The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-02
AUGUSTUS BIG FIRE.
The Khsrs Building on Broad Street
Entirely Destroyed.
From the augusta CGa.) Chronicle.

/
Entirely Destroyed.
! From the AUGUSTA (Ga.) Chronicle
Wednesday morning at $40 O'Clock the
| fire-slarm bells awakened many people In
Augusta and called out the department to
he most disastrous fire which has occurred
on Broad street since the burning Of the
Globe hotel and the Masonic hall and thea
ter in 1857
The fire originated in the upper story Of
the Kahrs building, between the new DAN
/ tignAc building and the grocery store of
\ LohIn & Meyer, at the corner Of Broad and
| Campbell streets.
The Kahrs building was a handsome
| three-stOry building of brick, with iron
front. extending through from Broad to
Ellis street. On the Broad street side the
lower store was occupied by L. A. r Reab
as a wholesale liquor house, and upstairs by
Mr.. james g. BailIe & Son as a carpet
store, In which department the fire is said
TO have originated. In the Ellis street end
Of the building Mr.. Nicholas Kahrs, the
builder and owner of the building had
Wholesale grocery store, while overhead
Mrs. Mary Teppe conducted q boarding
house.
There was some trouble in turning on the
alarm, one or two OF the boxes failing to
work, and the fire was already under full
Roadway when first discovered. By the
time the fire department could arrive, owing
70 the highly inhammable character Of the
contents Of the building, its destruction was
already assured.
The fire burned fiercely, the flames leap
ing into the air high above the three-story
building and illuminating that whole sec
ton Of the city.
NARROW ESCAPES.
In a scramble to escape being caught
under falling wall. Fireman Phillips fell
heavily TO the ground and had TO be car
r1ed home and receive medical attention.
No bones were broken, fortunately, but be
sustained a very severe shock, and had
narrow escape from serious injury.
IJust before this, high wall fell down
through the roof Of Lofiin g. Meyers store,
MIR, j. II. Meyer, Mr.. ID. Sancken, Mr. W.
L. Platt and Mr.. Louis Miller were back
in the store, under the very wall which fell.
The first brick which toppled from the
wall fell close by Mr.. Platt's head and struck
Mr.. j. II. Meyer, who was stopping over
at the time, on the shoulder, bruising him
painfully. Just at this time Mr.. Richers
came TO the front of the store and yelled TO
them to run out of there, that the wall was
about to fall They rushed for the front
door, and Mr.. Miller was still in the front
OF the store when the terrible crash came
which would have crushed them to death
had they been a moment later in getting
out.
THE LOSS COMPLETE.
Throughout the Kahrs building the loss
was complete, no goods being removed
from any of the stores and no furniture
from the boarding house. The inflamma-
BILE character of the stock in the whisky
and carpet stores In the front of the whole
sale grocery in the rear, made the spread Of
the flames so rapid that nobody attempted
any saving of goods.
Mr.. Kahrs is the heaviest loser, as both
his building and stock Were less than half
covered by insurance. MIR. Reab also loses
a large amount in excess of his insurance,
as do also J. q. Baile g. Son.
The severest loss, because it Is a total loss
and falls on one wholly unable to bear it,
was that OF Mrs. Teppe. She had recently
finished paying for the furniture in the
boarding house. and was industriously
working out the problem of life and making
q support when this cruel blow strips her
absolutely of everything, aud leaves her
without furniture, clothing or dollar in
the world.
The following tables give the details Of
losses and insurance in each case:
LOSS AMI TNsITRANCR