The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-14
LAID IN ASHES.
A Heavy ConAagration Last Night.
Superb Business Structure Burned
to the Ground.
The Mansfield Drug Company and
M. Schwartz the Sufferers.
Brooks, Nicely & 90. and Insurance
Companies Join Them.
Thrilling Incidents and Appalling
Grandeur of tho Fire.
Terrible Explosions, Falling Walls
and Far Reaching Flames.
Terrible Explosions, Falling Walls
and Far Reaching Flames.
Heroic and Successful Efforts to
Save Adjoining Property.
Loss Over 100000. Covered by Insur-
ance to the Extent OF More Than
o-Thirds-Companies Upon
Which 1t Falls, Mostly
Foreign.

Where yesterday stood one of the most
substantial and beautiful business blocks
in this or any other part OF the country,
there is now naught but large pile of
debris smouldering in the last embrace of
the dreadful element that laid it low.
The Brooks, Nicely 4 Co. building, six
stories in hight, Nos. 397 and 800 Main
street, corner Mccall, WIS burned TO the
ground by 10 O'Clock last night together
with every article in the stocks which
filled both sections.
II was one OF the fercest connaprations
recorded in the city's history, surprising
in awful grandeur the great navy yard
compress fire OF 1887, though far behind it
in the aggregate loss.
The fire department at the respective
stations was enjoying the delightful April
ike weather that fingered about this vi
cinity all OF yesterday and last night. No
thought OF desperate combat with relcnt.
less flames disturbed their minds. At o
o'clock pull from the Gayoso Hotel box
raised the humps on the backs OF the bows,
and five minutes later every engine in the
city was throwing
STEADY nut SLUGGISH STREAM
in the direction Of the blaze. At first il
was only necessary TO fight what looked TO
be only a moderately dangerous flame in
rear OF the dry goods store Of VI. Schwartz.
No. 800 Main street. With a deceptive.
:, glss TO all except experienced iircmen, il
? lnsidiously crept upward and outward,
licking up everything in its path. and
Soon appeared in such dreadful form as 10
defy any effort 10 suppress il, and appall
the hundreds Of curious people attracted
10 the scene. This cannot be wondered
at, ance there was not an article in the
stock OF either store but added iicrcencss
90 the fire.
BArIDITY OF DESTRUCTION.
There was widespread difference OF
opinion as 10 where the lire started. some
who were early on the scene insisted il was
iirst seen near the third story, others that
Il took hold in the sixth or last, while still
Others were positive that lis rayagcs hogan
on the ground floor. That IL was in the
rear, no one disputes, but how did il orig
mater In that, nj present, Is q mystery.
Perhaps the furnace was defective, per
haps stove figured In II, and perhaps an
incendiary did the work 10 crafty malice
and keep his hand In, II not to profit from
the opportunities 10 plumber. However
Il originated, the fuel aud condition for
destruction could not have well been inn
proved upon, II fast and furious conha.
grafton were desired. In Just one hour and
twenty minutes the wreck and ruin was
complete, aud the moderately curious who
RESPONDED early TO the attraction retired.
INEFFECTIVE FInE WALLS.
In the construction Of the building, the
architect had provided Tor fire walls, iron
fronts and iron window shutters IN the
rear. In front there were none Of these
fronts. the omission being for the purpose
Of ornamcniaiion. II was therefore an
easy matter for the ire 10 exercise its own
Sweet will aud roam steadily from one
point TO another, until the whole hal been
developed. The irst appearance Of doom
for the adjoining building occupied by the
Mansfield Drug Company, was when leap.
Ing flames cleared the rear Windows OF No.
3g7, toward the top, curlcd over the roof,
aud took bold lut for the puny streams
thrown by the frc engines, the efforts OF
the flames In that direction could have
been rendered futile. While doing their
best la that matter, the fire.
men were confronted by another In.
sufmouutallc obstacle. Tho fire had
onyclopcd the whole Of No. 3o7 from one
end 10 the other and attacked the front Of
No. 800 in force The iron front, being
open, afforded the blaze all the scope nee.
cssary 10 eat around the columns. seize
the frame work around tho windows aud
thence on 10 the interior. This attack
was at the top, entirely ont OF reach. and
hence met with no opposition, because
none was possible from the streams which
at best reached little more than half way.
Before much progress had been made I'm
dcyouring the Mansfield hall OF the build.
ing, IT, companion was In ruins, the fire
making IL last grand flare on the lower
floor aud the material that had fallen from
above. The north and rear walls had also
fallen with crashes which were plainly
heard In the suburbs and Jared the earth
Tor block.
STARTLING SCENES ASH SOUNDS.
Those who possessed some idea Of what
drughousc Of the dimensions OF Mans.
fields carried, predicted carly In the con-
iagrHilon that something interesting would
transpfo before the burning was over
Reference was had to explosions Not un.
=. I'll the fire had worked iis way rather
slowly down 20 the third il0of Of the drug,
house we're their statements verified.
There an occasional explosion was heard
and following Il the flames sprang upward
like NAL, aud showers OF paper aud other
light articles were blown out. each o
which caused the crowds on al sides e
surge backward ior an increased security
FAILING arrtiuua of wills sofVod IL
intensity tho terror OF thoae who
crowded ls close 10 the scene q,
the beat aud police officers woulS