The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-09-26
CONFEDERATION.
METHODIST CHURCH BURNED.
The Commercial Hotel and Two Cottages
Destroyed-A Lady Injured-Board-
ers Flyfng-Personal Effects
Lost-Braye Firemen.

1850 o'clock yesterday morning the
ienizens of the business centre of the
city were rudely aroused from their
slumbers by the loud ringing of the fire.
alarm bell at the downtown station.
rhe great glare that lit up the heavens,
and the numberless pistol shots fred,
told where the confagration was raging,
which proved to be the Commercial ho-
tel, situated on the north side of Elm
street, Just east of Sycamore street.
Tho East Dallas and down town fire
departments turned out in good time,
but by The time they raised steam the
building, two-story frame, and Taber-
nacle Methodist Episcopal church north,
a handsome brick structure that Joined
It en- the west, were enveloped in flames
and both buildings were beyond re-
demption. The heat was intense and
the heavens were filled with vast
clouds of smoke and myriads of
burning cinders, many of which were
carried by the heated current TO tho
southwestern confines OF tho city,
threatening destruction to prop
erty in their course. The
flames spread rapidly, and a one-
story frame cottage on the east adjacent
TO the hotel, the property Of Mrs. NJ. j.
flames could be extinguished, the build.
ing was so badly burned
as to be worthless. The throe-story
stone building of Judge Norton
located west of the Tabernacle and used
for Federal court purposes took fire,
but the flames were suppressed before
any material damage was done. During
all this time the Widest confusion pre-
vailed. Excited men and women,
and tho cool collected flremen were
rushing to and fro, saving what
froiu the angry flames. At
one time general conflagration
was threatened but the steady, strong
streams, skillfully directed, triumphed
oyer the fast spreading flames, which
once under control, were readily eX-
tinguished,
The origin OF tho fire il not known,
though the general supposition Is that
IL originated in the laundry of the hotel.
Theflameshad gained considerable head
way before they were discovered, or the
alarm was given. They spread with
lightning rapidity, and within halt an
hour the Tabernacle, the Commercial
Hotel, and the adjoining and adjacent
cottages were laid in ashes. Tho in
mates of the hotel came very near per
ishlng I'm the flames and only n few
managed 10 save their clothing or effects.
Mrs. White,a lady guest who was IN the
second story, came very near
being burned 20 death, and made her
escape by sliding down one of the posts
that supported the portico. She suS-
tained serious iniurie In accomplishing
this feat, and was so severely bruised
that medical attention had TO be called
in. She lost her gold watch and chain,
ring, breast pin aud about 500 In
money. Others had only time to es-
capo with their llyOs, with only their
night clothes on.
They all lost more or less money and
clothes. The losses and insurance aye
US follows: Tabernacle church, 1880;
insured for $1,000. Commercial hotel,
which embraced the one story frame
cottage adjoining, both the property of
Mr.. w. ID. Knowles and occupied by
Mr.. Il. II. Tillnan, valued at $1,000, was
a total loss, with no insurance. Till
mans loss, Sl,i0O, with $1,000 insur-
ance. The one story cottage on the east,
the property of Mrs. NJ. j. Turner, oc-
cupied by a. Wilson as residence and
tailor shop, was valued at 500
and was not insured. Wilson saved
most of his things aud was damaged t.
the amount Of about $lpO, with no insur
ance. Several surrounding buildingi
were slightly damaged by the eNcessiy,
heat, aud are fully covered by insur
ance. The numerous telephone wire
that extoudod along on that sido of Elm
street were melted, and forco was a
work Yesterday repairing tht
damage. No frame houses car
DO erected in the burn
district, rs II is within the fire limits
Thcrc was 70 meeting Of the Board %
the Directory o. the Tabernacle chutcl
held yesterday, and they have decide,
10 rebuild at an early date elsewhere
Several Of tho churches offered then
the use of thoir buildings, but ~ Dr. u
L. Smith, OF the First prosbytpriRl
church, WIS the FIRST, they accepted hi
kind invitation.