Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1886-02-25
WILMINGTON'S BIG FIRE
A MILLION AND A HALE DOLLARS
BURNT.

A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS
BURNT.
Three Vessels, Two Churches and
Thirty Residences Destroyed With
. Number Of Lasse Industrial Con-
Germs.
Special Correspondence Of TIE Sentinel.
WILMINGTON, n. c., Feb. pa
severe conaagration took place here
yesterday evening destroying a large
portion Of the business part Of the
city, the losses of which will aggregate
q million and half dollars.
The steamer Bladen, plying be-
tween this city and Fayetteville, N.
c., caught fro in the afternoon about
4 o'clock Just before reaching her
wharf, and OWING to- the infammable
nature of her cargo, consisting of res
| in, spirits of turpentine and cotton,
was Immediately enveloped in flames.
The pilot headed her for the
nearest available wharf, and the
passengers succeeded in escaping,
some by boats from adjoining vessels
and others by jumping overheard,
when they were quickly rescued.
The deserted steamer landed against
the wharf of the New York and Will
mington Steamship Company and the
fire was quickly communicated to the
sheds and warehouses thereon. All
the wharves and sheds being saturated
with rosin and terpentine the spread
Of the FIRE was rapid, and despite the
efforts Of the fremen became dis
astrious conhagration. There was a
gale Of wind blowing at the time from
the southwest, and soon the blocks on
the water front were burning fdriously.
At about 8 o'clock the FIRE was gotten
under control.
Starting from Chestnut street, the
New York Steamship Company'a
wharf and warehouse we're burned
next the store Of F. w. Kerehner, the
store and offices of Kerchner Il Cald.
er Bros, S. p. Shooter & Co., A. D,
VESSEL, Worth & Worth, o. g. Par.
sley. Alexander Sprunt & Son, Chad.
burns City Lumber Mill, formerly
Colyille's, the grist mill Of G.. Boney
& Co., the Cape Fear Flour and Pearl
Hominy Mills of Alexander Oldham,
the Champion Compress and Ware
house Company. The freight ware
houses of the Wilmington & Weldon
r. R., and the w. c.: & A. r. r.
C. mpanies and several sailors board
lighthouses were also destroyed, and ir
addition to the steamer Bladen, thu
steamer River Queen Of the same lint
was burned to the waters edge. Thu
American schooner Lille Holmes
not being able to get out Of reach o
the flames, was also burned and vii
prove total loss.
Over $25o,000 worth Of goods wer,
burned in one warehouse. Owing +
sparks waited by the high wind 1au
merous private dwellings caught fir
and were burned to the ground. includ
ing those of Hon. Geo.Davis, Col.E.R
Brink, Mr.. Solomon Baer and abou
thirty others. In addition block G
small tenenents, occupied BY colore
people, was completely SWEET away. al
though nearly a mile distant frol
the main fire. In addition the geners
Offices of the Atlantic CoastLine loca
ed here were destroyed, with numeros
valuable papers and records. III
Front Street Methodist. Church ",
included in the list Of buildings burr
cd and is a total loss. Willie th
Church was yet burning, coiered ma
fell from the roof and broke both of b
; legs. Several other accidents occure
r during the progress of the fire, bi
. none Of serious nature. $50
i Some of the principal losses are
follows: Schooner Lille Holmes, LOAF
ed with guona, loss $50, 700, no insu
? ance the general Offices Of the A
lantic Coast Line and two freigl
warehouses, net loss $4,000, ii
! steamer Bladen, loss $4,000, no insu
> ance; Front street M. E. Churc
: loss $4,000, insured. The. busine
Q houses Of Worth Il Worth, Alexal
= der Sprunt & Son, Alexander Ole
, ham. c. B. Wright, 6. ]. Bone
Kerchiner & Calder Bros, Smith
Gilchrist and the Champion Compre
}. Company were all partly insure
. In the Brooklyn section Of the Gil
y nineteen buildings were destroye
causing loss Of $4,000, with .bl
small insurance. Among the bull,
ings burned in that part of the eli
h ! we're the st. ,Barnabas school hous
colored, Trinity NJ. z. Church and
number of small dwellings aud store
y So many poor people are burned OF
b that fears are entertained of serioi
8 distress on this account, and actil
l efforts arc being made to relieve d
. suffering. Quite handsome sum b
already been raised. and others a
contributing. The guests of the q
: ton House alone raised munifee
D purse, which is being distributed
= those most in need. T..