The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-13
BURNED TO THE GROUND.
J)bn 0. Smiths House a Sacrifice 10
the Flames.

The Handsome Structure a Total
5000 Feet of Hose REQUIRED
20 Reach It-Water From Bilbo
Thrown on the Flames-Part of the
Furniture Saved by the Firemen.
The Loss Covered by Insurance.
A blaze was discovered on the east side
of the roof of the residence of Mr.. John
n Smith. about a quarter of mile from
the toll gate on the north side of the
Tbunderbolt road, yesterday morning
shortly before 10 o'clock, and by noon the
handsome residence was leveled to the
ground
Mrs. Smith was in the kitchen when
one of the neighbors rushed hurriedly in
To the house and told her that it was on
fire. A messenger was sent at once to
tbe nearest telephone and the alarm was
sent into headquarters, but by the time
the department reached the scene of the
blaze the roof and the greater part of the
upper story had been burned and the
flames were fast eating down into the
center of the building
TOOK 1900 FEET OF HOSE.
The nearest fire station, which was the
headquarters, was more than a mile away
from the house. and it took some time to
get there, although the department made
one of the quickest trips that it has made
IN some time When the alarm was
turned in from box IL the department was
already on the scene. The house was
situated about half a mile from the
nearest water plug, and it took over 1900
feet of hose to reach it. BY the time
stream was put on it, therefore, it was of
little avail. The fire laddies worked with
a will however, and did all in their
power to stop the progress Of the flames,
but with a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. wind
which was blowing at that time and the
fire well under way, they could do but
little with one stream. They worked from
the hydrant until No. engine, which was
being used, broke down, and water had to
be procured then in the best way possible.
GOT WATER FROM BILBo.-
No. / engine, which is the largest in the
department, was stationed at Bilbo canal,
some 400 feet nearer the blaze, and four
lengths of hose were taken off. Water
was then pumped on the blaze from the
canal. but to little avail. The house was
soon destroyed, and about l o'clock moth
ing was left standing but one side of it
and the brick basement
The fremen turned their attention early
in the fray to saving the surrounding
houses for the heavy wind was blowing
sparks right and left. The light rain
however, which was continuous during
the morning, helped materially in pre-
venting the fire from spreading. One lit
tie house across the street, with wooden
roof, caught from a spark and a slight
blaze started, but it was soon put out by
the chemical engine which was on hand
The other houses were from one to two
hundred feet away, and although sparks
were blown that distance they were saved
from catching from the fact that they had
tin roofs and the rain was steadily falling
SAVED PART OF THE FURNITURE.
Seeing that there was little possibility
of saving any part of the house the fire
men went to work to get out all of the
furniture possible. The wind was blow
ing the smoke down through the DOORS
and it was impossible to do anything save
from the rear of the building, and then
only through the windows. In this way
however, a considerable amount of the
furniture was gotten out, among which
was Mrs. Smith's piano, the safe and a
lot of household and kitchen furniture
Everything else may be considered total
loss.
The house was 3-story structure, inclu-
ding the basement and had mansard
roof on top. Itwas a handsome residence
and Mr.. Smith had spared no pains in fin
ishing it up in frst-class style. The finish
ing of the interior of the story just above
the basement was elegant. the doors be-
ing all walnut and the other wood finish
ings being of the finest kinds of woods
Mr.. Smith had taken an especial pride
in his residence and the finishing both in
side and out was handsome.
COVERED BY INSURANCE
There is no telling how the fire started
1t was mystery, as there was no fire up
stairs at the time, and nothing was
known of it until the fame was seen
bursting through the roof 1t could
hardly have been an incendiary, catching
from the roof as it did, and was most
likely caused from defective lue though
it has not been accounted for as yet MIR
Smith said he had 81, 600 insurance on his
furniture, and $4,000 on his residence,
though he didn't remember the different
companies in which it was placed.