The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1888-01-06
THE MOSS POINT FIRE.


1 luOco OlHb WU0 ' iritfN IHHi
Wednesday night, the 28th ult., by
one Of the most disastrous and de,
structive fires the town has ever
known, destroying ten houses and
S22,8Sj worth of property. The
flames originated IN the rear
of the feed room of John II.
Krebs store, where they were first
discovered about 1915 O'Clock, and
from there spread to the Moss Point
Hotel building and EmerSon's mar
ket house, both of which including
contents, we're a total loss. Next
they communicated to the Randall
buildings two IN number, the
glass factory plant aud the Knights
OF Honor ball, all which were de-
Stroyed, and a heap of ashes, II fe w
brick pillars and three or four fur
naces, etc, is the Only remains to
show where they once stood. The
origin of the fire is unknown, some
holding it was incendiary and spon-
taneOuS combustion or accidental,
and most probably the latter.
The flames spread with great ra.
pidiIy, and scarcely tbree-quarters
of an hour elapsed from the sound
ing of the first alarm until all the
buildings before mentioned we're in
a blaze, aud by two O'Clock they had
fallen in. A very high wind was
blowing, an,l at one time it looked
as if Moss Point from Krebs' to
Welch's would be laid in ashes, 6nt
the wind shifted favorably, the
efforts to check The fires progress
concentrated on the Cook building,
opposite Bloomfield q Co.'s store,
and after hard struggle were
awarded by seeing the burning
buildings cave in, and all then knew
the danger was over The air was
Glled with burning shingles and
brands, aud houses a-haif distant set
on fire, and required constant atten-
ton to prevent them from too being
sacrificed. 1t also required The great
est effort to prevent Capt. Il. Casta-
nera'S barroom from lgniting, and
had the wind been in the opposite
direction, the chances are the dam
age would have beon even greater
than it was. The losses and luSur
ance are as follows:
Capt. Il. Castanera, hotel build
ing, valued at $2500; insured for
$1,000 IN Equitable, of Meridian.
Tony Ortegas, who occupied he ho-
tel building lost all his household
goods, etc, valued at $1,000, and
$3.50 in money. Also CApt. John
Tarkel, Of scoooner Sea- Horse,
guest in the hotel, lost Sl25 in men
ey.
Jno. r. Krebs, store building, val
ued at $1,000; insured for $1,000
Stock of goods, valued at 10000; in
Surcd for $4,000. $500 of Mr..
KrebS insurance was id the Liver
pool, London aud Globe, and the
balance divided mp between MiSSis
Sippi Home of Vicksburg, Equitable
of Meridian, and New Orleans As
surance Association. Mr.. Krebs al.
so had about $l25 in money in the
store which was lost.
The upper story OF the Krebs
was occupied hy Paitel son,
Downing s. Co., timber merchants,
in charge of Messrs Voorhees, aud
Wilson. They lost all their office
books, papers, etc. to-
Ecther with personal property be
longing TO MessrS. voorhees, and
Wilson. valued at $500.
EmerScn's market was owned by
Mr.. KrebS, uninsured, and valued
1t 800.
The Randall buildings, one two
story and the other single, belong.
ng to Judge o. Randall, were unin
Iured. Loss $4,000. l4l the single
story, Mr.. +. Z. Scarcliif conducted
/ general mercantile business, and
Ost his entire stock of goods, valu.
ii at between $500 aud $500. The
over floor of the other building was
The upper stOly was peti-
iOned of into rooms, one OF which
vas occupied bv Judge Randall az
III Office, one by Mr.. VI. NJ. Watkins
IS a bed room and iu the others was
tored various personal property
belonging to Judge Randall aud
Randall e 90. to the amount of 50,
10, which is a total loss. The
Judge lost all books, records, etc,
IS Justice of the Peace. Mr.. Wat
Tins loss, consisting Of bedroom
and clothing, amounts to
bout $50.
The glass factory plant, conpris.
ng five buildings, belonging to /,
4aRdall & Co, loss about $1,000.
In one the glass factory build {
ngs, Capt. john Tarkel, OF scheon
r Sea Horse, bad all the sails, rope,
'lneks, tackle, etc, of his schooner
tOred. Valued at $1,000 aud to.
al loss.
The Knights of Honor Hall WAS
he last building burned, and valu-
d at about $1,000. 1t was insured ,
n the Equitable, of Meridian, for
300. The charter of the lodge aud
most of the parapArenalia was sav.
d.
Mr.. Krebs' store and the hotel
rere both new aud handsome build
ngs, the former being finished not
lore than six months ago and the
after two, aud their destruction is
serious blow to the town as well
S their owners.
One serions obstacle was the in
deQuate mode Of fighting the fire.