The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-21
ALGIERS RAVAGED BY FIRE.
A TOTAL OF $50 HOUSES BURNED
AND ZOO PERSONS HOMELESS.

The Blaze Starts at 2 O'Clock in the
Morning and Rages Until 9-The
Loss Estimated at 100000 and the
Insurance Very Light-MOst OF
Those burned out Persons of Only
Moderate Means-The Police sta
tion, Court House and Jail Among
the Buildings Burned.
New Orleans. Oct. 2O.-A fire broke out
in Algiers at o'clock this morning, which
continued to burn until O'Clock, when
it was got under control because very
little else was left to burn. One hun
dred and eighty houses were burned in
all. The fire was confined almost entire
ly to the residence portion Of the town,
the owners of which are people in mod
crate circumstances.
The insurance is said to be very light,
and the loss is therefore almost total. 1t
is estimated that the loss is fully S400,O0O,
but it will be several days before it can
be accurately stated.
The fire originated in an Italians con-
fectionery and fruit store. and every
thing seems to prove it was incendiary.
So intense was the feeling against the
suspected man that if he had been found
doubtedly been lynched. He was arrested
to-day and brought over to New Orleans
for safekeeping.
The Algiers police station, the court
house and Jail were burned, together with
some of the court records of Algiers. These
include court Incidents, marriages, etc,
for many years past.
having been erected about the year 1905
and was originally grand family res
idence. The greater portion or Alglers at
aIuF n 10 fanN hn
of the Du Nerges. The big room recently
used as the third city court was the fam
ily's parlor.
A Subscription for the relief of the
homeless people, who number about 100,
has been started, and has been literally
responded to. The public school buildings
have been thrown open to them and many
have found shelter there.
Thousands went over from New Or
leans to-day to view the ruins. About
6 o'clock the ferry incline on the Algiers
side of the river gave way and precipitat-
ed probably 100 persons to the ground.
Fortunately the river is low, or the acci-
dent might have been serious. Five or
six only fell in the water and were res
cued. one young man had his leg brok-
en-, but with this exception no person
appears to have been injured.
Alglers, although situated on the west
side of the river, Is a part of the munich
pality of New Orleans, having been in
corporated as the Fifth district and Eff
teenth ward on March 13, 1870 The fire
this morning is the most disastrous that
ever visited the city in the number of
buildings burned. The fire was confined
to residences not a store in the business
portion of the town being among the num-
Der destroyed. One general store was
burned. that of Patrick Hartnett, and his
loss on stock and building will amount
to $4,000. He is nearly fully insured,
The property of the Southern Pacific
railroad was not injured, as the fire did
not get near their buildings.
Among the principal losses the court
house heads the list. 1t was worth about
$40 COO
Other losses are:
DR.. w. II. Riley residence and furni-
ture, valued $4,000, insurance two-thirds.
State Senator Turnbull of jefferson par
ish, house and furniture. valued at S15,-
900.
City Councilman Barras, $4,000 on
house and furniture, both nearly fully
covered by insurance.
The subscription for the relief of the
sufferers by the fire amounts so far to
%,456.50, on which amount the city of
New Orleans subscribes $1,000 Mayor
John Fitzpatrick gave $500, and Thomas
Pickles, owner of the Canal street ferry,
$500
A careful estimate makes the number
1S0. Most of these were small wooden
structures and burned like match wood.
The loss by breakage and other damage
to household effects cannot be estima ted.
The scene is almost indescribable Piles
of smOuldering ruins, gaunt chimneys,
and masses of household effects piled in
discriminatory here and there in road
ways and on the levee crest; and men
and women gazing with heavy hearts on
the smuldering embers that mark the
spot they once called home-such is AL
gters> tonight.