Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-01


away bodily. One aged couple left most
Of their furniture to burn in the stTest,
but carried four mongrel puppies
and a couple of iron kettles
off in a rickcty tub. Hundreds
of drays were sent by the leading whole
sale firms of the city, among the first TO
inaugurate the movement being Messrs.
Ludden & Bates, to render gratuitous aid
in expediting the removal of furniture.
These fiocked through every street, and
were instrumental in saving the furni-
ture of countless families.
ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER CITIES.
1t becoming evident that the local de-
partment was entirely inadequate to cope
with the work in hand, Mayor Lester tel
egraphed to Augusta and Charleston for
assistance. Mayor May, of Augusta, re-
piled that an engine and l 900 feet of hose
would leave that city at $3.50 o'clock, and
Mayor Courtney, of Charleston, answered
that he could send 1000 feet of hose on
reels, but could not start an engine, owing
to the cotton fire which was still burning
in that city. T. NJ. Carter, foreman of
steamer No. l, of Albany, kindly volun-
teered the services of his company if they
were needed, but Mayor Lester, knowing
that the distance precluded their arrival
in time to be of material service, thanked
them for their generous proffer, but said
that he would not ask them to start i'm
mediately, but would wire them later in
the night if their services were needed at
that time. kilograms received early last
night announced that steamers and
hose had been started from both Charles
ton and Augusta, but as the fire was
under control when the messages were
received. Mayor Lester telegraphed the
Charleston, company at Yemassee and
the one from Augusta at MIllen.
ATOUR AROUND THE RUINS.
Late last night an attache of the NEWS
staff made a tour entirely around the
burned district. Hundreds of homeless
and hungry negroes were huddled to-
gether around small wood fires trying to
keep warm. Surrounding each group or
family was the furniture and other effects
which they had saved from their burning
dwellings. Most of them were penniless,
but very few of them seemed sad
dened by the days experience.
One negro whose curly hair had
turned to grey and whose eyes
were dim and failing, regarded it as
terrible judgment inflicted by heaven.
Another was glad because he had saved
his only effects, an extra pair of rather
seedy pants. A short distance further on
was a woman who had become a mother
only few days before. She was very i'll
and was crying. Her infant was asleep
! in her lap. Her only protection against
the chill air of the night was rude tent
which her husband had improvised with
some of his bedding. The woman, the man
related, was rescued from her home after
it was we'll ablaze, and narrowly escaped
perishing. Several other similar instances
were learned of.
Though most Of the refugees were, as
already narrated, almost penniless, there
was a noticeable lack of begging, but one
woman in all the hundreds seen by the
reporter, asking him for money.
STRUCK BY A FALLING TREE.
Mr.. John McHugh, white man resid-
ing on West Broad street, north of Indian
street, who was standing in front of his
residence during the progress of the fire
after having removed bis effects, was in
jured by a tree falling on him. The fire.
men were engaged in cutting down a tree
in front of his residence and the cry was
raised of Lookout" but the old man was
hard of hearing and not very active, being
81 years of age. His back being turned
he did not respond. The tree falling on
him he was bruised very severely. A
heavy cash was cut in the top of his head,
but it is said that his injuries, although
severe, are not necessarily fatal. DR..
Lincoln was on the ground and rendered
all the assistance possible to the untortu-
nate man. He was removed in wagon
to the residence of Mrs. Heavy, on Mont
gOmery, between Bay and Williamson
streets, where he now lies.
THE PROPERTY SAVED.
The Upper Rice Mills had a very mar
row escape, and were only saved by the
superhuman eXertiOns of the owners, en-
plOyes and their friends. The dwelling
house of Major n. o. Tilton, the Superin-
tendent OF the mills, and the office of the
concern were burned. On Joachim street,
hOnGpG NJ = M GNihhnnG
solitary and alone in the midst of the
ruins. Mr.. Gibbons and his friends stood
by the property throughout the fire.
FOUND LYING IN THE ASHES.
Michael Colson, a colored man, was
picked up on Farm street in the burnt dis
trict, sick. He stated that before he was
burnt out ne resided on Mill street. He
was apparently sick and had laid down in
the ashes where he was found groaning.
He was directed to report to a police
officer for assistance.
OTHER BIG FIRES.
Savannah has been visited by several
disastrous CONGREGATIONS. The town had
just emerged from the ruinous effects of
the Revolutionary war, when it was Wis
tied by a fire on the Doth of November,
1876, which, considering the size of the
town at that time, was the most destruct-
I'VE one which ever occurred. 1t broke
out in a baker shop near the market and
swept in every direction, destroying 229
houses, exclusive of OuthOuses, causing a
loss of more than $500000. Some families
had to move their furniture seven different
times. The suffering and distress was
very great. Notwithstanding the generous
donations from all parts of the State.
On the 18th of January, 1920, after
lapse of "a years, our city was again the
scene of a great cOntiagratiOn. The fire
broke out at a. m. in the livery stable of
Mr.. Boon, near the market. The wind
was very high, and before the flames could
be subdued 1853 houses, exclusive of out
buildings, were burned. With the eXcep-
ton of the building now occupied by G.
II. 0lmstead & Co., bankers, Christ
Church, the old Planters Bank building,
now owned and used by Chisholm d Err
win, and three or four buildings, the town
from Jefferson street to AbercOrn, and
from Bay to Broughton, was reduced to
ashes. The loss was $4,O00,0O0.
The next extensive cOnf1agration, but
not as destructive as either of the others,
was i'll 1852, when nearly the whole of the
area from Harrison street to Pine, and
from West Broad to Farm, was burned.
While the people were harassed and OPP
pressed by the occupation of the city by
the Federal army under General Sherman
a fire broke out ON the 9th of January,
1865, which destroyed over a hundred
buildings and threatened the de-
struction of the city. To the horrors
of an extensive fire was added the dam
gers of terrific bOmbardment. The fire
commenced in a stable in the rear of the
old E'Granite Hall,' at the head of
BrOughtOn street. The building had been
a Confederate arsenal, and was filled with
fixed ammunition. This building took
fire and for hours the exploding cartridges
sent cannon and musket balls in every
direction. The fire spread rapidly, but
was fought nObly by the firemen in de-
spite of the danger. The fire burned
from Harrison to Pine streets and Con-
gress to Broughton streets and from st.
Gall to Montgomery.
RnRNETT,s COCAINE.