The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-08-24
FIERCE FLAMES.

4 M'lnon Dollars' Worth OF Property
Swept Away at Atlanta, Ga.-The kim.
ball House Burned.
ATLANTA, GA, August IL.
Early this morning the Kimbal House,
the best-known and largest hotel in the
Southern States, was totally destroyed by
fire. The building covered block in the
very heart of the city, was six stories high,
and was the most snowy super-structure in
Atlanta. The entire loss will not fall short
of 81 ,0O0, 900. The hotel has national fame,
und its destruction is looked upon here as a
great public calamity. The origin Of the
fire is as follows: At the hour Of 4:30 Cap
tain Flynn, Of the morning watch, saw q
dense volume of smoke issuing from the
cellar department under the real estate
office of George W. Adair. Flynn rushed
to the opening of the basement, but found
it impossible to effect an entrance because
of the binding smoke.
He was the first to give the alarm, but
before the notes of the bell rang out upon
the air Policeman T. s. Thompson had en-.
tered the Office of the kimball and informed
Mr.. Thad Hammond that the building was
on fire. Mr.. Scoville was at once sum-
moned. He proceeded with Mr.. Thompson
to the scene of the fire, and taking in the
situation at glance coolly remarked: "It's
gone" Accompanied by Mr.. Thompson,
Mr.. Scoville fastened into the building
and at once set about arousing the guests.
Mr.. Scoville superintendent personally,
going from door to door with Mr.. Thomp.
son, his night Waterman, and others, and in
many instances beating on the doors tc
notify his guests, and in some cases break.
ing the doors in with his own hands, lest
some guest should not be fully aroused and
be lost in the flames. All, even domestics
sleeping in the topmost story, were
awakened in ample time to dress aud quit
the building in safety. When, this morn.
ing, Mr.. Scoville learned that not a single
life was lost, he exclaimed: ~ am the
fire originated no one can tell, but certain
it is it began in the basement, as above
described.
The clang of the bells and the hurry
Ing and steaming of engines soon aroused
the whole city, and hoarse shouts of the fire.
men rose high above the general din. In
less than an hour from the sounding of the
alarm the streets leading to the hotel were
thronged with people, gazing on the grand
est spectacle ever vouchsafed to an Atlanta
audience. Before the flames had spent
their fury the heart of the building had
been Tapped into nothingness, and in many
places the outer walls crashed and crumbled
into the streets. At high noon the great
hotel, which but yesterday stood forth the
pride and grandeur of Atlanta, was only a
smoking ruin.
The Kimball House was built by II. L.
Kimball, in the year 1870. 1t was owned by
five men: DIR. Joseph Thompson, of At
lanta, owned one-third interest; Mr.. John
Rice, of Hartford, Conn.,, owned one-third;
the other third was divided into three equal
parts, owned respectively by General Rob
ert Toombs, John T. Glenn, Esq, and Mr..
James Thompson, Jr. The building yielded
a yearly rental from stores, offices, ETC., Of
S36, 900. The furniture was valued at S125,-
D00 The aggregate insurance carried by
the owners will foot up about SS0,OOO; the
elder Thompson, $4,000; the younger
I. Glenn, $1,000; Robert Toombs, amount
not known. 1t is claimed by many that
General Toombs had no insurance on his
interest.
The efforts of the firemen were SO well di-
rected that the flames were not commune
Gated to any of the surrounding buildings.
1t is an unquestiOnable fact, however, that
the dead calm which prevailed throughout
the burning alone saved the whole business
portion of the city. Had wind sprung
up no earthly power could have prevented
a general and most disastrous confagra.
ton.
On the Wall street side the losses are:
Geo. W. Adair, real estate agent, complete
plats of the property of the city, covering
many years and indicating its growth. that
eau not be replaced; W. B. Burk, old book
store, 50 900 worth of rare volumes, the
collection of many years, insurance 5000;
T. II. Blacknall, agent Bull-Durham To-
bacco, Office fixtures $500, no insurance,
Whitner e. Sons. insurance agents, 500,
covered.
On Decatur street the losses are: Goode,
Fontaine & Elmore, real estate men, 81 900;
books and papers saved; j. b. Daniel,
wholesale druggist, So, 900, insurance ST.
coo; N. HARRISON & Bros, 10000, insur-
ance 5000: j. H. Gavan. city auctioneer,
81 800, no insurance; Big Bonanza saloon,
loss $1,000; the Gate City National Bank,
corner of Pryor and Wall streets, saved its
books and current papers. In the safe in
the vault there were 900 in money and
81, 1000 900 in securities, which are thought
to be safe, but they can not open the vault
until it cools.