Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-10-18
GAINESVILLE IN ASHES.
BOYS WITH CIGARETTES AMONG
COTTON TELL THE TALE.

IVA
The Business Portion of the Town En-
tirely Destroyed and the Fire Still
Raging When Telegraphic Communf-
cation was Cut Of-Other Destruction
Wrought by Fire.
MACON, GA, Oct. 17.-Mayor Corput
received a dispatch this afternoon at .
O'Clock from GAINESVILLE officials asking
him to send aid from the Macon Fire De-
partment as great fire was raging at
Barnesville and the entire destruction of
the city was imminent. A general fire
alarm was sounded in Macon, bringing
out the firemen. Steamer No. and hose
reel No. was dispatched by a special
train to BarnesviIle. The information at
Macon concerning the confagration is
very meagre, as both the Western Union
and Southern telegraph offices are burned,
and neither line will make connection to-
night, so full details cannot be learned
here. The fire commenced about l O'Clock
this afternoon, in cotton belonging to the
Central Railroad, which was on the plat
form alongside the railroad track. 1t
caught from cigarettes smoked by
several bows who We're plaving
W
the cotton on fire they ran off. An alarm
was soon given, but the fire had made
such headway that 70 bales of the Central
Railroads cotton were destroyed before
the balance of the cotton belonging to the
road, numbering several hundred bales,
were rolled away from the platform and
thus saved. By superhuman efforts the
Central Railroad warehouse near by,
tlled with cotton, escaped de-
strQction. The fire, however, was
communicated to Murphy's and Hunts
warehouses, which were totally destroyed,
together with several hundred bales of
cotton, estimated to number at least 800
and possibly 500, The fire continued to
rage with great fury, burning both tele-
graph offices. the express office, the post
office, hotel, several stores, and in fact the
entire business portion of the town. 1t is
thought that the loss will 90 considerably
beyond 100000. BarnesVille is forty
seven miles above Macon on the Atlanta
road.
THE NEWS AT ATLANTA.
ATLANTA, Oct. H. The J0urRaJ this
afternoon publishes the following special
from GAINESVILLE: ''Fire broke out here
to-day at 2 O'Clock and Murphy's ware
house, together with 300 bales of cotton,
were totally destroyed. The hotel and
stores adjoining are now on fire and the
very scarce and the buildings are almost
entirely at the mercy of the flames. 1t is
feared that the greater portion of the busi-
ness part of the town will be destroyed"
FIRE ON AN OCEAN STEAMER.
QUEENSTOWN, Oct. 1.-THE GuiOn line
steamer Nevada, Capt. Bremen, from
New York Oct. Z for Liverpool, arrived
off here at $40 O'Clock this morning. She
reported that there was fire on board and
that great excitement prevailed among
the passengers. Instead of proceeding to
Liverpool the Nevada entered this harbor.
Her cargo had been on fire since Wednes-
day.
QUEENSTOWN, Oct. II, 1 P. MA ten
der from the Nevada came to shore and
returned to the steamer with gangs of la
borers to help subdue the fire. 1t brought
no passengers ashore. 1t is supposed
that the fire was caused by spontaneous
combustion among the cargo.
The Nevada on entering the harbor had
a heavy list to port. 1t is stated that
there are 10 feet OF water in her hold.
Admiral LethbrIdge offered the services
OF the crew of the English gunboat in the
harbor, but the agents of the steamer de-
clined the prOffered assistance. The pas
sengers have landed. The Captain of the
Nevada denies that the fire is still burning.
THE DISCOVERY.
AT noon Wednesday the discovery was
made that a portion of the cargo of the
Nevada was on fire. The Captain and
other officers went below and found that
some cotton and hops were burning. They
returned to the deck nearly smothered.
Water was at once poured upon the burn
ing cargo, and the fire was got under con-
troll after some hours effort. Many pas
sengers lent their assistance. A quantity
OF the cargo was thrown overheard. The
steam eXtinguisher did good service.
From Wednesday the Captain, officers,
crew and passengers worked without
ceasing. They were in a state of eXhaus-
tlon when they arrived at Queenstown.
AT Queenstown fresh men were shipped
to relieve the crew. The fire, while un-
der control, still shoulders in the cotton
hold. The Nevada landed seventeen pas
sengers at Queenstown and proceeded on
her way to Liverpool.
Before sailing the Nevada listed heavily
to starboard and the boats on the port side
were filed with water to assist in right
ing her. On Wednesday the flames were
subdued, but they again broke out on
Thursday night. Some of the officers and
several ofthe crew were injured about the
head and hands while attempting to eX-
tlngulsh the fire, one officer being entirely
disabled. The Nevada left Queenstown
for Liverpool on an even keel.
AN ILL OMEN TO THANKSGIVING DIN
NERS.
ATLANTIC CITY, n. j., Oct. 17.-Fires
continue to burn in the woods and cram .
berry patches in Atlantic county west of
ElwOod. At the latter place the smoke
was almost stffocating last night. Among
the losses reported are $4,000 by the
Atlantic Cranberry Company, 275 acres
OF their bog being burned over. The Lake
Cranberry bog was also burned.
WOOLEN MILL DESTROYED.
DETROIT, Oct. 17.-French's wooden
mill at Masters station was DESTROYED by
fire this morning. The loss is $4,000.
Insurance unknown. The mill contained
10000 pounds of wool, and had orders for
six months ahead.
PUBLIC NECESSITIES SWEPT AWAY.
DETROIT, Oct. 17.-An incendiary fire
at Montague last night destroyed the
Opera House block, post office, express
office and the office of the Weekly Lam
herman. The aggregate loss is $4,000.