The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-04-05
WEDNESDAYS BIG BLAZE.
MR.. CHAs. A. NEwNING's s0UTHsIDE
RESIDENCE DESTROYED.
Magnificent Work Done by the Firemen and
NeighbOrs in Saving Furniture and
Bric.a-Brac From the Devouring
Flames7JFully Insured.

Austin in many weeks occurred We'd
nesday morning, the alarm being
sounded at 11:5O o'clock, and Mr.. Chas.
A. Newning, our well known and
popular county commissioner from the
Fourth precinct, being the loser. The
property destroyed was his handsome
home in Fairview Park, one OF the
most beautiful residences in or about
Austin.
When the alarm was sounded at the
hour above named, and the smoke
from the burning building plainly in
Dictated the location of the blaze, the
fire department started on their long
run over the Avenue bridge and up
over the steep hill at the
Deaf and Dumb institute. When it
is said that it was long and hard
pull the words fail to express the ex-
ertion the noble horses were
called on to make, and when
they finally reached the park they
were completely exhausted. The first
alarm called out the Hook and Ladder
and Washington and Colorado Hose
companies. The latter company
combined their hose and, with a line
nearly 1000 feet long, conveyed water
from the hydrant at the Deaf and
Dumb institute to the burning build
ing. Before the water could be &C.
cured, however, number of firemeD
and neighbors swooped down on the
house and verify carried it by storm.
In an incredibly short time it was
cleared of every thing movable. Fur
niture, bric-a- brac, pianos, carpets,
gas fittings, doors, windows, sashs.
blinds, marble mantles, crockery and
glassware were all carried out with
slight damage. These articles were
then collected and guarded by the
very efficient corps of fire police of the
department with the assistance
of two of Captain Lucy's men. 1t is
believed that not single article was
stolen after it was moved from the
building and deposited in the midst
of the miscellaneous crowd that soon
thronged the park, and too much
praise cannot be bestowed for the way
in which the house was cleared and
the property guarded.
The fire started in the roof and
slowly eat it's way down towards the
basement, the single stream playing
on it being insufficient to stay it's
progress. After it had burned some
time second alarm was sent in bring
ing East Austin and Protection Hose
companies to the scene and then with
the two streams playing the blaze was
quickly gotten under control, but not
before the handsome home had been
completely Quilted.
THE ORIGIN.
The origin of the fire is wrapped in
mystery. Mr.. Newning who has been
sick for few days was
at home at the time
aud his wife had just returned
from the city, bringing with her sew
eral friends who were to spend the
day. Smoke was noticed in the upper
part of the building, and on Mr.. New
ning's rushing into the attic he was
met by mass of flames, resulting in
his getting his face scOrched and his
hair and moustache badly singed.
After the blaze was eXtinguished and
an examination of the ruins was made
the most plausible theory that could
be advanced as to its origin was that
it had started in the roof from de-
fectlVe Kltcnen uue'
LOSS AND INSURANCE.
The first cost of the building was
$4,000, since which time some inn
proyements have been made. On it
Mr.. Newning carried the following in
surance as per statement furnished
the reporter yesterday afternoon by
Insurance Agent w E. Booth:
Northern. ...................... $1,000
British America. .............. $500
Lancashi,e ..................... $500
Milwaukee Mechanics ........ 2,100
Total. ........................$12,1OO
The insurance on the furniture was
$4,000, divided equally between the
Western and Niagara.
The loss on the building is practi-