Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-04-29
LAMP TURNED OYER
ny A DRUNKEN LoDeER Is THE
SUPPOSED CAUSE.
The Ledger burned to Denth-rwo
Men MortaIiy Injured by Faiiins
Wan. = The Firsmenr Heroic
wori1-IIsaviest Property Losers.

Paris, Tex, April 2s.--(speolal)--The
second most disastrous ilre in Its his
tory visited Paris this morning. About
o'clock flames were seen issuing from
the southwest rooms on the second
iioor of ]. K Bywatcrs' large three
story building on South Main street.
The alarm was given Mt once. and al
though the fire company responded I'M
mcdiately the flames had spread so
rapidly through The building that 1t
was wrapped in mass OF flames.
Great crowds OF people thronged the
streets, and all realized that the entire
business portion of the city WAS In I'M
minent danger OF destruction. A high
wind from the southeast was prevail-
ing, and sparks and cinders few hum
dreds of feet in the air. and the waves
OF the fire beat angrly against the
iive-story annex 10 the Hotel Peterson.
The fierce heat reelected south against
the Lamar Hotel building. and to the
east against the Scott Grocer Compa-
ny's building, and both buildings wero
repeatedly In flames. but by the desper-
ate courage of the iiremen they were
checked.
At 2;40 the warehouse Of NJ. F. Allen
& Co. was all on FIRE. and the millinery
establishment OF Miss Maggie Gresham
was burning. Al o'clock fire froke
out on the fifth floor OF the Peterson
Hotel annex, and worked It's way
steadily downward and to the north
into the main building. the bremen
lighting II inch by inch At $3.50 IL look
ed as IL the entire block, the hnest IN
the city was gone. The Baum building
was burning. and the roof Of the three
story building was In flames. Here the
fremen gained point OF advantage
and held IL.
The flannel IN the Common building
were checked, and for two hours enc
OF the greatest lights ever waged
ngains' fire was fought, and the nee
was under control after fully 100000
with OF property had been destroyed,
While the gallant hrenen We're taxi
Ing brief rest after flve hours hard
lighting, dense volumes Of smoke were
suen emerging from .he roof OF X, j.
Murpiiys drug store, and for another
hour the hreboys cgmbatted the names
and conquered thsm.
During the last FIRE two iiremen Were
overcome by heat and smoke, and were
dragged half dead from the building
The fire broke out In room whera
several passenger brakemen take quar-
tiers. They put John saulsman, tie
inspector 70 bed there in the carly part
Of tho night in an Intoxicated condi-
ton and 1t Is supposed that that no
knocked over lamp and set the ;oom
on fire. His charred remains were
taken out OF the ruins this morning.
At 1880 this morning. while the fre-
men We're throwing water on me names
| OF the ruins OF Hotel Peterson me Walls
| fell. crushing and mortally in1lring p.
| IA Ramsey OF this city and Louis
| Roothche from the Indian Territory.
IL Is Impossible to get the exact Il sses
\ In detail to-day, but they are ABOUT AS
1 follows:
r. peterson. hotel building and hxt-
ures, 500, 900, Insurance. $4,000,
/ y TfR,ur btildlnE. $yo.UOO. In
surance, 10000: notes. accounts ana
| mortgages consumed probably 100000.
| NJ i. Allen q Co. wagons and imple-
| ments, $4,000; insured. go
Clements estate. two buildings, Wv
900: insured. $4,000. .-oo.
Mrs, Lou Han and daughter, $1,000;
pH Moves owes 4 Hober. $4,000 stock. loss
unknown; $500 insurance.
o. c. Conner, damage 70 puiiuihB'
$500; injured. ,,,
' cox's bar, total loss, amount vn-
Hi,ss FANNIE Born. millinery. loss,
a, 900; insured, $1,000. ...oo.
'' Gecrge B,rdsell. confectioner. $500;
insurance, 500. ,..us,...
Clements estate, loss on puiidinsS'
s1o.on0; insurance. s6,pOv
paris cas- and Elecilc Light compa-
nv loss. $1,000. -.
THE Pacific Express company was
,,,,ned ont. with loss OF several nun
dred dollars, but resumed business JUST
across the street at daynEn'-
Tho foroner's inquest mas deveisoe'.
notl,ine leading to the perpetrator OF
'nu moi believed that snulsman was