The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-07
A Great Disaster.


Savannah is sad to-day. She was visited
by great disaster last night. 1t was one
Of the greatest in her history. Some Of her
finest buildings and many of her homes are
heaps of smoking ashes and crumbling
walls
| The fire which wrought the ruin began
just before p m, 10 store at the corner
OF Broughton ard Barnard streets, and,
aided by the high wind, spread with re-
markable rapidity. One building after an
other was ignited by the flying sparks until
the entire section in the vicinity Of the
building in which the fire originated was a
mass # flames
Owing to the high wind there was gen.
ernl feeling that the fire would be very
disastrous one, but it was not until a little
tongue Of flame that, apparently. was not
| larger an a mans hand, shot out from
the tall spire of the independent Presby-
terrain church that the real gravity Of the
situation forced itself upon the minds of
the Thousands no were watching the ter
ribie coufagration The danger from the fly
ing sperks, that were being carried far over
the city and were odging upon wooden roofs.
was then fully realized, and people who
lived ia away from the burning buildings
rushed to their homes to take precautions
against tie treacherous foe.
1t is wonder that the c1nfiagration was
not greater. There are 50 many wooden
buildings every where, aud SO few metal
roofs, that it is almo "A miracle that the
flames did not sweep entirely through the
city.
The loss is great. 1t will aggregate per-
laps fully Il $4,000 1t will be day or
two, however, before even a fair estimate
of it can be made. The loss is not an irrepar-
able one, except in one respect. The hide
pendent Presbyterian church can never be
replaced. 1t was an old land mark-a great
feature OF the city 1t is doubtful If there
is any church in the whole country that
is any thing like what it was II was pointed
out with pride 10 strangers. Around 1t
clustered the memories of generations 1t
was loved by Z ose who worshiped within
It's sacred portals, aud venerated by those
who had grown to manhood and woman
hood within sight OF its steeple that had
pointed heaven = ard T so many years. As
the f1rcs hames eat away its walls, the
ewes of thousands were filed with tears,
and thcir hea is Were so burdened with
sorrow that t. cir voices fefused to express
their feelings. The grand old church is
gone. The word Of God will never be
heard from its unique pulpit again. But 1t
win be long years before it will cease to
exist in memory.
day, as the ruins are visited, there will
be many prayers Of tnankfulness that the
ruin, great as it is, was not greater, and
many heart-aches for homes that are no
more. But there should be no feeling of
despair. The situation should be viewed
with brave hearts, and determination to
build up the vacant places. Savannah has
recovered from other great disasters aud
she will recover from this, and quickly.
She is plucky and energetic, and now is
the time t. display botI of these qualities.
Let the debris be cleared away and the
work Of rebuilding b. begun as soon as possi-
bic. The quickest way 10 deaden the sense
of loss IS to engage earnestly in repair
ing the loss