The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-03-19

BACK windows, from which the
might have jumped to roof below
and would have had not more thar
fifteen feet to fall. But the fright
ened, suffocating, wretched mel
knew nothing of the bearings anC
in their utter confusion they toeh
the fatal course and went into the
very jaws of most horrible death
The three men must have gotten
together while they were yet alive
for they were found very near each
other in the heap of ruins. The
strangers awoke first, perhaps, and
went down the back Lall, whereto
their fellow-suffer was attracted by
their cries for help.
After the jury had finished exam
lining the remains they were carried
to the undertaker's and placed in
three separate cofins, and buried on
Sunday afternoon at Maplewood.
AS soon as the remains were re-
covered from the fire, and even be-
fore, the authorities began trying
to ascertain something about the
two strangers and If possible to
identify them. Circumstances could
not have been more favorable to
their efforts. Early Saturday morn
ing there was found, where one of
the men had fallen, some pieces of
silver money, a pistol, finger ring
and a silver watch. The watch
stopped at 1858 o'clock, when the
soul of its owner was ushered into
eternity. The name Of -. w.
Hicks" was carved in the ring and
seemed to indicate the name of one
of the men, but later developments
proved differently. A railroad
check was found near the same
place which corresponded with one
attached to trunk at the depot.
This trunk was turned over to Mar
shall Pinkerton, who had it brought
up in town, and Immediately went
to work to find the key. A bunch
of keys was found where the other
we're discovered, one of
which fit the trunk, and the trunk
was opened aud examined on Sun
day, a short time before the men
were buried. In it, besides cloth
ing and other articles not necessary
to mention, Wers found numerous
letters which solved the mystery.
They were directed to VIM. d. and
Jno. A. Miller, at various places in
Texas, and most of them were dated
at Water Valley, Maury county,
Tenn. The men were evidently
brothers, and the letters were writ
ten in the most part by their moth
er, Mrs. Nancy Miller, from Water
Valley. Others from the same
place were from their sister, Miss
Nancy Miller, and still others from
their brother, NJ. NJ. Mark Miller,
who wrote also from Water Valley.
A Henderson county, Tex, tax re-
ceipt for 1881 was found in the pa
pers. The letters from Mrs. Mil
Ter to her sons contained repeated
that they should come
back to Tennessee, and such other
kind solicitations as only mother
can feel and write. 1t is supposed |
that they were on their way to their
Did home and for the lack of money,
perhaps, stopped here. They ar
rived on the north-bound train |
about seven o'clock and their check
indicated that their trunk wasitrans-
ferred or put on the train at Deca-
5ur. They sought cheap lodging and |
we're directed to Bledsoe's. When
asked if they wanted supper they !
replied, mo; we want rest" They |
we're then conducted to their room
and were never seen afterwards.
AS soon as these facts were as
and the names of the I'M
fortunate men were learned, Mayor !
Alien wrote to Mrs. Miller at Wa
Ter Valley, communicating to her
Jhe sad fate of her sons.
The loss of property amounted to
nearly $4,000 with total insurance
Of $33,1OO. As already stated, the
ire originated in the rear of the
New York Store and when first dis
covered it had gained such head
way that no effort was made to ex
anguish it. The entire room was
illed with smoke and flames.
Everybody realized at once that the
whole block of buildings must go.
Oismukes q Co.'S grocery store
Taught next and in quick success
lion those of Up. Bledsoe and John
Judkins, and in less than twenty
minutes all the houses on this side
# the square, covering about one
lalf of the front of the block, were
wrapped in flames. The fire caught
he small brick building in the rear
# the New York Store, owned by
Mr.. w. r. Dickerson and occupied
" George Petty, Colored, as a sa-
Don, and this house was consumed
Others mentioned. Here its
progress was checked by the heroic
md desperate efforts ola number of
men who fought the flames with
oulaski's only fire protection
buckets of water, toted by the will
ng colored people and few whites
rom Pleasant Run,
The ire was an exceedingly hot
me and for while the buildings
N the opposite side of the street were
bought to be in imminent danger.
The awnings in front of B. Hymes'
tore and those adjoining began TO
moke and would soon have caught
N fire but for similar work done
It Petty's saloon. Considerable ex
itement was produced by false re-
,ort that the Corner Drug Store
lad caught from a spark, and the
ront door of this house and that of
5zell & Davis were both broken
pen, only to discover the mistake.
The New York Store and the one
by Dismukes d Co., the
property of Mr.. w. r. Dickersop,
we're valued at $4,000, aud we're in
ured for $4,000. Frankle's stock,
stlmated value 1000, was insur-
ID for $4,000. Dismukes & Co.
Ield a policy on their stock for
$500 which they suppose will
.Lo,+ oo-ar 4bair lOoa Tho bO1eo