Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-06
THE SOMERvILLE FIRE.
A Row of Buildings Burned-
Loss, $4,000; Insurance,
~. $1,000.

Brief mention has been made Of the d E.
structiye FIRE which occurred at Somer-
vile last Friday night The Reporter
and Falcon Of this week contains full par
tieulars, and the following is from its re-
port; 81
It was about half past four o'clock, Just
before The train moved out Of the depot.
When the cry was raised the whole roof
Of w. 7. Hamblelts saloon, on the south
west corner OF the square, was in flames.
II probably originated in the kitchen Of
Hambelts restaurant.
The fire must have been smouldering
for hours, for from the time Il was first
seen issuing from the roof scarcely a mo-
ment elapsed before the whole structure
was in flames. The store occupied by
Mr.. Hamblett Is the property Of Mrs.
Amelia Riddick, and was largo two
story brick building, but very old. In
one Of the upper rooms Colonel Joseph
A. Hill, the manager of the restaurant,
with Mr.. John Crawford and Mat Wat
kins were sleeping. Mr., Watkins says
that some time about halfspast four
o'clock he was awakened by the bark
ing of Hamblett's little dog, and hear
ing something fall. The other gentle
men becoming aroused, proceeded TO
investigate and determine cause of
the tumult. Upon pushing open
the door leading into the passage
separating the eating rooms from the
cooking department, dense and suflocat-
ing volume Of smoke rolled irresistably
into the room, extinguishing the lights
and almost smothering the occupants
Colonel Hill, by cropping about in the
smoke and darkness, managed 10 come
down by the front entrance into the sa>
loon. There finding that outside parties
had discovered the FIRE and were rushing
to the rescue he made his way back 10 the
room. The Are had then made such
Roadway Il was impossible 10 return and
he was let down from the front veranda
by means Of ladder. Messrs Crawford
and Watkins leaped into tree standing
in front and thus escaped. SO short a
time interviewed between the discovery OF
the fire and the falling in Of the roof that
scarcely any Of Hambletts effects
were saved. He managed 10 unlock
bis safe ard secure the change
he had in II. Upon the west side Of the
Hamblett building was situated Williams
& Hifsehls livery stable. On the opposite
side is the tailor shop and confectionery
of j. b. Heinrich. These buildings
caught about the time the r5of Of the
saloon fell in. Heinrich saved nearly all
his goods, and in the stable all the horses
and vehicles were rapidly gotten out of
danger. The flames could not spread
eastward on account Of the high parapet
walls Of Hirsch's store, but they swept to
the west, tapping with greedy eagerness
q row Of small one story buildings occu-
pied by negroes.
The flames having spent their force be-
gan to die down about 6 o'clock. From
Hirsh's building on the east TO the last
house on the street was a smoking ruin.
The losses are estimated about as fol-
lows: DR.. j. S. Washington, livery stable
and frame office adjoining, 1880; insur-
ance $500 in the Householder's Mutual
Benefit Association, of Nashville. Hirsh
Bros. Il Williams, loss on corn, fodder,
ETC., $50. J. B. Heinrich, confectionery
and tailor shop; loss on house $500, on
stock, furniture, etc, 800, T. X.
Riddick, on saloon building, $780, w.
I. Hamblett, the occupant Of the build
ing, loss on bar fixtures, stock, confec-
tionery, restaurant, etc, $500. Frank
Trimble, two brick offices, about 500
The only insurance carried was $500 by
DIR. Washington.
MeEsrs. Hamblett and Heinrich have
begun anew. The former now has hig
stock in the storehouse Of Frank Trinble
on the north side of the square; the latter
occupies the old Bernaschina stand,