The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-13
Fl HOUSES BURNED.
A $4,000 Blaze in the Resi-
dtDCG Portion.
SEVERAL ELEGANT HOMES In RUINS.

WINGS Cp III q ClA44GS osASAA a.
Fierce Blaze Which Gave No Time
forthe Saving Of Household Effects.
An Entire Block Wiped Out-The
Firemens Hard and Splendid Fight.
The Insurance Will Not Cover the
Loss.
Savannah was treated yesterday after
noon to disastrous May week illumination,
which was not on the programme Of events
of the merchants festival, but nevertheless
was undesirably successful
Twenty-seven buildings in the south
eastern residence portion Of the city were
wiped out by fire. aud SIS, 900 worth Of
property, at the lowest calculation, went up
in smoke.
The fire started at Habersham and Hunt
ingdon streets and swept everything on both
sides of Huntington street to Price. and
burned all the small houses on CASTOR street
lane on the north and Huntingdon street
laue on the south.
The fire originated In the workshop in the
rear of the two 215-story houses of Mr.. T.
II. Mcmillan, at Habersham and Hunt
ingdon streets. The place was filed with
shavings and loose yellow pine lumber. 1t
burned like finder, and by the time it was
discovered the blaze had communicated TO
the two large buildings in front.
The cry OF fire was raised, and Fred Wes-
sells, who keeps a grocery at the corner of
Price street, turned in an alarm from box
Al, in front OF his store.
BURNED LIKE POWDER.
The wind was high, and the unfinished
lid ~ halI onrfa Of Inf
mable material. 1t burned like powder,
and when the department arrived, which
was in quick time, both houses were O mass
of roaring flames. The wind was blowing
a stiff gale TO the southeast at the time, and,
although the fremen worked hard, their
efforts proved futile in stopping the prog
ress Of the flames at that time
The two elegant residences adjoining, also
the property OF Mr.. Mcmillan, and occupied
by Mr.. W. H. Dooner and Mr.. J p Law
ton, were soon enveloped in flames. The
fire burned SO rapidly that Mr.. boomers
family only saved a few pieces of silver
ware, and nothing at all was rescued from
Mr.. Lawton's house.
By this time the blaze was 80 fierce that
it drove the f1remen out of Huntingdon
street, and they turned their attention to
fighting the fire from Price, CASTOR and
Hall streets. Engine No. was in the midst
OF the fire and the fremen were compelled
TO surround it with boards aud play upon it
with streams from Habersham street to
save 1t. Several lengths of hose were lost,
tho flames preventing the firemen from re-
moving it.
BLAZING IN EVERY DIRECTION.
The blaze jumped both north and eouth
and leaped 25 feet in the air. Vetter's
bakery, on CASTOR lane and Habecsham
street, went up in few minutes and then
the fire ran down CASTOR street lane and
wiped out five l-story houses belonging to
Salomon Cohen In the rear of his fine Gas
ton street row. The rear of these houses
were badly scorched and blistered.
Mr. McCarthy's cottage on Huntington
street. next to the Mcmillan houses, caught,
and at the same time the flames leaped
across to the south side Of the street and
communicated to Fred Vessels new row
OF five 2-story dwellings. 1t burned
quickly, ana in few minutes both sides Of
the street were roaring furnace. Rade-
rlcks Ice cream parlor,' at the corner on
Habersham street, went next
Vessels row was occupied by the
Gembero, Dixon, Bessellieu and Fur
rer families and they saved but
little Of their furniture. Next to
the wooden row was S-story brick
building, also belonging to Vessels and oc,
cupied by Mrs. Williamson as a boarding
house. 1t didn't stand the fire any better
than the wooden buildings. 1t was soon a
mass Of ruins. Vessels 2-story brick store
and residence at the corner of Price
street adjoiued the boarding house, and
although the fire deparement worked hard
TO save 1t, the efforts were unavailing. 1t
was entirely Quilted, leaving nothing but the
walls standing. Four brick houses in the
lane were also burned.
PRICE STREET THREATENED.
The fire raised heavy wind and re-
crossed Huntington street. 1t caught a
wooden building belonging TO Mrs. Pacetty
and occupied by colored people, from which
the blaze jumped to Mrs Pacetti's 2-story
brick store and dwelling at CASTOR lane and
Price street. Both building were Quilted In a
few mlnutes
The wind carried chunks Of fire across
Price street to the roof of a 1-story tenement
owned by Louis White, and before any
water could be got to 1t the build
ing was a mass of flames
This turn of affairs threatened to sweep
Price street. but by keeping plenty of water
on the adjoining buildings the progress of
the flames In this direction was STAYED
The fire was got under control at 4 o'clock
and was nearly out at midnight. The area
covered by the fire is a space of about
10000 feet. The place last night which had
been covered by handsome residences was
marked only by mass of blackened and
burning debris and lone blackened Chin
neys.
THE LOSSES.
Mr.. McMillsn's loss is nearly $40 900 and
is partly covered by insurance with John
Sullivan & kCo. Mr.. Vessels loss
is $4,000, with $500 insurance with
bearing & Hull and w. II. Daniel. Mrs.
McCarthys house was covered with
bearing & Hull for $500. Mrs. Pacetti'.
loss will foot up about $1,000, without any
insurance. Mr.. Cohen's loss in burned
buildings will amount TO $4,000 and is COW
cred by insurance. His loss from breaking
of fences and the scorching OF the rear por.
ton Of his CASTOR street row will foot ur
another $1,000. J. NJ. Lee owned the
dwelling occupied by Theodore Raderick
and had it insured. His loss is about e., 800
Mr.. Whites loss is about $500. 1t is alsC
covered by insurance.
The loss Of HOUSEHOLD furniture by the &C.
oupants of the burned buildings is quit,
heavy. Besides Mr.. boomers loss of effects
considerable money was burned.
The fire attracted thousands OF peop
from the parade ground who were out t
see the military display, and also brough
as many more from all portions OF the city
GREAT ILLUMINATION.
The blaze could be seen from almost an,
elevation over two stories, and dense vol
umes of smoke enveloped the southern part
of the city, and the streets in the neighbor
hood of the confagration were almost darl
as night at times with the smoke layinI
over them. The police had hard work Ii