The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-02
GALVEsTON's GREAT FIRE.
Forty Blocks OF Esouscs Swept. Away
by Il Flames.

Forty Blocks OF Esouscs Swept. Away
by Il Flames.
Details Of the great fire which has just raw
aged Galveston, tho leading city OF Texas,
are as follows:
At lao o'clock A. n. the most destructive
fire in the history Of Galveston broke out In
foundry and car repairing shop on the
north side Of Avenue A., known as the
Strand, between Sixteenth and Seventeenth
streets. A gale from the north was blowing,
and the flames spread with rapidity to both
of the adjoining buildings, one being a gro
cery and the other q dwelling. Soon the
long tongues crossed the street, and two more
buildings were in flames, the inmates barely
escaping with their lives. In half an hour
two blocks were Turning tiercely, and by
o'clock every one saw that a great mag
ton was upon the city. At $3.50 the
fire had Travelled three blocks distant from
its starting point. but in a straight line, being
confined to the blocks bounded by Sixteenth
and Seventeenth streets.
About 4 o'clock the fire began to spread to
the east and to the west OF Sixteenth ana
.Seventeeth streets, anil the wind rose TO-
gale. For q time it scanned as though the
sntire eastern half Of the city vas doomed.
The fire spread to the southwark lick
ing up the blocks OF fine residences
hastily abandoned by their inmates.
By 5 o'clock it hal reached Broad
way. which threads the center Of the island,
running east and west. Att o'clock the
wind began to shift, then to decrease, until
by 8 o'clock only q fair breeze was blowing.
But by this time the fire had eaten its way
to Avenue o, where, at $3.50 o'clock, 1t
seemed to exhaust itself, and the hre-
men coming up, checked Its further raw
ages at this point or within two
blocks of the gulf. From the housetops the
smoking burned district resembles a huge
black %half-opened fan, lying across the island
from the bay nearly othe gull. The lslano az
that point is nineteen blocks, or one mile ana
a Quarter wide. The business part OF the city
begins at Twentieth street and runs west ten
SQUARES. The burned district includes the
wealthiest and most fashionable portion OF
the city. One hundred elegantly iurnlsnea
mansions are in ruins Many Of these resi-
dences had beautiful gardens attached to
them, and the moneyed loss does not repre-
sent over half their value The scene our
ing the progress Of the fire was frightful;
so filled with misery and terror, tnaG
whoever witnessed it must bear its vlVld
impress for a lifetime. The wind rose to
a screaming gale and swept through the burn
ing belt in swirls, carrying mil IONS OF i've
cinders high up in the air and raining 1neln
down a mile distant over the WOODEN Guy
and Its panlC-SCrlckeu lnldOltaAtS'
tire east end OF the city contains hardly a
dozen brick dwellings. All IS wood-Iexas
pine-and it burns with indescribable fury:
Five minutes after a house had caught 1t
would be wrapped in flame.
Following close on the heels Of the recent
prcat strike, which inflicted q moneyed loss
on the business men of Galveston of fully
500, OO,, this calamity is the climax to the
woes and sore Affections of this city. With
the exception, however, of half a dozen gro
dry, where the fire started, no places of bust
ness vera destroyed.
The total area of burnt district is 100 acres,
and forty blocks were swept clean OF every
thing combustible. More than 400 houses
burned. and it was estimated by the relief
committee that about l. 600 families were IN
housed, the great majority of whom, especially
the poor ones, lost everything. The total
pecuniary loss is estimathd at fully &,9Qo'
900.