The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-02

One of the finest retail block OF stores
ON Main street came very near being
destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon. 1t
was about $50 o'clock when general
alarm from the fire tower summoned the
entire department tc-Sam Mays millinery
emporium at No. 269l Main The great
thoroughlare was crowded with pedCs-
TRANS, and the immense ,hrong of eager,
curious spectators in the vicinity and
Court square reminded one Of the multi
tudes who crowded the same space on
Mardi Gras day. The fire had started on
the second floor, and the first intimaiion
those in the house had OF it was the Whirl-
ing volumes Of smoke which came pouring
out OF the windows and filed the rooms.
The origin Of the fire is vet unacCountCd
for. MIR. May and his family live in the
front rooms OF the second floor and the
rear Of it is used for n costume room
There was no fire in the resident apart.
monts or, in fact, ON that floor, but there is
stove about midway the first floor and
the pipe runs up through building. There
had been fire in this stove all day, but not
great deal II is supposed that the fire
must have originated from this stove-pipc.
Mr.. May had been working in the costume
room all the afternoon, on u LOT of new
stock lac had Just received, but had left
the room and was standing at the corner
OF Madison and Main streets when the fire
started. BY the time the water was
turned on by the lircmon the whole of the
second floor was almost in blaze, but as
the material was loosely scattered about
the flames were easily suhiucd by the frss
dashcs OF water. The entire stock OF cos
tunes were destroyed, and some of them
were oil Il rare quality. Their value is es.
timatcd by Mr.. MAY NJ not less than 500.
and other effects in the private apartments
were either burned or broken up 50 that
they are a total loss.
Tho fire was not easily TO get nj, and
some lime was lost on this account. which
made the damage greater than Il otherwise
would have been. The steady streams
from q hall dozen hose, both in front and
rear, did the work handsomely and quick
ly 80 far rs the fire was concerned but
they dclugcd the floor with water, which
went streaming through the crCyiccs in
the floor on the magnificent stock of new
goods on the shelves below Tarpaulins
were brought into rcquisiton as quickly as
possible, but not in time to save the stock
from great damage. The damage by water
far exceeds tina, by Gre. The two together
injured the stock Of goods TO the extent Of
about -, 500, and probably morn. Owing
TO the latcness Of the hour Mr. May could
not make an inventory OF his losses aud
consequently could not give any accurate
estimate OF them. The losses, however,
are fully covered by insurance, which il
placed in several foreign and two local
companies.
Mr.. and Mrs. May have several children.
but fortunately they were out OF the store
with their mother when the Ire started.
The disaTagcmcnt and wet condition OF
the goods will rctarl Mr. Mays business
for a day or two, and he will have 90 ne.
plenish great deal OF the stock on the fins,
floor, and all Of that in the costume depart.
ment.
During the fire, while Fireman Wright
was cutting hole In the floor 20 let the
water pass out, the sharp ax slipped and
split his left foot almost In two. His in
jury Is a very painful one, and will disable
him from duty Tor several weeks.