Democratic messenger., 1896-03-07
ANOTHER Big FIRE S!
Twelve Buildings Burned
i'm Snow Hill.
LOSS $4,000 /!
The People Again Badly Fright
ed for the Safety Of
the Town.

/
ed for the Safety of
the Town.
The people of Snow Hill have had
another bad fire scare. Yesterday
morning about half past one o'clock,
someone discovered that the big ice
house of Smith, Moore d Co, situated
on the wharf, near the river bridge,
was on fire. Flames were bursting
through the roof when Mrs. Thomas
ID. Purnell first saw it, and she and
Miss Juliet cried fire = at the top of
their voices in few seconds mans
voice took up the cry, and soon the
steam whistle at the electric light
plant was awakening all Snow Hill
from peaceful slumber. People rushed
from every direction to the scene of the
conhagration and endeavored to stop
the fire at the burning building, but
it was partially filed with seasoned
box shocks, and with saw dust, which
made such hot fire that the flames
were rapidly communicated to the
lumber sheds OF w. ID. Corddry &
Son, John Walter Smiths and George
w. Bishops graneries, L. I. Williams
& Sons shingle pile, Parsons black
smith shop, Corddry's coal bins and
storehouse and S. l.. Purnell's store
alongside Of this store was Captain
Parker Smiths store and William
Berry's shop, these soon caught and
all were licked up by the flames. The
fire was attacking at the same time
the lumber piles of Smith, Moore Il
Co., and a number of small tenant
houses on Railroad Avenue toward the |
residence of Mrs. Mamie Dryden, and |
on Washington street Burbage x Con-
ner's large factory was on fire many
times. 1t was only by the heroic ei.
forts of the people of Snow Hill that
it escaped destruction. 1t looked for
awhile as though the business portion
of Snow Hill north of Green street
would be burned, and possibly the
only thing which could prevent it
would be the saving OF the brick store /
house of w. 5. Wilson, Esq, occupied |
by Capt. 5. III. Wilson and r. II. Davis
4 Son. Here the bucket brigade made
a gallant stand. They knew that ON
the opposite side of this building was
the frame dwelling house OF n. l..
Mason and next to it Morgans hotel,
then stretches long string Of the hes,
buildings of the town, joined to each
other. The roof of the Wilson build
ing was melting from the heat of
Berry's shop along side of it, and un-
der the caves the building was on fire.
There was no trap door by which
persons could get on the root and il
looked for awhile to Mr.. Wilson and a
number OF others that the building,
although it is brick. was doomed to
destruction, but it was saved and the
headway of the destroying element
checked.
The electric light plant was also
saved. 1t was on fire many times but
the hose attached to the pump OF the
plant kept the building soaked with
water until the fire had swept by. |
During the raging OF the fire the air
was full Of flying sparks and burning
shingles, and it was indeel Il good
thing that the roofs of the stores were
of metal, else they would have been
Durieu anyway.
Following is the list of property lost
and the insurance thereon
Smith. Moore K Co, ice house, coal bins, |
and stock of shocks in granery Loss, |
$4,000; no insurance.
John W. Smith, granery. Loss. $500;
no insurance.
Snow Hill Electric Light & Power Co.. |
shed building. fuel and damage to wires. |
Loss, $500; covered by insurance.
DIR. George w. Bishop. grancry. Loss.
$3.50; no insurance.
T.. Il. Williams & Son, stock Of shingles. |
Loss. $500; covered by insurance.
w. ID. Corddry x Son. store and ware
house, stock of hardware, doors. sash and |
monldings, contents of ice and coal houses. |
Loss, $4,000; insurance, $1,000.
>. l.. Purnell, damage to stock OF goods |
in Bridge Store. $500; No insurance.
William $. Wilson. damage to brick store
houses. brick black smith shop aud dcstruc-
tion of two small frame buildings. Loss. |
$1,000; no insurance.
X. II. Davis & Son. part OF stock of goods. |
Loss. $50; no insurance.
Capt. Wilson. goods damaged and stolen. |
Loss $50; no insurance
Ernest Parsons. blacksmith tools, etc.
Loss $50; no insurance.
Thomas u. Pnrnell, store house known as
Bridge Store. Loss $1,000: insurance $3.50 |
90.
BENJAMIN Esham. window and door frames |
and other materials in Corddry's Workshop. |
Loss SIS; no insurance.
i. :. Price & Co., stock Of flour. salt. |
etc in eranery. Loss $3.50; M insurance.
Archie Holloway and Charles T.. rimmons. |
stock of fertilizers 5000. no insurance.
William Berry. stock of goods. etc. Loss |
$50; no insurance.
Capt. J. Parker Smith, damage to stock |
of goods. Loss 5000; covered by Insurance.
Burbage & Conner. damage to stock
Loss 5000. covered by insurance
Total amount of losses Sli,7O0.
Total amount of insurance -, 900.
Letter List.