswn here and there alopg the walks
IN PRoMIsCUoUs HEAPS,
great deal Of it having been damaged il
the hurry to save it from the flames. Tn,
cry arose that there was woman il
Smiths building, who had failed to escape
and the crowd was for while frantic, bu
gentleman was present who saw the won
an escape by the back steps, ts the Great re
lief of all who heard the rumor.
THE FIRE BROKE OUT
in the. establishment of Mr.. Smith in tn,
trimming-room., The first floor of the build
ing was used for his business and was storeC
W tn collins, and adjoining, but in the sam
was the Louisville Coffin com
pany, which was stored Will
burial goods. The second floor was occu
pied by his family, the members of whicl
barely escaped with their lives. Mrs
Smiths sister was
from the stairway blythe flames, and sill,
down an awning post, and Mr.. Smith
mother, who is an elderly lady, iumpe,
from the porch to the ground, q distance O
some fourteen feet, sustaining severe inju
ries, receiving severe shock ana badi'
bruising herself, She was carried to hous
up the street, where she was given medics
attention. They saved nothing at all, TO
so rapidly did the fire spread that it wa.
rush for life. AT the time the alarm wa
sounded Mr.. Smith was down in his cisterl
IN the backyard cleaning it out
and us the party assisting him had take
the ladder out,
ALL MEANS or ESCAPING
were cut oil, but Joe Shirly and youn
Patterson replaced il and assisted him Out
When he reached the open air he was con,
pletely exhausted for some time after
wards.
Robert Kicks, in trying to save the bal
ustrade OF the gallery OF Mr.. Blacks res
idence, fell to the ground, q distance @
some twelve feet, sustaining severe bruises
and perhaps internal injuries. He WA
taken charge of by DR.. Newsom. who say
him home and attended to his wants.
Mr., j. +. Armstrong, proprietor of tn
European house. was overheate,
while trying to save his househol,
effects and is still confined to his bed. A
one time his condition was regarded US
EXCEEDINGLY CRITICAL.
Mrs. Ruby, a sick lady, who was stoppin
al the house, was carried to = house acros
the street. The houses on the OPPOSITE
side OF Main street were badly scorched b,
the heat and damaged more or less in tina
respect, and had is not been for the ell
Gent services OF the tircmen they woul,
have burned, Mrs. Hinson, an invalid
was taken out OF one of these buildings to
place OF safety. Two of the three horse
OF Mr.. Smith burned in the sta
Bile, and the third was so badl
burned that some humane persoi
shot it, His
FINE iIRARsk
went with his other effects, the only tw,
things he saved beinga buggy and spring
wagon.
Superintendent wheeliss, Of the waite
works, deserves credit for what water the
had on hand, which WAS thirty five feet 4
the stand-pipe, the result OF economy and az
emulation, and by the aid ofthe river pun
ample water was furnished but enough wa
not accumulated at one time to have tn
desired pressure.
THE TELEPHONE
wires, some seventy or eighty, whc
were burned at this point, were melted
aud the damage sustained by the Exchang
will DO about $3.50. The line will be re
paired by tom orrow evening at farthest.
The most OF the household goods from 81
tn burned buildings was saved, with IN
exception OF that OF Mr., Smith, who lost q
his household goods, clothing and sbou
Sl00 in silver.
The horses OF Hose company No. 2, q
East Dallas, and Hose No.
were badly burned, and, thoug
dumb brutes, they were so WEI
trained that they went willingly whsreve
their drivers guided them. Ii will be sey
cral DAYS before they will be iit for use.
The East Dallas engine did not get TO tn
fire. 1t started bat the CRATE ofthe cngin
was lost and she could not take hand in tn