Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-04

by a sheet of GIltteriDg Ice-Per-
sOnaI MentiOn-The Railroad Mud
die - Political Gossip In Brief
Final Paragraphs.
ATLANTA, February 2-My last letter was
dated on Monday noon, and at that time our
snow storm was turning into rain aud sIeet.
This continued until night, varying only in
degrees CT coldnees, and when the alarm of
fire sounded at seven O'Clock, the city was
pretty well soaked with water and sheeted
with s,eet.
But the lurid glare that suddenly lighted up
the whole city for more than mile in circum-
ference gave startling evidence that an At
lanta fire surrenders to neither rain nor sleet
1 have never seen a more gloomy sight. The
fire was raging in the rear extensions of the
block between Mithceu and Hunter Streets on
Whitehall, and rapidly spreading to the 'front.'
as well as threatening to dash out into Mitchell
street by way of the old junk and paper ware
house of Barwarld g. Co.
This would have carried two small cottage
houses and swept away ElSas, May & Co s
great bag factory. Happily, however, our
heroic firemen stopped the-ravages of the
flames in that direction, and also saved three
stores on the corner of Whitehall and Mitchell
streets.
The three stores referred to were atflrst con-
sidered beyond the reach of the best efforts of
the f1remen, but the wind shifted and the
boys" put in their work successfully. The
same was true on the other flank and the fire
was stopped at ''Markhams Empire Block
But it was a hard fight.
The streets were a foot deep in mud, the
rain was falling steadily, and the wind filed
the air with live Goals of fire from the flames.
Beds and household furniture were scattered
in all directions on the sidewalks. broken and
muddy and soaked with water. 1t was hard
time for the poor people who lived over the
burning stores.
Then came mixed mess of groceries, hard
ware drugs and medicines, trunks, saddiery,
ETC., etc, seeking some place of shelter or
safety Men, women and children trying to
| save something from the flames. Taken alto
gether it was the most thrilling scene ever wit.
messed at fire.
The recent fire was a larger one, and had
many exciting scenes, but doubt if it exceeded
this one in some Of its dramatic scenes. The
surroundings we're of the darkest, dampest and
dreariest character possible.
And it was this feature. which also charac-
| terized the first great fire. that led people to
exclaim: well, if Atlanta amt the luckest
place for fires in the worldl' Why? Because
both these fires occurred in the midst of a rain
and when all the surrounding buildings were
fairly saturated with water from three weeks
| Of wet weather.
But for this Atlanta to day would be in a far
worse condition from fire than when Sher-
| mans army marched away, leaving the city in
Iuius. On night when the buildings were dry
and a wind prevailed nothing could have
stopped the ravages of the flames until they
had exhausted themselves in their fearful
march. Atlanta, with all her recent losses,
can be congratulated that she did not suffer a
hundred fold more.
THE ICE KING ABROAD.
Never since Sherman's army left Atlanta has
this city presented such scene of destruction
as was witnessed on Tuesday morning
The ruins of the first great fire were still
| sid
bris, while the ruins of the fire Of Monday
night were freshly burning.
But during the night the sleet had gathered
heavily on trees, shrubs and telegraph wires,
and brisk breeze following. on Tuesday morn
ing many streets and sidewalks were i'm
paSSable.
Splendid large shade trees were even up
rooted and Frustrated in the streets. Fences
were crushed and great damage done to fruit
| trees and sbrubbery. Pedestrians had to climb
| over fallen limbs and trees, and carriages seek
unObStructed streets
Nearly every telephone wire was broken down
| and the lines destroyed. while the telegraph
| wires were much damaged. Never was such
| scene witnessed in this city, and no one could
say Sunny South" as he looked upon the icy
| destroyer in his general wreck.
PERSONAL MENTION.
Mr.. Will H. Crisp, Jr, brother of Judge
| Chas. F. Crisp, of Americas, is a prominent
| member of Frank Mayo's dramatic corps
| Judge George HilIyer has consented to with
| draw his resignation as Judge of the Fulton
| Circuit, much TO the qualification Of his many
| friends.
The report that Judge A. s. Erwin. of the
| Western Circuit is to resign has no founda-
| ton in fact. He simply announces that he will
| not be a candidate for reelection.
Charles D. Hill, Esq son of Senator B H.
| Hill, whom he much resembles in his features,
has left his plantation, near Albany. and come
to Atlanta to practice law with his brother, B.
| II. Hill, Jr.
Atlanta has few idiots who feel that the
| failure of Patti to come to our city can only be
| offset by visit from 'oss car Wilde, who will
| find here few congenial spirits
Major J. H. Morgan, formerly of Savannah,
has become associated with Major Livingston
| Minis in the insurance business. His place as
| treasurer at De Gives Opera House is now
| filed by Professor G. A Howard an expert
enced, gentlemanly and popular official.
| THE RAILROAD MUDDLE
The bottom has suddenly dropped out Of the
late railroad cor fiict, and Atlanta is once more
serene ard hopeful of the Cole enterprise
| Both Major McCracken and the Mayor and
| Council softened a little in their defiant atti-
| tuceS toward each other, and through the bet
| ter counsels of mutual friends an understand
| ing was reached.
| A called meeting of the Council modified the
| Objectionable ordinance. and work is again
| progressing within the city limits 1t is more
| than probable, however, that less liberty will
| be granted the road to interfere with the
| grades OF certain streets
| mere suggestion that it will iniure the
bus ness Of Atlanta to interfere with railroads,
| or mule drovers, or stock yards. is enough to
| block up Whitehall street crossing with
| freight cars, turn loose a dozen droves Of wild
mules in our streets or fill the air with the
| scent of balf-dozen filthy stock pens in the
| heart of the city.
POLITICAL GOSSIP.
It IS a singular fact that Western Republican
| journals seem to be more deeply interested IN
the FELTON, movement than our own State
| newspapers. They are reaching after all the
| particulars of the campaign.
The intimate friends of Hon. A. H. Cox, of
| LAGRANGE. assert that he is not to be a Con-
| gressional candidate in his district, but enters
| the Liberal movement as one of the people.
careful survey of the entire field shows a
| very variegated condition of things in the In
| dependent Liberal Republican movement.
| There are at least six different shades of opin-
| ion as to what the platform and policy of the
| party ought to be, and he will be truly wise
| man who brings order out of this chaos.
Rumor says gifted young politician OF Sa-
| vannah. another of Americus and still another
| of Atlanta. all with earnest longings for Con-
gressonal honors, are to join Hon. A. H. Cox
| in the Liberal movement. Without the Radi-
| cal element so conspicuous either of the gen
| tlemen limited at might run well with Demo-
Gratis, but the present outlook is not promis-
| ing one for their aspirations.
| FINAL PARAGRAPHS.
If the crop of oranges in Florida has been
! good in quality as well as quantity, the good
| oranges have not found their way here in very
large numbers. At least have never seen so
many slightly decayed ones in this market.
| Yesterday was full of sunshine and warmth,
and everybody felt Happy. 1t was the first
really lovely day for three weeks But to-day
it is cloudy and indications can be seen of a
return of our long continued rainy spell.
Atlanta is plucky, and despite fires and rain
and mud she is pushing ahead and blowing her
horn with all the vigor possible. With good
| paved streets new water works and sewers a
fine market, etc, etc, she could soon secure
! population of fifty thousand and greatly in
| crease her business interests.
Senator Brown is still here attending to his
| private business affairs, and arranging to
build the Block candy factory building in finer
style and larger proportions He declines to
take any part just now in political discussions
as his letter to Col. Estill covers all vital
points. CHATHAM.
The Week I'm MIncing Lane.
L O N