The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-01-16

AZ II y CloCh lC-iAAiso 49,
cry Of fire alarmed our citizens, and
when they had rushed out into the streets,
dense clouds of black smoke were seen
issuing from the roof Of the large Ware
house of Messrs. Gardner & Eaton, stu
ated on the wharf, just north of the
Florida Southern freight warehouse.
A very high wind was blowing across
the river from the east at the time, and
as the blaze burstsout and Tapped over to
the offices of the Florida Southern road,
many a check Yves bianched ana
hearts beat fast as all realized the i'm
minent danger of the entire city
being again laid in ashes. But
happily such fate for our fair city was
averted by the heroic efforts of firemen
and citizens, and what at one time
threatened to be a great confagration
and immense loss. resulted in the fire
being confined to limited district, and
comparatively small loss. As expressed
by large number of people, cit might
have been much worse"
The fire originated in tho roof of Gard
ner 6 Eaton's warehouse, from q spark
blown from the steamer Crescent City,
which was lyiDgat the dock j"st in front.
The spark lodged under the shingles,
and was soon famed into bright flame
ny the wind. From the time the alarm
was given until News reporter reached
the warehouse did not exceed two min
utes, but at that time the fire had gath
red such headway that all inside the
south end of the roof was one seething
mass of flames, and the building being
composed of such inlammable material
and the fire so high up, nothing
could be done to save the building, and
but small quantity of the immense
lies of goods stored there could be saved
before the entire building was wrapped
in flames. The heat was intense, and
the high wind drove the blaze across to
the old Rogero residence, just overhaul
ed and fitted up for the offices Of the
Florida Southern officials, and which
they had occupied only a few weeks.
Several gentlemen, led by Mr.. L. Meyer,
were on the roof of this building, but the
heat and flames drove them inside, and
hardly had they left the roof before it
,urst into flames. Already the work OF
removing the furniture and papers from
he offices had been begun, and nearly
everything was saved, save some of the
valuable papers of the general offices, the
loss of which cannot at this time be es-
timated. The loss OF the Florida South
-rn railway in buildings, etc, amounts
10 about $4,000, besides three freight cars
and many valuable paFars. The Office
| building was insured for $4,000.
| Their substantial docks were also dam
| aged. While the above buildings were
| burning, a large force of men with buck
cts, were throwing water on the front OF
| the Florida Southern warehouse, while
the steamship, City Of Monticello played
her hose on the side and roof, thus saw,
| ing it from destruction. The building
| just a few feet north of TIE New $
| office, came very near burning, and bu;
for the efforts of Mr.. Meyer and others
who faced the severe heat until theil
| eyebrows, lashes and moustaches we've
badly singed, seconded by an occasional
| drenching from the fire engine hose, II
would have burned, together with TN
| NEWS office.
| From the Florida Southern Office the
flames reached across Water street, and
soon enveloped the residence of Mr.. +.
! C. Blanchard. All the furniture was
saved from this house, though in = badly
| damaged condition. Mr.. Blanchard was
insured for 81. 500, which will probably
cover his loss.
| \ large number of residences west an6
to the windward of the FIX. caught OF
the roofs, anon them building
belonging to Mr.. UsiEl. III which
a rafter was burned in TIVE
before is not extinguished. The resi-
dences of MIR. Ransom and Mr.. Rutledg,
Hunter. and several of the ont building
Of Mr.. s. J. Kennerly, together with ii:
residence, was set on fire by the Hyin-
sparks The buildings on Water street
occupied By Mrs. I. G.. Hutchinson
and Mrs. Odell. as boarding houses, alsC
caught fire several times. and were NOR,
or less damaged. The furniture was re
moved from both houses, and OF couTsC
badly damaged. The furniture wa
covered by insurance and the losses vii
be made good.
The dwelling of Mrs. Duval. nOrtl
OF Mr.. Blanchard's, was undoubteGt
saved from destruction by the large tire
which stood just in front. The roof Q
this house also caught from the tlyini
Goals, but parties who were on the roo
extinguished the fire before any headwa.
had been made. Had this house beer
burned the destruction of the SaratoSt
| Hotel would have surely followed. an