The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-09-23
UASUALIl AND CRIME
4 Great CouflagratiOn Sweeps Over
Brownwood,
Laying the Greater Part OF the Town
In Ashes.
Shocking Calamity In a Coal Nine,
Four Lives Lost.
A Negro Flend Promptly Dealt With In
South Carolina.
A Drunken Dynamiter Locked up for
Safe Keeping.
Fatal Shooting Afrray--A Servant
Killed by His Master.
Suudry Other Casualties aud Crimes
BRowNwoop.


BRowSwoop, Sept. 22-[special,l The
principal business portion OF Brownwood
is In ashes, Last night, shortly before |
o'clock, a fire broke out In the rear OF Law
renee & McFarland'a drug store, a stone
structure on tho west tide Of the square
rhe flames being blown from the building
10 thc building on the upper side, and in
less than two hours the entire block, con.
Mtlng OF nine handsome and lasting
Dmiuings, were reduced TO ashes, besides
destroying twelve business enterprises OF
stores. A general alarm was sounded by
nells, whistles and the shooting OF pistols.
rhe citizens and visitors turned out Gu
masse, and with wonderful rapidity
and remarkably good order saved
considerable OF the goods aud many
tlmes at the risk OF their lives. Lawrence
& Mcfarland, where the lire originated
we're the only total losers, this building being
enyeloped In the flames before an entrance
could be affected. Adjoining this on the
south, was the immense grocery and liquor
house Of N. A. Altman, n large
stone structure. The fire soon iguitod with
tho liquors and rendered the saving OF
much goods inposs Bile. Adjacent TO this
was the immense frame building Of the
! FIRST National bank, occupied by Brooke
I smith, cashier. On the corner OF
tho streets Ragsdale 4 Somers, Jew.
rlers, and Charles Steitins & Co, a
large dry goods. clothing aud grocery es'
adjustment. The bank austains but n
small loss, SO also do the jawelers and
Charles Stttins & Co. The latter
house had nearly all saved from the
il,mes. and IN some instances saved
from themselves, i being known
,uat some parties had the great presence o
mind to grab mp suits oi clothing, and
neilhcr thrv or the suits have been seen
since. Contiguous with the building where
In fr inc building, which
ed the blaze, TO the handsome aud com.
modious frame structure Of Sharpe &
Smith, occupied by them asa furniture
store. In an instant II was ablaze and
i'm possible TO save but llt.
tic stock. Next TO this was
the saloon OF Altman & Bell, a frame buid.
ing, which was soon devoured by the
| ilAmes and led TO the same results TO the
newt hnlding, used for u barber shop,
Adjoining this was the large aud
elegant II me building, occupied by Dr
johnson as wholesale aud retail
drug mouse aud by Drs. Johnson & Belts
az an office. The fury Of the flames ut
this place made quick havoc, aud but n
small amount OF stock was saved. Then
came the imposing two'slory stone build
iug OF Leon Brin, on the corner Of the
streets, occupied up stairs by
la fami Y aud TO be occu
pied by nimselI in a lew days for dry
goois store, Nearly all Of the content,
were saved. The Kinnebrew -four mill ant
knishts store wefe saved only by the al
most superhuman efforts of Major Rankt
aud the assistance OF citizens and
boarders. The Cogein operahouse
a stately stohe structure, narrowly escaped
aud cOn d not have been saved except ioI
the telling work that preserved Il.
The cause OF the fire 10 not yet certainly
known. II Is strongly suspected 60 DO ths
work OF an ncendiary. IL Is impossible tc
estimate the amount OF the loss As yet The
insurance on all is s27 800 Had Ii not been
for the recent rains and the prevailing
calm, the whole town must have been d,
stroyed, no water.works, engines or iAoili'
ties for extinRushlng fire being here. Tn,
dazzling flames, sbadowed by smoke and
the inlermingling and blue curly blaze
OF the burning liquors, accompanied
the roar of the tire aud the frequent
clashes of falling buildings, made the seen,
nne OF Wild magniiioeuce seldom beheld
The public square wss hleC
this morning with the root
less stocks OF the man,
burned out. Merchandise, drugs, clothing
groceries, liquors aud furniture, were al
together. Numerous wagons have beer
hauling goods all day TO n more available
p ace Tor storage. The opera-house ls full
and barns are now being sought. Thos
burned Que declare their intention q
prosecuting business rs best they can unti
they can erect buildings on the Old ruins.
A sad and sudden death was occasione,
bv fright at the Ere. Mrs Mary Hall age
~, was assisting In removing goods iron
her sons house when she feil and passe,
into an eternal kwOon. The much.beloye
Old lady was buried this afternoon, and IN
'amily have the sympathy OF the Who'll
community.