The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-03-18
The Mt. Pleasant COndagraflOn, and
Other Notes OF Interest.

MT. PLEASANT. March 15.-[SPe
ciai. The greatest excitement pre-
vailed here, when about noon on last
Monday q shout of Fire" rang out
on the air. Arriving at the spot from
whence the cry Of alarm came, the
store of Rus Watkins, col, was found
in flames, having caught from the
stove Everything was very dry, and
there was a strong gale blowing from
the North. The fire spread with
astonishing rapidjty to the adj acent
buildings and before it ceased Its
ravages every house in that block
was reduced to ashes, save the hand
some new brick building, recently
completed, which most fortunately
.ras covered with tire-prOof roofing
The intense heat warped the bricks to
some extent and the glass was badly
broken. The door that led into the
Club room over this building was
DESTROYED, and tue wlOle thing must
have burned but for the presence OF
mind of someone who nailed piece
of sheet iron over the doorway. The
buildings of the Packard block we're
not of great value, but Rus Watkins
and LuDic Hail, cOlOred., each lost
their entire stock of goods. The
store Of Mr.. Geo. Collins was not con-
nected to these, but was too close to
be saved. He saved his stock but ii
was very much damaged. However,
the insurance will cover the loss.
Just above this was the pretty, new
residence adjoining the brick stores.
It belonged to the firm OF King "
Orr, but was occupied by the family
OF Mr. VIM. Kohn. They succeeded
i'm rescuing the household effects.
Fearing the same fate awaited his
1, in hn h1lT "
they removed his stock OF goods
which was badly injured. 1t was
with the greatest difficulty that other
buildings were saved, and especially
the residence of Mr.. r r. Williams,
which was in such close proximity
to the fire that il caught several
times. The barn Of Mr.. Shelf Cross,
about 250 yards south iof the lire, was
caught, but was soon eXtlngulShed
Dy the heroic efforts of Mrs. Barneil
After the fire had subsidized black
column Of smoke was seen rising up
from the rear end of Irwin Bros
uniertakers shop. 1t was on the
opposite side, and to the north Of tho
fire, and, as no other building caught
in that direction, the belief is shared
by many that it was fired. 1t 1t had
not been discovered at the time it was,
little would be left of the business
portion Of Mt. Pleasant TO tell the
tale. Furniture, groceries, and dry
goods were scattered over the streets.
PERSONAL NEWS.
Mr.. London Smith has returned to
Memphis, after few days visit to
Prof j. A. Rosticl,'s family, and bis
little brother Earl, who is pupil at
the Institute.
Miss Kate Perry, a blonde of more
than ordinary beauty, attended sery-
ices at The NJ. +. Church last Sabbath.
Mrs. Shelf Cross and family have
moved tn this country.
Miss Sarah KOhn spent several
DAYS in Nashville last week.
Prof ID. y. Long, of Dayton, OHIO,
was the guest of his cousin, Mrs. a.
b. Beech, last week.
Mr.. w. r. Bond has returned from
L4wrenceburg.
DR.. Robt. Topp and family have re-
turned from Nashville, and are tenn
porariiy housekeeping at Mrs. NJ
Reynolds.
Miss Bette Akin has entered How
ard Institute a. an art pupil.
Mrs. Henry GoodlOe is with Mrs.
H. b. Lowell in Lawrenceburg.
The latest improvement Is the cree
ton OF a butcher shop on the lot
above Ricketts, hotel. ATHENE.