The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-18
Half the Business Part Of the
Town Burned.
CAUSED BY A BROKEN LAMP
Twenty-Three Buildings Now
in Ashes.
LOSS ESTIMATED AT sI5o,ooo
Fire Broke Out at 2 O'clock Sun
day Morning and Only by
Most Heroic Efforts
Subdued.


Subdued.
Greenville, N. c., Feb. IL (SpeciaD
About o'clock Sunday morning the
people Of Greenville were aroused by
the cry of Fire" and rushed from
their homes to witness the most disas-
trous confagration that has ever yis-
tied the town. Though the fire depart
ment put forth its best efforts, and
the people of all classes and colors
fought the devouring element most
heroically, yet the flames could not be
subdued before two blocks of the prin-
cipal street bad been swept clean, with
the exception of double building on
each side. Ten two-story brick stores,
with the opera house, four one-story
brick stores and eleven frame buildings
made fuel for the greedy flames.
The fire originated in the barber shop
Of Herbert Edwards, next to the cor
ner, in the opera house block. julius
Fleming, one of the BARRIERS, and the
brush boy were preparing to close up
and leave the shop about / O'Clock. As
they went to put out one of the large
brass lamps it fell, scattering burning
oil over the floor They threw the
lamp in the street, smothered out the
flames on the floor, and thinking every
thing safe, went home.
About a quarter to o'clock police
man Murphy noticed the barber shop
full of smoke, and before he could give
an alarm flames had burst through the
front of the shop. 1T is supposed that
some of the burning oil went through
the cracks of the floor without being
extinguished, or that the stove caused
the oil on the floor to ignite-the for
mer most likely.
From the barber shop the fire spread
rapidly in three directions. Back
through the wooden partition to the
law offices of L. j. Moore and Jarvis 81
Blow, in the same division of the build
ing, then out the rear window to the
frame building containing the Offices
Of Blount a. Fleming and DR.. w. I'll.
Bagwell. Up the flames went into the
opera house, from which they were
quickly communicated to the store of
II. b. Clark, next door. Out at the
front the row of wood buildings on the
Bernard property, across the street,
fell an easy prey. The wind was blow
ing from the southwest, and the ire
went no further up Third street than
Dr. Bagwell's Office. In the other direc-
tion it swept to and destroyed the law
building occupied by G. M. Bernard and
II. G. James, and from this building
Skinner 81 Whedbee's office, Smiths
stables and Hooker's bar room were
only saved by strenuous work. Had
these buildings been lost the fire would
have gone at least one or two blocks
each way.
Down Evans street on either side the
raging flames continued their mad
flight, licking up two blocks of splendid
brick buildings. it looked like the
whole Of the street would be cleaned
and not a business house left. Busy
workers hurried with turns Of goods
until the streets and lots for squares
away were covered with conglomer-
ated stocks of merchandise.
AS the fire came on down the street
it was concluded that il the old Dancy
frame building on the corner could be
torn down it would prevent the tire
from crossing Fourth street, and also
save several stores. Several kegs Of
powder were exploded about the
Dancy building, only demolishing
small part Of the structure, when work
men set to with axes and ropes and lit
erallv cut and tore away the house.
Fortunately the fire never reached
this building at all, but was checked at
the Brown & Hooker building next to
it. And stopping it there was daring
and heroic work. S. II. Hooker, chief
of the fire department, marshalled q
few brave men to his assistance and
they stood on top of the building in the
face of blistering flames, and with an
other squad Of workers on the inside,
they fought manfully until the adj
Joining building, only separated by
single brick wall, had burned beyond
the danger line.
While the fire was burning tiercest
sparks rained thick and fast on roofs
of buildings beyond the public square,
and they had to be constantly watched
to prevent the fire breaking out IN
that quarter. Suddenly there was a
cry, "The courthouse is one fire" as q
light blaze appeared on the steeple OF
that structure. Several men rushed up
the fight of stairs and made their way
out to the roof of that building. With
ropes ladder was drawn over the tall
caves and braced against the steeple.
Quick as flash Bob Moye scaled the
ladder to the top and found he was still
some feet from the blaze. Two men
followed him up the ladder and these
held Bob out at arms length above their
heads until he could put out the fire
and save the building. 1T was noble
and hazardous piece of work.
Because of the scarcity of water
the fremen with the engine were pow
erless to do effective work. When they
| first reached the fire even one decent
well would have enabled them to have
put it out in the room where it originat-