Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-27
ELEVEN HOUSES BURNED.
$4,000 WORTH OF PROPERTY
GOES Up IN FLAMES.

L Z ~ Il
a Second Yamacraw Threatens the
Southern Part of the City-EiGht Ten
ements and Three Residences in Ru-
ins-The Occupants Escape With Their
Lives, and Leave Their Effects to Burn
The Firemen Crippled by Lack of
Water-Tbe Estimated Losses.
At o'clock this morning IRE broke
out in a small frame tenement in Henry
street lane. near West Broad street. and
spread with such rapidity that for a time
it threatened to prove another 1ama-
craw.
few minutes before > O'Clock a
colored woman living in a house
on the north side Of the lane, near
Montgomery street, was awakened by a
cracking noise, and looking out Of win
dow discovered the tenement on the oppo-
site side Of the lane in flames. About the
same time officers McQuade and Thorpe,
of the mounted police, discovered the
fire and sounded the alarm from
the signal box Of the Jail. The fire depart
ment responded promptly but owing to the
long distance from the engine houses ana
the heavy sand i'm the unpaved streets, 1t
was slow work in getting the engines TO the
scene OF the fire. which by the time 1t was
reached had spread to the adjoining
houses in the lane and the entire row
between Montgomery and West Broad
streets. on both sides Of the lane. We're
i'm flames. As soon as possible the en-
gines were got in operation. but the
scarcity of water rendered them unaNall-
able for effective service. and before they
could check the flames they were beyond
control and were spreading with frlghtiul
rapidity..
The tenement in which the fire Origi-
mated was in the rear of the residence of
Francis NJ. Cox, on Anderson, which
was soon in flames. From this building
the fire communicated to the residence of
W. II. Ketchum, adjoining it on the west,
and that of George p. ii. Jones on the
east The efforts Of the iremen We're
now directed to saving the property adj
Joining these buildings and the houses on
the opposite side of Anderson street,
which were endangered by the flying Gin
ders and the intense heat. A single
stream OF water was all that could be
secured at this point, and this was
plaved alternately on the burning build
ings and those threatened. 1t was evident
that with the combined efforts Of the fire
men and the crowd the flames could be
prevented from spreading further, and
the buildings on the south side Of Ander-
son street and on Henry street could be
saved.
The entire row Of eight tenements, six
on the north side of the lane and two on
the south side, and the houses belonging
to Messrs. Cox, ketchum and Jones
on Anderson street were now in flames
and out of reach. The fire burned fiercely
and licked up the dry wood structures
like finder. AS soon IS il was discovered
and the alarm had been given, the oc-
cupants. mindful of the 6amacraW
calamity, began TO remove their house
hold effects, aud Anderson and Henry
streets and the open lot on West Broad
street were piled with furniture and
whatever could be snatched from the
flames.
The scene was a reminder OF the camp
on the banks OF the canal on the eyenttul
night Of last October, as the families how
cred shivering about their effects gathered
in piles prOmiscuOusly heaped tOgetherln
the sand.
BY 3 O'Clock the buildings reached by
the flames were burned to the ground and
the fire was under control. The loss can
not be fully estimated. The row of
six one story tenements on the north side
of the lane were owned by Mr.. John O.
Smith. and We're valued at $500 each.
They were occupied by cOlered people.
The two on the south side, including the
one in which the fire originated, were
owned by Mr.. Cox, and were valued at
about 5000.
On the north side of the lane, the first
tenement from Montgomery street, was va
cant.
The second was occupied by a colored
man named David Morris, who saved
about One-third of his effects. Loss about
5000.
The third was occupied by Julia Crit
tendon. cOlOred, who lost everything.
The fourth by Reuben Morris. Nothing
saved.
The fifth by Butler ADDISON. Loss about
500.
The sixth by Louisa Lloyd. Loss about
$500.
On the south side Of the lane the first of
the two tenements owned by Mr.. Cox was
occupied by colOred man named john
son, and the one in which the fire was
discovered by another cOlored man named
Frederick Robinson, who came to Savan-
nah from Augusta some time ago, land who
returned there yesterday to visit his wife
and child. No one was in the house
when the fire was discovered and its ori-
Gin is a mystery.
Mr.. Ketchum's loss Will probably not
exceed $4,000. His house was valued at
$500 and was insured for $1,000. There
was also an insurance Of $500 on the
furniture and the material in a job print
ing office, portion of which was saved.
Mr.. COX's loss is estimated at $1,000,
partially covered by insurance.
Mr.. Jones loss is unknown, but viii
be less than the others.
The total loss of the cOntidgratiOn viii
probably not exceed $4,000.