The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-11-03
SAVANNAH in FLAMES.
Three Hundred Houses and 5000
Bales of Cotton Consumed.
Fifteen Hundred Made Homeless, the
Sufferers Camping out in the Cold
Three Lives Lost.

SAVANNAH, Ga, Oct. 31.-ThTee hun
dred houses, covering half square mile
of territory, large cotton warehouse
containing 1900 bales, and other proper
ty to an amount beyond estimate, are
tonight lying in ashes in consequence
of fire which had its origin in this
city shortly after noon to-day. Fully
1900 people, mostly cOlOTed, are home
less and must sleep as best they can be-
side wood fires, which they have built
on the ground around the scanty effects
which they have saved from their ruin
ed dwelling. The night air is damp
and chilly, and their sufferings from
cold and hunger, despite the fact that
they are closely huddled together, can
not but be great. A careful and not ex-
aggeTated estimate, facts and figures be-
ing unObtainable tonight, fixes the loss
at one million dollars. The insurance
is also unObtainable at present, but it
is not probable, from the nature of the
property, that it will equal half the loss.
1t is certain that three lives have been
lost, two others are almost positively
known to have perished, and it is prob
able that the total will not fall short of
eight or ten. While the starting place
of the fire is positively known, its cause
is a mystery. While number of men
were rolling bales from the mammoth
brick warehouse of Garnett, Stubbs 81
Co., flames suddenly burst forth from
pushed out of doors the fire cOmmuDi-
Gated to others, and, famed by strong
draft, converted the whole interior of
the building into roaring furnace,
About one half of the men knew of
their peril, and those, with a wild rush
made for the doors, all escaping it is
thought save five. Tonight the charr-
ed remains of three bodies were found
among the still burning embers. A
partly melted watch, few gilt buttons,
and half burned wallet leave no doubt
that one of the victims is James Cash,
white man of twenty-fOur years, en-
ployed as a clerk in the warehouse. He
was we'll known throughout the State
as shOrt-stOp of the Dixie Base Ball
Club.
Another of the victims is Moses Cas-
ter, cOlOTed, assistant warehOuseman,
and president of the COlOred Home AS
sOciatiOn of this city, A cOlOred female
named Green, employed as cotton
picker, is the third person whose char
red corpse tells the story of her fate.
Her child, who was working near her,
and cOlOTed man whose name is un
knOWn.alsO almost undoubtedly perish
ed in the building. Several other per-
sons, both white and cOlOred are report
ed missing at their homes, but no ac-
eurate statement of the number burned
will be possible until the extinguish-
ment of the fire permits careful
search.
The burned district lies in the west
eTn portion of the city, and is known as
YamacrOw, the section in ruins being
bounded OH the west by Canal street, on
the north by River street, on the east by
West Broad street and on the south by
Farm street. Itwas almost exclusively
occupied by negroes. The houses were
nearly all one and two story wooden
structures, interspersed here and there
with grOggeTies, small groceries and
small brick dwellings. Fearing that
the negroes would become intoxicated
and TiOtOus the mayor called out the
military, and Gordon of 1000 soldiers
were estimated. No disorder resulted,
however.
AUGUSTA, Ca. Oct. 31.-In a respOns
to dispatch from the Mayor of SaVan-
nah asking help to suppress the cOntla-
grafton Mayor May sent steam engine
and two hoes csrriages, in charge of
the chief of the department. with thirty
men. A special train left for Savannah
at o'clock.