The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-18
A BIG FIRE SWEEPS ATLANTA.
THE MARKHAM HOUSE ONE OF
THE BUILDINGS BURNED.

Night-Twenty Houses Occupied by
the Demi-mOnde in Ruins and the
Inmates Adrift in the streets.
Horses Perish in "a Burning sta
BILE.
Atlanta Ca, May Is a. m.-Fire broke
out in a little restaurant on Decatur
street at 1890 o'clock tonight and with a
high wind blowing, spread rapidly.
At midnight the Markham house is a
complete ruin, and the entire block be-
tween Lloyd, Decatur and Collins streets
and the Georgia railroad is in ashes. Not
a single building in the block is left stand
ing.
Besides this district, the flames spread
in an easterly direction along Decatur
street and the Georgia railroad, and many
other buildings in that section are burn
ing The union depot and the police sta
tion are both threatened and may go. as
the entire fire department. which was
called out at the first alarm, is almost
powerless TO control the wind-lashed
flames.
In the sections destroyed We're twenty
OF more houses occupied by the demi-
monde, they having been congregated
there under the police regulations. The
mates, to the number of several hundred,
into the streets. There were many wild
scenes enacted. and every house was
completely swept away.
The guests of the Markham house all got
out without accident so far as can be
learned. Only a small part Of the furni-
ture of the hotel was saved, and several
Of the guests left their trunks behind.
In the stables adjoining the hotel a num-
Der Of horses were cremated.
The spread of the flames was terribly
and fearfully rapid. In less than an hour
from the sounding of the alarm, the
Markham house block and the tender
loin district was completely wrecked, and
the flames were rolling onward down De-
catur street, with a prospect at midnight
that at least one other entire block, ana
perhaps several. will be consumed.
In the Markham house block the South
ern Express Company had a part of its
main office. Much of the freight stored
there was gotten out.
In the livery stable adjoining many Of
the vehicles and horses were saved, but
number of horses perished.
In the store houses along Lloyd and
Decatur streets, which completed the
block, nothing could be saved The loss
at this writing will approximate from
$250,000 to $500,000
The Markham house was the Oldest
motel building in the city, and its de-
struction removes a historic edihce.
BY the Southern Associated Press.
Atlanta, Ga, May Is, 2 a. m.-The Mark
ham house block was burned tonight,
causing a loss of 100000.
Two fremen are reported to have been
killed, and one guest or servant was seen
at the windows of the Markham after it
was wrapped in flames. Whether this per-
son escaped is also unknown.
The fire started in restaurant on De-
catur street and quickly spread to Pat
terson's livery stable. The hay in this
building was ablaze in a few minutes and
gave the flames such impetus that the
city's entire department could not stay
their progress for two hours. The block
is bounded by Lloyd, Collins and Decatur
Streets and on the south by the railroad
tracks.
In ten minutes from the time the alarm
was turned in, which was about 1880
o'clock, three sides of the block were burn
ing furiously
George Scoville, manager of the Mark
ham, which is just across the street from
guests and servants of his hotel aroused
and some of the furniture was moved out.
Thee occupants had time to carry out their
personal effects.
Collins street was occupied by disrepu-
table houses The women ran out in un-
dress, and their furniture and effects were
piled up in the street. Some of the houses
were richly furnished, and thieves reaped
a harvest loOting them.
Patterson got out some of his horses,
but twenty were burned. The Decatur
street side was occupied chiefly by small
shopSeepers and BARRIERS. Some of these
saved a few articles, but carriage ware
house was destroyed with a $4,000 stock.
Falling telegraph poles broke electric
light and trolley wires, causing conster-
nation among the thousands of spectators
who choked up the streets. No one, how
ever. was injured by the wires.
On the railroad tracks, within fifty feet
OF the Markham house, was a shed in
which 5000 gallons of oil were stored. A
stream was kept playing on this shed
constantly and 1t was saved.
The greatest loss was on the Markham
house, owned by stock company. The
building was valued a $lOOO0, and was
Well insured. MeSSrS. George ScOVllle and
Joseph Thompson, the lessees, had $4,000
in furniture, tableware, linen, bar fixtures
thirds of their loss.
II. NJ. Patterson, liveryman, loses Sl5,
VJJ, and is insured for one-haH.
Annie Price, who owned her house on
Collins street, was insured for $4,000,
which will cover her loss.
The principal losers are:
On Lloyd Street-G. W. White, barber;
Joseph E. Clay, watchmaker; Bean &
Martin. manufacturers; Sciple Sons, coal
and building material; The Commercial
house, Halleran owen, grocer; H. NJ. Pat
lerson, livery stable; Southern Express
company, store house; the Markham
on Decatur Street,. c. Johnson, sa-
loon; George Lee, laundry; a. E. Peivy;
7. Church; James Harris, barber shop; G.
j. Golden, barber shop, Pulton Can
Company.
On Collins Street-Ben Burton; Fannie
Iflcei Annie Price; Clara Martin; Annie
Rawins all houses of ill-fame.
The flames crossed Decatur street at the
junction of Collins, but did not 40 much
damage.
twenty thousand people were watching
tAe fre at midnight.
Drowned in the AInpaha.
Wilacoochee, Ca, May Thames Hen