The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-03
THUNDERBoLT IN A BLAZE.
THE WARSAW HOTEL AND THREE
SMALLER BUILDINGS BURNED.


Office Burned to the Ground. To-
Eether With the Residences of J..
A. sawyer and barney Mcintyre.
Most of the Property Uninsured.
ThunderboIt was the scene OF quite a
disastrous fire yesterday afternoon. The
fire broke out about o'clock in the War
saw. a saloon and sort OF hotel and res
taurant. kept by T. Butler. and spread 20
two adjoining buildings north of IT., and
small building just south of it, all Of
which were burned before the fire had
finished its work.
The origin Of the fire was not definitely
ascertained. The smoke was first noticed
byHelene Stockton. who had room at the
Warsaw. and who gave an alarm. The
Investigation that followed showed that
the smoke was coming from inside the
walls IN the second story. near che chin
ney leading from the stove I'm the kitchen.
1t was also located up in the ceiling.
Axes were procured and the walls and
ceiling were cut into. As soon as this was
done. the flames burst from Il dozen places
and the upper part Of the building was
all ablaze in a very short time. An alarm
was given. and the Thunderbolt volunteer
department responded with its hand en-
CINE.
When the hand engine was gotten out
the flames had pretty well covered the
Warsaw hotel and were spreading to the
adjoining buildings. The department saw
that it could do nothing toward putting
out the fire, and turned its attentions TO
the buildings further up the bluff. which
with a strong northeast gale blowing,
We're in a rather dangerous position.
Water was poured upon the house oc-
cupied by Mrs. Young, the property OF
Mrs. Monahan, and the building next to
It. These two were all that stood between
the fire and Mrs. Bannon's house and the
three of them were thought at one time
to be in extreme danger, 50 much so that
"a great deal of their contents were re-
moved in order that they might be saw
cd in case the fire spread. The depart
ment did excellent work, however, ana
kept a steady stream from the river below
playing on the buildings which were 50
dangerously near the fire.
Chief Puder of the city department was
telephoned and asked II ne could SEND
any assistance. As soon as he learned the
state of affairs he sent the chemical en-
CINE out and went out himself. The chem
zeal was used to advantage in preventing
the spread of the fire to the buildings
which were close to 1t.
Several of the members of the volunteer
department were away from Thunderbolt
at the time, and some assistance was eN-
pected from the negro population, but
the negroes stood around for a while
and absolutely refused TO do any work
hay NOR
pay. Marshal Lentz and his deputy, Mr..
Gardner told them they had to work, and
several of them were dubbed into II.
They demurred at this, but, seeing they
had to do it, they filed themselves up on
the whisky that was offered them and lent
a hand as best they could.
With diligent work the citizens of Thun-
derbolt managed to prevent the spread
of the fire to the upper part of the bluff,
and a good deal of property was saved
that might otherwise have been destroy
edI The Warsaw, the two buildings north
of it and one south, together with
a large number of horse stalls,
constituting the stables in the rear, We're
totally destroyed The places were burn
ed entirely to the ground, nothing being
done to save them, on account of the fact
that the efforts of the department could
he put to the best advantage by saving the
other buildings.
The occupants of the Warsaw saved very
little. Helene Stockton and Mrs. Butler
got their wardrobes out, but Butler states
he lost everything he had. He values his
costumes, wigs, and paraphernalia, which
he uses in his profession, at about 500,
and has no insurance.
The building known q S the Warsaw was
formerly the Acme. and about six months
ago was in charge of Schroeder & Sulter.
1t was the property of Richard Reitz, one
of the commissioners of the town, who
had no insurance upon 1t whatever He is
IN the employ of Mr.. Henry Ambos, and
the loss will be a heavy one to him.
The building just north of the War
saw was the residence and store of Mr..
j. A. Sawyer who is now in the north
with his wife He left the store in charge
of his brother, together with another place
just across the street, back of which is
the wharf, at which the Nigilant lands
its passengers. Sawyers residence and
store We're entirely destroyed though
about half the contents We're saved be-
fore the fire had enveloped the entire
building. Mr.. Sawyer did not know wheth-
eF there was any insurance on. the build
ing and contents or not He thinks, how
eyer, his brother was partially insured,
but could not tell last night.
The house just north of Sawyers place
was the residence of Mr.. Barney McIn-
tyre and family. Mr.. Mcintyre is thu
well-known ship carpenter and boat
builder. This was a one and one-half
story frame dwelling. It was entirely de-
stroyed. Mr.. Mcintyre had no insurance
whatever.
The other building burned was a store
just south of the Warsaw which was
kept by Mr.. John II. Hall. Mr.. Hall was
recently appointed postmaster of the towr
and took charge of the office two or three
days ago. The government, however, is
none the loser on account of the fire, Us
Mr.. Hall managed to save all the stamps
and money, as well as all the mail He
said that he found everything belonging
to the postoffice except one postal card
which loss will not be a very heavy one
He also saved a large part of his stock
but had no insurance on it whatever
Next TO Halls store there is an alley
way, and next to that is the house oc
cupied by Mr.. and Mrs. Hall and Mrs
Young. This, as well as the store, il
the property of Mrs. Monahan, and it il
not known whether there is any insur
ance on the buildings or not. A lot of sta
bles belonging to Mrs. Monahan, just il
the rear of the store, were also destroyed
The house itself was scorched badly OF
the northern side. but. through the eff
forts of the department. was saved from
burning.