The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-23
eOMPLETELYSWEPT AWAY
THE BUSINESS PORTION OF Will.
AINGT0N, n. c., BURNED.
Over a Million and a Half DOllar.'
Werth Of Property Destroyed
The Losses.

WILMINGToN, N. c., February 90
The Bladen, plying between this city
and Fayetteville, n. c., caught fire
this afternoon about 4 O'Clock, Just
before reaching her wharf, and owing
to the intianrmable nature OF her cargo
consisting OF rosin, spirits of turpen.
tine and cotton, was Immediately en-.
veloped in flames. The pilot headed
her Tor the nearest available wharf
and the passengers succeeded in escap-
ing, some by boats from adjoining yes.
sells and Others by jumpingoverboard,
when they were quickly rescued. The
steamer landed against the wharf Of
the New York and Wilmington Steam
ship Company, and the fire was quick
" communicated to the sheds and
warehouses thereon. All the wharfs
and sheds being saturated with rosin
and turpentine the spread of the fire
was rapid, and despite the efforts of
the firemen became disastrous con-
hagration. There was gale blowing
from the southwest, and soon the
blocks on the water front were burn
ing furiously. At about O'Clock the
fire was getting under control, but not
anti 1T had dest Dyed
MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS
worth of property, starting from Chest
nut street, the New York Steamship
Company's wharfand warehouse were
burned, next the store of +. W.
Kerchener, the store and offices of
Kerchener & Calder Bros, S. p. Spot
ter q Co.. A. d. Vessel, Weith &
Weith, o. G. Parsley, Alex
Sprunt and Son, Chadburn's lumber
mill. @. G. Binney & Co., B. Wrights
-four and gristmills, the Champion
Compress and Warehouse Company,
the freight warehouses of the VIII
mington and Weldon and Wilmington,
Columbia and Augusta Railroad Com
panies, and several boarding-houses
were also destroyed, and in addition
to the steamer Baden, the steamer
River Queen of the same line was
burned to the waters edge. The
American schooner Lille Holmes was
also burned and will prove total loss.
Over S250,000 worth of goods were
burned in one warehouse, owing to
sparks waited by the high wind.
Numerous private dwellings caught
fire and were burned to the ground.
including those of the Hon. Geo,
Clark, Col. w. P. Brink, Mr.. Solomon
Baer and about thirty others. In adj
dition, block of small tenements oc-
cupied by colored people was com
pletely swept away, although nearly
mile distant from
TIE MAIN PRE-.
The general Offices of the Atlantic
Coast Line were destroyed, with nu-
meUus valuable papers and records.
The Front Street Methodist church
was also burned, and is total loss.
Owing to the general decentralization
incident to the fire, it is impossible to
ascertain tonight the individual losses
or insurance. The telegraph wires in
the streets were pulled down, and
communication is difficult, though the
management is using every possible
endeaVor to keep the service intact
So many poor people are burned out
that fears are entertained of serious
distress on this account, and active
efforts are being made to relieve all
suffering. Quite handsome sum has
already been raised, and others are
contributing. The guests of the Orion
House alone raised a munifcent
purse, which is being distributed to
those most in need.