The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1889-04-19
FOR TREASURER.
We are authorized TO announce
u. w.
THE FIRE BUG AGAIN.

Last Sunday night at about 10 40
o'clock, a fire was discovered in u coal
bin Just back of the store of Mr.. e.
Ii. Alley and the beer saloon belong
ing to Mrs. Ellen Mansfield, on Del
mas avenue, corner of Frederic street.
The flames being well under way and
a strong northwest wind blowing the
alarm was at once given and prompt
" answered, but not before both
buildings were fire,l, and beyond con-
troll. The fire engine was brought mp
and for awhile did good service, but
the suction valves became obstrictcd
and ii could not be worked, and ii was
with the greatest cxcrtiOn that the
bucket brigade succeeded ia saving
The surrounding buildings, the firing
of one more of which would have put
the entire square at The mercy of the
flames. The goods of Mr.. Alley on
%sisting OF general merchandise, were
rapidly brought out by men, women
and children, and a great deal was
thus saved. The Mansfield saloon
was not stocked, but a quantity of
furniture belonging to Mr.. II. 7. Bla-
lack had been stored ia Tie building
aud only u small portion Of 1t was
saved.
The principal losses are estimated
as follows: e. IL. Alley, goods-loss
and damage, $500; insured in Mis-
sissippi Home Insurance Company, of
Vicksburg, Miss. for $1,000 /; Meri-
dian Equitable, Meridian, Miss, Tor
$1,000; G~ernIania, of New Orleans,
La, for $500. The building, which
belonged TO Capt. Jonas Green, OF
Mobile, valued at 81, 200, insured for
5000. Mansfield saloon valued at
81 500, no insurance. Total of loss and
damage, not including articles in
Mansfield building not valued, $1,000,
Ut which only $1,000 is covered by in
suramCe.
Ii was undoubtedly the work of an
inccndiary, to wllum there is no clue,
and zone OF The many conjectnres as
to the motive give anything like gcA-
erul satisfaction. V llo can falhum
the depths of human depravity Es-
pecially OF the fire bug.
This Is not by any mcaus the first
time our l:llle hrc engine, manned by
quite a large fire company, has proven
useless at important fires. We are
here again reminded OF the Arkansas
man who declined TO cover his house
when II was fair because il was not
needed and could net when it rained.
The engine is laid up between fires
like the rusty shotgun of the occasion-
al hunter aud hangs fire when called
into service. This should not be SO
1t is positively contrary to the rules
of all well regulated fire companies.
The obstruction on this occasion, con
Sisting OF the cover of the neck of a
beer bottle, was sucked IN from the
well aud worked into the discharge
pipe, together with pieces Of glass adj
milted by careleSsly leaving off the
s%tralner. We are not informed as TO
who was guilty Of this carelessLess,
but il shows The necessity of drilling
aud practice in putting the engine in
readiness for immediate use. The
firemeE arc generally faithful at fires,
but there is a big screw loose in ihe
matter of preparation for effective
work, Without losing sight Of the
disin'erested public spirit that usually
actuates the periIous a d hard work
of firemen, yet we must remind them
shat the ciilzcns of the town have an
interest ia their outfit aud property
aud have the right TO Insist upon oci-
ter work aud preparation, especially
50 far as pertains To these equipments.