The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-05-04
DISASTROUS FIRE AT KIT
TRELL.
The Famous Davis Hotel Burned
Full Particulars Of the IN
fortunate Calamity---A
Heavy Loss to Col.
Davis and to the
Town

Heavy Loss to Col.
Davis and to the
Town.
kITTRELL. y. c.. May LIST, 1898.
The large and excellently appointed
Davis Hotel at this place met its doom
in the early morning of April Goth.
Before sun up on Saturday, while all
its occupants We're soundly sleeping,
except few servants who had assembled
in the kitchen, though, believe, no fire
had been started, few early rising neigh
bOrs, saw smoke curling around the
cupOla in the centre of the large building.
For the moment no harm was appre-
hended and no alarm given. But when
the smoke grew denser and blacker and
swept up around the flagstaff that
crowns the cupola, it was seen that fire
was abroad, and swift feet hurried to
the scene. 1t was high time.
The servants in the kitchen were going
about their work all unconscious of the
dread agent at work amid the rooms and
corridors above. The densest smoke
already filed both stories of the large
glass-inclosed porches which ran nearly
| the whole length of the building. As
| every bedroom in the hotel opened on
this porch, the peril OF the sleeping people
was at once to be seen. The alarm was
instantly and loudly given. The guests
| sprang from their beds to find their
rooms already invaded by smoke. Flight
| through the sitting porches was almost
| Impossible and few moments later
would have been entirely SO. True they
| mi ght have leaped from the back win
dows, but none thought of this, besides
| many We're on the second floor.
Except in Il very few instances all fed
in their night-wear, leaving clothes and
valuables behind. Even then in some
instances the escapes were by hair
breadths. The building burnt like finder
One lady must have been killed had she
been a second Or two later: mass of
burning timber falling Just in her rear as
she fled for life down the smoke packed
| stairs.
Mrs. Davis mother, the beloved Mrs.
Sheppard and Madame Behr a French
lady staying with Mrs. Davis, bewildered
by the smoke, must both have been lost,
but for the quick and resolute help OF
IL friend. Fortunately and providentialIy
all got safely out.
But little could be done to save the
contents of the house. The flames pos
sessed themselves so rapidly of the South
part of the building that nothing could
be taken out. At the north end a piano,
billiard table and u few things were
saved.
BY great good fortune the wind blew
steadily from the Southeast, carrying
the heat and sparks mostly clear of the
town. This alone prevented a sweeping
fire. Even then the Henry building, fifty
feet from the hotel, caught repeatedly;
| as did the Stanton bar room, 200 feet
| distant, once, and a smaller dwelling 600
feet away several times.
After some little delay caused by the
excitement, Henderson and Raleigh were
both wired for help. Henderson responded
with great prOmptness, as no doubt
Raleigh would also have done, had not
the request been recalled. Fortunately
Mai. Winder was in Henderson, and gave
all orders necessary as to transportation
besides coming in person to the scene
\ strong detachment of the hook, ladder
and bucket company under Mr.. j. ID
Cooper ard Capt. Pryce Jones formed
the Henderson relieving force. Though
hitched to a leaving freight the run was
made in ten minutes; not eight as | have
elsewhere stated. The fire was under
control when they arrived, though haC
the Henry building caugh hit as long seemee
certain, their help would have been IN
valuable in saving the railroad buildings
kittrell thanks them one and all for their
Willingness to help her in her need.
The hotel had frontage of go feet
with wing of 10 feet; besides billiard
and was all two and part three stories
high. As stated a two-story glass-in
closed porch extended nearly the entire
length of 325 feet. This porch was pro
fuseIy decorated with rare and expensive
pot and hanging plants, all kept in the
highest condition. These along Will
furniture and equipments were of course
all lost.
Mr.. Davis insurance on the premises
was SIG, 900, a small part of it being OF
mill, stables, factory, &c, which We're no
burnt. He has been carrying 5000
but owing to excellent means to fgh
fire recently introduced $4,000 insur
ance was allowed to lapse. The loss wa:
very heavy indeed and would be hard tt
estimate. Money has been spent on i
with free hand for twenty years.
will give short history of the hotel
The nucleus of it was built by Maj Col
Inns about 1853 Thelast grand tourna
ment of ante-bellum days in this section
was held on the level ground in the rear
DR.. Blacknall bought it in 1865, selling
out to Mr. Davis in 1872. Mr.. Davis
ideas of comfort were liberal, his means
ample and from that day to this money
has been lavished Oh it to please Thu
high class OF patronage it engaged. 1t:
dimensions were increased fOur-hOld
Building after building was added. One
season alone about $4,000 was spent
Furniture and equipment kept pace witt
| h., Inn, h,t
been spent there will never be known
doubt that $50, 900 will replace thing:
as they were. Mrs. Davis saved her dia
mond valued at 50 ,OOO Mrs. Sheppard
5000 gold watch, but valued far higher a
a memento of others days was lost, a.
were Others belonging to the guests, be
sides fine guns and pistols. Strange t.
say, the watches went through the fire
far bet ter than the firearms. For though
bIackpned and of course destroyed a.
time pieces, the cases were neither crushed
nor melted. OF the guns only warped
twisted and separated tubes were found
Even a roll of bank notes, Ihear, ESCAPED
in a charred state. While q Jew OF tn
guests saved good deal, some lostfrOn
81 900 to - 900, clothing and valuables
Fortunately the season was about over
and all but about twenty had LETT TO
their Northern homes Had the hous
have been full many lives must have beer
lost.
A heavy loser by this fire as well as on
occurred several years ago, was Mrs
Pastawka, an aunt OF Mrs. Davis. Mucl
of the wide fame of the Davis Hotel /
due to this estimable and unobtrusiv
lady. With the bon hommie of Mr.. Davis
the boundless energy and rare genius @
; Mrs. Davis, backed by the culinary ski
OF Mrs. Pastawka, the Davis house wa
we'll worthy of the unique reputation /
bore from Maine to Florida. Mrs. Pas
tawka has not been with us as long a
her sister, Mrs. Sheppard, but the sam
amiability and kindness OF nature ha
won for both a warm place in all gu
> hearts.
Fortunately Mr.. Davis is a man c