The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-04-06
DISASTROUS FIRE IN
GAINESVILLE.
Nearly the Whole Town in Ashes
Heavy Loss and Great Depri-
walton the Result


OXFORD, n. c., April 1.-The entire
town of GAINESVILLE Va, is in ashes.
At 2 o'clock this afternoon fire was dis
covered in a house adjoining Pettingilrs
store and it was thought to have been
eXtinguished, but later it was again found
that the store building of Pettingill was
on fire. A strong gale was blowing at
the time and despite the most strenuous
efforts of the citizens the fire spread
rapidly from building to building, sweep
ing everything before it on both sides of
Main street down to the river, and within
two hours thefames had done their work.
Only three buildings on Main street es-
capped the fury of the flames, namely:
Richmond & Danville depot, Magee ware
house and Bugg's store at the lower end
AS soon as the fire was discovered aid
was telegraphed for from Oxford, and
the Oxford fire company, about 100
strong, promptly responded and reached
the city on a special about AS, but the
town was then in ashes; vet by their
efforts the Richmond & Danville depot
was saved. Never was a town more com
pletely swept away. r. H. Bugg's, and
Black & Co.'S dry goods stores are the
only ones remaining. Most of the resi-
dences, both the hotels and the Episcopal
church were burned. Two colored men,
whose names were not learned, were
burned to death. One of them was seen
to go into the Alliance warehouse, but
the roof falling he was never seen after
wards. The other cOlOred man was
rescued in dying condition. The fol-
lowing are most of the buildings burned
with the losses and insurance: T. N.
Williams, law Office, 5000, insurance
$500; Pettingill, store, $4,000, insurance
81 900; Alliance warehouse, $4,000; J.
B. Taylor's residence, $4,000; insured;
Lipfert, two stores, $4,000; Lipfert, resi-
dence, SO, 900; T. n. Williams office, 800,
insurance $500; Exchange bank build
ing, 1000; A Bruce, store house, 3d.
500, insurance 81 200: Exchange hotel,
81 900, insurance 81 900; Judge W. E.
Holmes store and residence, 81 900; L.
B. Gilland, dry goods and residence,
-, 800; insured; I. F. Humphrey, two
stores, $4,000; Roanoke Valley hotel,
$1,000; Morton Bros. & Co., $4,000;
insured; Daniel Owen, 81 800; insured
W. f. Morgans livery stable, $500, no
Insurance: Williams livery stable, 3d.
! 600, insurance 5000; Williams office,
$500, no insurance; E. c. Goode, brick
factory 81 600; insured; J. Davis, resi-
dence, 5 900, no insurance; Magee's
prizery, occupied by the American To-
bacco company, SC, 900; insured; Gooch's
liquor store 81 500, no Insurance.; Sum-
mervile store $1,000; Ben. Puryear's
store house, 81 ,OOO insured; r. H. Bugg's
residence, 81 900, insured; Mrs. John
Forman's residence, s 900, no insurance;
Mrs. Tazwell Hargrove store, 500, no
insurance; Spencer Torans store, 5000;
no insurance: American Tobacco COM
pany, loss quarter OF million pounds,
valued at $685. 900, which was insured
The following also were burned out: DR..
Brake, dry goods store; G. n. Wells and
L. B. Gilland, dry goods store; Planters
bank, Chapman & Bagby, Mrs. Bailey,
VIM. Reed, E. l.. Morton, leaf dealer, W.
II. Gooch, liquor; also residences of p. K.
Williams, James Field, Summerville
Bros, c. L. Dogget, three fertilizer houses,
Miss Alice Morgan's millinery. Very
little was saved by any. The loss to
| buildings is estimated at 100000, and
| the loss on stock from $75, 900 to $780,
| 600. There are hardly enough houses
| left to shelter the inhabitants, and some
OF them are in a pitiable condition, hav-
| lost their all.