The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-11
FOUR DWELLINGS BURNED.
GwINNETT STREET THE SCENE OF
THE BLAZE.

GWINNETT STREET THE SCENE OF
THE BLAZE.
The Double Tenement Owned by G.
v. Snedeker and Occupied by 4. J
Snedeker and =. L. Cheatham in
Ruins With the Contents Almost n
Total LOss-The Adjoining Houses
of Mrs. T. c. Bryan and Mrs. A.
Pratt Adams DamaEed-The Fire
Caused by PIasterinE Falling on
stove and Scattering Sparks in
Hay Nearby-The Firemen Had
Hot Work for Time.
The fremen had another tussle with the
flames yesterday. Fire broke out in the
rear of the double tenement house owned
by Mr.. C. Y. Snedeker. Nos. 81 and 50
Gwinnett street. at 2:15 O'Clock in the
afternoon. 1t communicated almost i'm
mediately to the adjoining houses on each
side and all four were ablaze when the
hremen arrived.
The fire began in the rear Of No. So.
occupied by Mr. L. +. Cheatham, and
was caused by the plastering Of the
kitchen ceiling falling and knocking over
a stove. Some of the fire fell into a
lot Of hay and other cOmbustble stun
in the rear Of the house.
The result was a sudden blaze, which
spread so rapidly that the occupants of
the two houses barely managed to get
out with a few things in their hands.
They were unable to save any of their
clothing. even other than they wore. The
flames communicated almost Immediately
10 the house OF Mrs; T. 6 Bryan' on tne
east and that of Mrs. A Fratt ADAMS
on the west both of which closely adj
Joined the Snedeker houses.
The flames We're seen by people on
she street who gave the alarm. but some
time was lost In finding the key or the
fire alarm box on the corner Mhen tns
alarm was turned in me sou sou thS mn n AZ
of the department Responded; me ue
partment was somewhat crlPpled by tlie
recent fires, No. engine beinS ulsaDieu
The reserve engine, which had D"en p ~
ton and broke an axle on the way 70
the fire. The engine was gotten 10 the
fire however, and stationed al the ny
drant at Hail and Lincoln streets, but
some time was lost in getting mp steam,
the engine having 10 heater connect'oiil
and being "cold" when u arrived on the
ground The men from No. reached tue
IRE In good time and got on a coupe ~, %
hydrant streams on the front OF WY
binding The streams were OF ltue var
ne however on account or the low pres
sure at the water works. Inc ptessurSs
was Increased shortly atterwardi anu
good streams were thrown WIN 'ie ny
drant pressure alone. ,,..,.- -
Assistant Chief Mouro Immediately on
arriving az the fire, stationed No. . en- en-
CINE in the rear where the FIRE had gotten
a good hold. The entire rear OF the TOUR
buildings was ablaZe and also some OF
the outhouses. The hremen dld soou N1IN
there, and the fire In the houses OF SrS 3
Adams and Mrs Bryan, both OF Whlcn
had only caught on the outside. was soon
extinguished. The hre IN the sheoeker
houses were more stubborn.
When Assistant Chief Mouro saw
that he had nasty hre 70
handle, he sent in two taps
to cali out the machines at headquarters.
knowing that the firemen We're worn out
with their continuous hard work or the
last several days, he did not send IN a
out companies and also. Even with the
assistance of the men from headquarters,
directed by Chief Mcguire, the nre proved
very stubborn, and only yielded after a
number of very powerful streams were
cotton on.
being very dry, made splendid food for the
flames. Fortunately there was very lit
tie wind or the fire would hardly have been
confined to the Snedeker houses.
Everything in the houses of Mrs. Adams
and Mrs. Bryan was moved out into the
street. well known insurance agent,
who was present, criticised this as very
foolish, as both ladies were well insured
and the loss would have fallen on the in
snrance companies, whereas the furniture
and other property was liable 10 be dam
aged or lost in moving II out in heller
SHELTER style. He might have been mis-
taken IN IDlS view. however, as ndu Inc
property remained in the house, II would
have been thoroughly water soaked, and
books and valuable personal property
which the insurance companies would not
have replaced, would have been ruined.
Business men usually follow the policy
indicated by the insurance agent, but pri-
Vate property owners may look at the mat
ter differently.
Mr. Snedeker's two houses are almost
a total loss. They were erected at cost
OF 5000 and were insured with bearing
& Hull in the Southern Mutual for 50 900
Mr.. A. J. Snedeker, who occupied No. ST.
lost practically all of his household goods
and had no insurance. Mr.. Cheatham, who
occupied the other house, was not pres
ent at the fire and it could not be learned
whether he had any insurance.
Mrs. Bryan's house and furniture were
covered by insurance with bearing & Hull
in the Southern Mutual. The damage will
probably reach $500. Mrs. Adams loss will
probably be about the same. The house is
insured with ]. +. Wheaton & Co., in the
Pennsylvania and the furniture with
bearing & Hull in the Atlanta Home and
that of her mother. Mrs. c. II. Olmstead
in the Hamburg Bremen.
Friends of Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Olmstead
and Mrs. Bryan rendered every assistance
in their power in saving property and re.
moving it TO places of safety. Ludden &
Bates team of big piano movers, Dono-
hue and Monaghan, arrived in time tC
save piano and other valuable articles
The flre being in a populous residence
neighborhood attracted large crowd. The
district being closely built up with frame
houses had there been a high wind a very
serious confiagration might have result
ed.
INVESTIGATING THD FIRES.