Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-08-23
FIERCE FLAMES.
q VI llion Dollars Worth of Property
Sweep. Away at Atlanta, Ga.-The kim.
ball House Burned.

swept Away at Atlanta, Ga.-The Him.
ball House Burned.
ATLANTA, GA, August IL.
Early this morning the Kimball House,
Southern States, was totally destroyed by
fire. The building covered a 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,
and it's destruction is looked upon here a
great public calamity. The origin of the
fire is as follows: At the hour of 80 Cap
tain Flynn, of the morning watch, saw
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
1t 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 to
notify his guests, and in some cases break
ing the doors i'll 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 and quit
the building in safety. When, this morn
ing, Mr.. Scoville learned that not single
life was lost, he exclaimed: 81 am the
happiest man in Georgia. just how the
fire originated no one can tell, but certain
1t 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
smoking ruin.
The Kimball House was built by H. l.
liz
five men: DR.. Joseph Thompson, of At
lanta, owned one-third interest: Mr.. John
Rice, of Hartford, Conn.,, owned one-third;
the other third was divided intt three equal
ert Toombs, John T. Glenn, Esq, and Mr..
James Thompson, Jr. The building yielded
a yearly rental from stores, offices, ETC., of
$4,000. The furniture was valued at $125,-
600. Tho aggregate insurance carried by
the owners will foot up about $4,000; the
elder Thompson, $4,000; the younger
Thompson, $15, 600; John Rice, $25 COO; John
T. Glenn, So, 900; Robert Toombs, amount
not known. 1t is claimed by many that
General Toombs had no insurance on his
interest
The efforts of the ffremen were so well di-
rected that the flames were not commune
Gated to any of the surrounding buildings.
1t is an unquestionablef 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
general and most disastrous conhagra-
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
can not be replaced; w. B. Burk, old book
store, $4,000 worth of rare volumes, the
collection of many years, insurance $1,000;
t. H. BIacknall, agent Bull-Durham To-
baccO, Office fixtures $500, no insurance,
Whitner q 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, S21 900, insurance ST.
coo: NJ. HARRISON & Bros, $4,000, insur-
ance $4,000; j. H. Gavau. city auctioneer,
$500, no Insurance; Big Bonanza saloon,
loss 81 900; the Gate City National Bank,
corner of Pryor and Wall streets, saved it's
books and current papers. In the safe in
the vault there were $4,000 in money and
100000 in securities, which are thought
to be safe, but they can not open the vault
until it coolS.