Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1893-11-18
FIERCE FLAMES.
Another Disastrous Fire at Memphis
Blaze Started 0y the Explosion of Coal
OH Lamp-The Flames Spread With
Startling Rapldity-IiemmedI In by Smoke
and Flames Two " en- Perish

Blaze Started oy the Explosion Of a Coal
OH Lamp-The Flames Spread with
Startling gRapldity-Iiemmedl In by Smoke
and Flames Two , en- Perish.
Memphis, Tenn, N,v. 14.-Another dis
aatrous fire attended possibly with loss
OF life visited Memphis last night.
The beautiful tivc-story building, Nos. |
$50 and 330l. Main street, occupied by |
the Schmalzried Stove and Range com |
pany, was totally destroyed, and serious
damage was done the adjoining building
10 the north, occupied by the Lennon Il
Gale company, wholesale dry goods and
notions.
The fire had its origin III the Schmalz-
red Stove and Range company, and was
ceased by the explosion of a large swing
ing oil lamp, located about ~ feet from
the front doors. 1t was six minutes past
I o'clock when the explosion occurred,
and two minutes later the whole front Of
the store was ablaze,
Never before in the history of fires in
Memphis did flames spread with such
alarming rapidity as last night. In less
Than five minutes after the explosion Of
the lamp ON the ground floor, flames were
pouring out of the front door and win
dows, threatening the destruction OF
the entte block.
Upstairs, over the Schmalzried Stove
and Range company, on the second and
| third floors Of the building, were located
| the rooms of the Young Mems Christian
| association, At the time of the fire nine
| men were known to be in the rooms OF
| the association. and of these only seven
| have been accounted for, and the proba-
bities are that the other two lost their
| lives, They were on the third floor in the
| gymnasium and bathrooms, and nothing
| has been heard of them since.
| OF the others in the rooms at the time
| of the fire, Mr.. Taylor Hutton and an old
| man. whose name could not be learned,
| made their escape down the front steps.
| Il. A. Perkins, secretary of the assocla-
| ton; Charles X. White. ii. NJ. Sullivan,
Frank o. Sebring and the colored porter,
Joe, were cut off by the flames and forced
to the rear of the building on the second
floor The smoke was sitting, and when
they reached the rear window there was
no means at hand to lower themselves tc
the ground. 70 remain seemed death
and Mr. Perkins attempted the descen
by means of the tin gutter that runs
alongside of the building but he fell be
fore going far, and striking his head OIL
the bricks fractured his skull. receiving
injuries that may result fatally.
i Charles K. White also attempted to de
scend hy the same MEANS but he, too
lost his hold, and had hir right arm
broken. Joe, the negro pon"r. Jumpe'
from the window and received serious in
ternal injuries. The crowd that mad gath
.ercA call to the others mot 10 jump,
and a ladder was found close at hanG
which was raised to the window. ana SUI
livan and Scbring safely descended-no'
however. before they had been scorchc
by the flames that had followed them
their hasty retreat.
: Mr. Taylor Hutton was in the Youn
U Mems Christian association rooms Whe
E, the fire started. He had been on the thr
c floor and had descended to the readiEi
c room ON the second when the flames broh
{ ont In an interview Mr.. Hutton sai'
d "When was up stairs Oh the third Hoo
$ where the gymnasium and bathrooms al
located there were two young meh al
4 the colored porter there at the time VI
. of the Young men was punching II
:, bag in the gymnasium, and the on
was in his shirt sleeves. He was askii
the porter for a towel preparatory
taking A bath. | came down stairs al
30 entered the readingroom. where | foul
l. Secretary Perkins and three others, t'
Y of them young men and the other W
s- nm old man Just then the fire broke o'
and | came down the front steps toseth
+, with the old man. and am certain no
Z, of the Others made their escape by mea
n of the front way, us | remained there u
s. til the flames had completely envelop
Y. the entire front Of the building. | fe
al the two men who were on the third fio
were lost in the fire
n Among those who were in the rooms
Al the Young Mems Christian ASSOCIATE
m were MeSsr.. II. NJ. Sullivan and Fra
= O. Sebring. They. together with Sec
m tary Perkins, Charles X. White and
unknown gray-haired man, were in
reading.room when the fire broke on
said Mr.. Sullivan, 1--WE found oursel'
~ cut off from the front steps and manat
to make our way to the rear The smt
"a was binding. and the heat intense. wa
u, we got TO the rear, Mr.. Sebring kici
IL open door that led to the rear wind'
We cried for help, but none of the i
ple below could reach us. Mr.. Perkins
tempted to descend by the water spout,
did also Charles White, Sebring and l
IS self waited until ladder was placed
he MS to descend. thought we would
at he burned before the ladder came.
re flames were all around us and the SIN
as was so sitting that ! took my hat ;
used it as fan. In trying to get dc
,. the ladder ! missed my footing and
% to the ground. but escaped injury.
w though | was nearly choked to de
30. with smoke. My friend Sebring dcsct
OF cd safely by means of the ladder, but
ed too, was scorched by the fire, aud c;
near being sutfocated by the smoke
ch Sullivan and Scbring got separated a
,rr their escape from death. but afterw
-, met near the scene of their rescue. L
'" were SO overcome at their miracn
10 delivery that they grasped each 9th
hands. but could not find words to
OF press their thankfulness for their SAT
lire Charles Il. White, who sustaine
the COLES fracture of the right arm, was
md taken to Morrison's pharmacy, and
Neely, Curric and Holder set his fract
nm wrist He was taken by Stanley n
ambulance to his residence, No. 10 {
street.
WV T.. Roardman, a young man who WI
the Y. NJ. {. A. rooms. where the
OPP started. jumped from the second 5
nen window. in the rear, and broke his
log. He was taken TO st. Joseph's
,a n;,al for treatment, and early this Il
his ing was resting easy,
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ths FOREIGN AGRICULTURE.
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