The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1883-01-10
THE FLORIDA AGRICULTURIST.

been destroyed, except those OF the
Royal Mail Steamship Company and
The Atlas company. The telegraph
offices, the Government savings bank
and Colonial Bank are in ruins, but
all deposits are intact. 1t is impossl>
BILE TO numerate any want, either of
food, clothing, housing, medicine, lit
erature or burial. that will not be diff
ficult to supply. Alarge quantity Of
food which was stored upon the
wharves was destroyed, and now food
Of all kinds has become dearer. The
burdens of the fire fall on the poor
people, as those who are welI>to-do
live chiefly in the upper parts of the
city and their places of business are
generally insured. The all-absorbing
topic among the sufferers is, show
can we liver" Many wander aimless
ly about the streets, some stand si-
lently gazing on the relics of lost
homes; in tact, all seem overcome by
the calamity that has fallen upon
them. Throughout the fire the inhab
itants behaved admirably, and there
is hardly an instance of pillaging.
Captain Williams of the steamer
Alva was seen by World reporter
yesterday, and gave the folio wing &C.
count of his own experience "The
Alvo was lying alongside her pier
when the fire started, and almost i'm
mediately after we were obliged to
cut loose and stand out in the harbor.
Before we had done so, however,
nearly one hundred panic stricken
people rushed on board and on their
knees implored us to save their lives.
Our vessel was in great danger, as
the sparks were blowing in our di.
rection, and we were obliged to send
the people below and batten down
the hatcEes and close the ventilators.
We also kept a constant stream OF
water upon our decks. After we
were we'll out OF the reach of sparks
we sent our boats to the wharves for
the people Who had collected there.
When the fire was at its height we
had fully $50 persons on board the
vessel. Some prayed, others cried
and many leaned on the rails speech.
less with fright. The air was SO thick
with sparks that one could hardly
discern the sky where the smoke did
not obscure the view. Every few
minutes loud explosion could be
heard, caused by kerosene or rum
barrels bursting We worked all
night carrying the frightened people
from the pier to our vessel or using
our hose upon the burning wharves.
When we LETT Kingston the fire was
still smouldering, but there was no
danger of it breaking cut again, as the
fire brigade had it completely under
control. Other vessels in port put
off from shore aud carried crowds OF
people.
1t is said that the negroes worked
hard to save articles OF value; but that
they did more damage than other>
wise by throwing costly aud trail arr
ticles out of the windows. About T.
600 people are homeless. The agents
of the insurance companies cannot
estimate their losses as yet, but the
Co operative Insurance Company is
known to be heavy loser. The cons
pany have decided to pay all claims
against the society at once, but as all
the money is out on securities it Is
expected that the shareholders will
be called upon. The Royal Insurance
Company will loose about 10000
The City of London Insurance Com.
pany's loss will not exceed e3, 900.