Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-08
FLAMES ON BROUGHT0y.
THE GRAND CENTRAL GARDEN
COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

WehrenbPFss BarrOOm and Boarding
house Opposite the Marshall Party
Barned-rhe Upper Floors Quilted and
the BOarders Have a Narrow Escape
Losses Fully Covered by Insurance.
BrOughton street was visited by a $4,000
fire early this morning. At 1:S9 o'clock
an alarm was sounded from box ),
Broushtou and Abercorn streets, caused
by the discovery Of a blaze in the restau-
rant and oyster house kept by Jos. Sellin-
ger, at No. "a Broughton street. opposite
the Marshall House. Before the depart
meut arrived the fire had got under head
way, and the entire interior of the place
was a mass Of flames. AS soon as the
engines were got TO work its progress
was checked. but not before Il had COM
! municated 10 the adjoining four-stOry
brick and frame building on the west
occupied by W. A. Wehrenberg. the first
! floor as a barrOOm, and the three upper
! floors as a boarding house. Only the
J first story Of this building was brick. and
the hanes starting through the roof of
| the oyster house, caught in the light
wood work, which was soon burning
iercely from the second floor TO the roof.
The oyster house was a low One-story
I glass-rOofed structure, formerly known as
/ the Grand Central Garden. Mr.. Selling
er's loss on furniture, ETC., VIII probably
not exceed $500, and is partly covered by
insurance.
The building occupied by Mr.. Wehren-
I berg IS owned by Capt. Henry Blum. The
upper stories were completely Quilted.
/ The progress of the fire was so rapid that
very little could he saved except clothing
ana few small pieces Of furniture, which
/ were removed to the Marshall House and
piled up in the Office and corridor.
A good deal Of small stuff was thrown
/ through the windows TO the sidewalk, and
was drenched with water before il could
very little. The upper floor was occupied
! by Frank link and family. who were the
| only bOarders in the house at
the time. Mr.. link lost everything and
barely escaped with his two children and
a few pieces Of clothing snatched up as
they hurried out Of the building. The fire
/ burned nercest on the upper floor and in
the roof. the lower floors being less dam
I aged. The tremen worked fearlessly and
streams were played from every side un-
til the fire was got under control.
The height Of the building standing be-
tween two lOw-rOOfed structures enabled
the firemen TO work to a good advantage,
and it is due partly TO this fact that il
WIS saved from total destruction. As il
was. the flames were confined chiefly to
the upper floors and the roof. The build
ing was estimated to be worth about
$4,000, and was insured for g. 0Oo.
The oyster house was completely gut
ted. Only the front walls remained stand
ing, the interior being totally burned out.
The fire when discovered was in the rear
part of the oyster house, adjoining a stable
and st0rehouse back Of the restaurant
the stable occupied by Dir. Wehrenberg,
a nd the storehOuse by Capt. John Derst.
1t was burning fiercely when first seen.
It's origin is unknown.
Mr.. Se!lin2er told a NEWS reporter that
he closed his place at 1850 o'clock and
went home. He hsd just gone 10 bed
when the alarm was sounded. There was
light left burning i'll the place, and he
was at a loss to account for the
origin OF the fire. 1t could
not have originated from his
boilers and range which We're on the
Br0ughtOn street side of the building,
opposite 10 where the fire was discovered
Mr.. WehreBberg's place was closed about
y O'Clock.
The firemen were still at work at
O'Clock. with the fire completely under
control. The total loss on the two build
ings will probably not exceed So. 900. and
is fully covered by insurance.