The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-04-16
THE POTTER HOUSE BURNED.
Crescent City's Magnificent Haei
Destroyed by Eire Yesterday
MORNING

Destroyed by Eire Yesterday
Morning.
Yesterday morning, at about j0'cleck,
tho Potter House. at Crescent City, was
discovered to lie on tir- and general
alarm Wa sounded Over the little city.
The citizens responded promptly, but as
they had no fire apparatus, AMI the
flames having attained full Roadway,
they cOuld 10 nothing to save the build
ing. The house was constructed Of pine
and burned like finder, and the flames
soquickly enveloped the entire building
that but 4 small petition Of the furniture
was saved. In just one hour and twen-
ty-iiye minutes from the time the fire
was discovered the entire building had
been consumed.
The building was erected about two or
three years agoby Mr.. NJ. NJ. Potter, and
il was finished and furnished in the best
manner. 1t Was three stories high and
was large enough to accommodate one
hundred and fifty guests at time. and
under the management of Mr.. Potter it
had won an enyiahlc reputation among
the first-class hotels of the State. Du.
ring the season just closed the house ac.
commodated Il very large number of
guests, its patrons being Of the best class
Of people that visit Florida.
The building, two cottages aud their
contents, which were destroyed, were es-
timated To be worth at least $50, 600, on
which Mr. Potter carried So. 600 insu.
rance, through the agency Of Messrs.
Webb & Nichols, Of this city. This loss
will fall heavy on Mr.. Potter, but he is
plucky and full Of energy, and will nc
doubt soon repair the damage done him.
A ayorable northeast Wind was blow.
ing at the time of the fire, and no prop
crty other than Mr. Potter's was de-
stroyed, but all the buildings on hi;
square Were burned except the woodshet
and laundry.
The house had only closed for the sea
son on Monday last, and it was being pu
in order for the summer preparatory t
, Mr.. Potter and his help going north.
Since the above was in type we hay,
received the following from the specia
: correspondent of The NEWS, in rcgar'
to the fire;
, The Potter House is in ashes. Thi
morning, Thursday. about two o'clocI
many persons were aroused from thei
l slumbers by hearing several shots fire,
/. in rapid succession. When they rcache,
p their doors or windows they saw every
thing brightly illuminated, and FOO
; learned that the Potter House was il
Q flames. The fire originated in the sout
r end ami consequently had to ish
& against the wind, thus making its wa
|, slowly along, enabling the people tosav
Il many things from the building.
II The crowd that gathered around WI
= quiet and orderly, and did evcrythn
y in their power for MIR. Potter. They la
!. no recognized leader. and their wor
y was necessarily disconnected.
e Yesterday morning the night watcl
1t man was married IN the hotel parlo
>. and left on the steamer Crescent Cit
for st. Augustine, to be gone Il day or 8
and if the fire is the work of an incend
10 AIRY, as many suppose, he was evident
y well acquainted with the movements
il those connected with the house. an
:, chose time when there would be b,
'e little chance of being detected.
4, 1t is averred that there was not "A pa
y tice Of fire any where in the house
N seven y. m. Wednesday.
f; Mr.. Potter has the sympathy Of the g
y tire community in his disaster. II
II losses will aggregate many thousand dc
Is lars, as it is understood he did not car
~ much insurance.
+, As yet we know nothing Of Mr.. Pc
IL ter's plans for the future. and cam
ic say whether he will rebuild.