The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-20
JACKSONVILLE ON FIRE.
A HALF MILLION DOLLAR BLAZE
IN THE BUSINESS CENTER.

The Mohawk Block the Starting Point
of the Flames-The Santos ard Clark
Blocks Also in Ruius-The Postoface
and Government Bonded Warehouse
Burned Out
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, May ia few
minutes before 10 o'clock last night fire
broke out in the third floor of the Mohawk
block, on the southwest corner Of Bay and
Market streets. 1t was bursting through
the roof when discovered, and, though the
progress of the flames was slow during the
first half hour, the iremen found it impos-
sible to control them, owing TO the COM
bustible character of the material stored on
the third floor. The whole west end of the
building was occupied by the George F.
Drew Hardware Company, and the third
floor was used for storing sash,
doors and blinds. The other floor con-
tained oils. paints and other combustibles
in large quantities. For the first half hour
the flames we're confined to the third floor,
but they spread in every direction and soon
filled the entire building with smoke
At 12:45 o'clock the fire had en- sioped
the entire building and at l o'clock 1t was
impossible to get within half block of the
building, so intense was the heat.
OCCUPANTS OF THE BUILDING.
The building was occupied on the first
floor by the Drew Hardware Company.
Church Anderson & Co., wholesale dealers
in produce and fruit; James Douglass, books
and stationery; an Italian fruit firm and the
postoffice. The second floor contained the
United States district court room and about
q dozen law and real estate
Offices. The third floor was divided
into q masonic lodge room.
club room, and private apartments. A man
named Barnes. Pullman car conductor,
slept on the third floor and barely escaped
with his life, being compelled to go down
to the ground on an iron water pipe. His
hands and face were badly burned. United
States Marshal Weeks also occupied room
on the third floor temporarily. He escaped
in his night clothes. All the records of the
United States court are burned, and also the
furniture and records Of the Masoniclo lodges
chapter and commandery. With the excep-
ton of A. W. Cockrell & Sons none Of the
lawyers saved anything. This firms law
library was saved by lowering the books
from windows with great difficulty and
danger.
The Drew Company's stock is entirely
lost, but is covered by insurance. AuIcr-
son & Co. and Douglass saved nothing.
Postmaster McMurray saved all the mails
and Office furniture, and had them promptly
Nol ~ q pAAOo VI ooAObJs
THE BURNED BUILDING.
The building was los by 2lO feet, of brick,
and three stories high. lie was built in 1884
IS by Mr.. Shoemaker, late of Cincinnati,
o., whose heirs now own it. 1t was valued
at 1920, 900, and is a total loss. 1t was in
sured for S35, 600 in the following compa-
mics: Hartford $4,000, Imperial 1880,
Liverpool, London and Globe 81, 900, Etna
5000, Western Association SIS, 1000, Queen
az 000 Mr. Draws loss m stool ia paGrlu
$25, 600 The exact amount of his insurance
is not known.
SAVING OTHER PROPERTY.
Seeing the futility of trying to save the
Mohawk block, the firemen turned their at
tention to the surrounding buildings, and
by herculean efforts stayed the further
progress of the flames. Headed by Assist
ant Chief Singer they worked like heroes
and saved the city from a more serious
catastrophe.
In the meantime the old Mechanics steam
fire engine was sent for, and when it arrived,
driven by Henry Lee, it was greeted with
tumultuous cheers. 1t took its position on
the dock in the rear and did magnificent
service
Next to the Mohawk block is the Santo
building, and that soon caught and was
rapidly consumed. This building was
valued at $4,000 and insured for 5000. 1t
was occupied on the lower floor by Charles
j. Brltz as a storehouse, and the upper floor
by Mr.. Britz and family and Phil Kurtz
and family. Mr.. Britt and family are in
New York. Mr.. Kurtz moved out con-
siderable portion of his effects, but his loss
will be quite heavy. A portion of the lower
floor was used as a fruit store by J. K. Will
Jams. who saved most of his stock.
FIREMEN DRIVEN BACK.
Some of the fremen who we're on the
roof of the Santo building were forced 60
come down on account of the heat, and the
hose caught between the piazza and a teIe.
graph pole, and considerable trouble was
had in getting it down. Some cloth signs
over Merryday & Paines music store
caught fire, but this was promptly put
out.
The next building to catch was the hand
some brick block of John Clark, Son &
Co. This was valued at $35, 900, and was
insured IN the Dawkins agency for $4,000,
in the Williams agency for s., 900 and with
Foster, Marvin & Haynes for $1,000. The
stock had an estimated value of $40, 900,
and on this Dawkins had insurance Of
5000, other amounts being held by Norton
and Foster, Marvin s. Haynes.
On the first floor of this building was the
United States bonded warehouse, which
contained between 300 and 800 bales of
tobacco belonging to the Ell Modelo and FL
Tobo manufacturing companies. The loss
and insurance here could not be ascer-
tanned
The rear ell to Drew's, which is used as a
storage for iron piping, oil and dynamite,
also caught, and very soon loud explosion
was heard. 1t was some of tho dynamite,
and hole about ten feet square was blown
out at the southeast corner Of the building
A loud cracking sound was heard, and bull
lets could be distinguished whistling around
in all directions At 40 a vast volume of
smoke pulled out from the rear windows of
Clark's new block, but only for a moment,
and little later the west wall of Drew's ell
fell with acrash, carrying away part of
one OF the sheds in Clark's coal yard.
PUMPED UP MUD.
Mechanics engine started a stream on
soon after l o'clock, but the suction hose
was allowed to lie on the bottom of the
river and considerable mud was pumped
up. After some little trouble the volun-
teer hremen got stream on and rendered
good services.
At a. m. Clark's new block was a mass
of ruins and the fire was blazing fiercely.
but seemed to realize that it had reached
the limit. Including that building the dew
astation was complete to Market street.
The tobacco in the bonded warehouse was
valued at about 100000.
The air was filed with myriads of sparks,
and streams of water were kent nourin o