The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-02
Burning Of the Richardson Com
pany's Big Establishment.
A Fearful Scene-Terrifflc De.ona-
ions-Firemen Driven OF.
Adjoining Property Destroyed-Ex-
element of the People.
Tho Loss More Than Million OF
Dollars - The Largest House
Of the Kind in the
Country.

hiA-otOIN piISh bulIuiiik VI tic hiSiiaIuoou
Drug Company, on the northwest corner
OF Fourth street and Clark avenue, was
reduced to ruins in forty minutes after 2
o'clock this morning. The building fronted
100 feet on Fourth street and ran back on
Clark avenue 200 feet to a private alley,
and back Of this was three-story sub
stantial brick warehouse used by the firm
TO store explosives and highly combustible
goods and oils. The building was built in
1885. and was complete with all modern
improvements. The fire was discovered
AZ 2:20 o'clock am, and general alarm
was turned in. So fierce was the fire five
minutes after thealarm was turned in, the
buildings across the street were smoking
and about to burst into flames. Every
few minutes
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION
would detonaie throughout the building,
and a graceful curl Of fire many feet in
hight and diameter would leap high into
the air and summon the revealing rioters OF
New Years night to the scene OF destruc
ton. When every pane OF glass was out
Of the building the tongues Of fire leapcd
out, and their heat made the narrow street
q sheol for the gallant ilremon who toiled
with bursting, burning hose TO save the
property. Their coats smoked and their
hands were blistercd when exposed TO the
glare. and many dropped the lines and
sought the shade Of an adjacent building.
The entire six floors were
FILLED wITIi coMBusrIBLE GOODS,
a great portion Of the stock being en-
trcmely inilammable. Tie first floor was
occupied by the accounting department, in
which about 200 book-keepers, clerks and
statesmen were employed, aud contained
also some show goods. The second floor
was given up 10 the sundrics, Of which an
immense stock OF costly goods were car
ried. On the third floor were the paints
and oils, and this story was also used Tor
packing. The fire seemed 10 get an early
hold CD the third floor, and the flowing oil
dripping through the first two stories sup
piled fountain Of fire that played from
the basement clear 10 the roof, defying all
artificial efforts 10 check its costly flow.
Not enough lines OF hose could have been
laid around the building TO have saved II,
so speedy was the spread OF the fire, and
the Tow fircincn who for a minute or two
braved the awful heat had n dozen streams
20 combat half dozen acres OF blazing
oils, molten iron and flowing glass. IL was
a magnificent and awful sight from the
iirst two minutes after it's discovery until
about o'clock q. M, when the building
collapsed, and there was nothing more TO
burn.
THE RICHARDSON DRUG COMPANY
was the ouigrowth Of a business founded
lorty years ago by James Richardson. its
present president. The yice-prcsidcnt,
Joseph g. Richardson, and the secretary,
James Richardson, Jr., are the sons Of the
founder Of the house. Mr. John :. Moi
felt, manager Of the sundries department,
had a proprietary interest In the concern,
rs had one or two attaches outside Of the
Richardson family. The building was
erected several years ago at n cost OF $780,
900. The corner was occupied for some
time bya paint aud oil firm before the
Richardson Drug Company moved mp from
North Second street. II was ono OF the
largest wholesale drug houses In the coun.
try, and It's druggists sundrics department
was the largest 10 the country. The buill-
inps in close proximity TO the fire were
SCENES or TREMENDOUS EXCITEMENT.
The Ehlcr House. place at 200 South
Fourth street, occupied by boardors, was
the scene OF panic. The screams Of
frightened women, and the men rushing 10
and fro, from room TO room, alter their
friends created much terror. Finally the
fremcn came 10 their assistance, aud all
occupants were safely rescued. Wocss's
masq u-rade store, 2O7 south Fourth street,
was destroyed. At i0s aud il9ClaIk avenue
was n row Of threc-story brick boarding
houses which was also scene OF fright.
The occupants had only time 10 escape.
One scene Of great excitement was in the
livery stable Of Scott 4 Lynch ut 4l3 Elm
street, which structure extends south "a
Clark avenue, and In the rear Oi the drug
building. When the stable was suddenly
lighted up from the flames Of the burning
building the horses became panic stricken,
and when the men attempted 30 take then
oui the animals stared trembling with fear,
and rs Ia characteristic OF their nature
would not leave the fire. The men found
Il necessary TO goad them on by beating
them with stakes, shovcls, whips, and any
thing that was NJ hand. After much IL
fort they were taken from the stable, and
Il was Immediately occupied 10y iircmen
who ran hose through TO Clark avenue
and thereby played several streams o.
water ON thQ fire. AZ . o'clock q. M.
TnE MOST EXCITING Erocn
Of the Gre occurred, when several great cx
plosions Of bcnzinc and other explosives
occurred almost simultaneously with the
falling and crashing Of the southeast cor
ber Of the building, eudangcring the 1i'
Of all tho iircmen on that portion Of the
work. The heavy cornlccs and coping
stones on the Top Story began 70 cr'ck OF
the weaving wills, ard The hrcmcn haC
only time 10 escape from the impending
danger when, with sudden crash, ina
portion .. the building iyil, Throwing
bnssning fragments across Clark avenue
and setting dc TO II. J. Millcr's bakery,
two.siory brick, aud adjoining building
on The southwest corner Of Fourth stree
and Clarke avenue, aud covering the entir'
intersection OF the street with ilainos an'
smoke. II was expected that a pant
would occur in tho Southern Hotel which
y within almost half square OF the dru
Itttlf'nst l.uI tho ouaufa earn ouioflV IN