The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-09

the loud and repeated changing OF the hre
belt announced to the citizens the dread
ttdngs OF confagration, and In few min
utes after the hrst notes OF disaster rang
smoke In the southwestern wing of town
the most fashionable residence section Of
hrs nend essayed to hold his destructive
revels. All eyes were soon turned In that
direction. and everybody inquired of every
body else what home was being laid waste
what palatial residence was going down
tn moment some expressed the belief that
the Auditorium was marked for desolntlon
others said the st. Joseph's nnrmary was
In the clutches Of the whitening destroyer.
and others still gave 1t as their opinion
tnat one or more OF the elegant mansions
for which that locality is noted were being
Tapped up by the fiery tongues which hap
ply only seldom vent their rage against
this favored city.
Meanwhile hurrying multltudes from nj,
parts of the business section. headed In
the direction in which the alarm located
'ne Diaze ana In less than Ave minutes
after the iirSt signal was sounded men wo.
men and ch'ldTor--ln all kind, OF vehicle,
on horseback, on bicycles and on foot--
rushed to the scene OF danger, crowding the
sidewalks and thoroughfare along u,tn
street. and exhibiting In their speech and
action all the interest and anxiety peon,c
reel whcn confronted with that common
peril which they knew they were cha,.
Ienged to face. At frequent intervals along
tnc hurrying march the rushing by OF yarl-
GUS details OF the nre department height
ened tho excitement Of the moving mas,
ana left no room to doubt that serious
work and prompt decision were necessary
10 meet the fateful exlgencIes of the 90.
casion. All the balconies and galleries
along the drive had their wlstfui occupants
and young and old gazod with STEADY prave
apprehension on the neighborhood whencs
the whole community now turned.
Suddenly from out tho black Column n,
clouds and smoke that overhung the yicin-
ity OF San Jacinto and Hadley avenue n
glare OF red. seethlng fame shot oue from
the burning buildings. fearfully omiuous
OF the havoc that was to follow and for Tho
hrst time those In the distance realized
that the confagration was far more dlsas-
trous. or likely TO be, than they Mt nrst
imagined. On arriving on the scene tho
situation presented still worse aspect. A
atm breeze famed the nrc into a small go.
OF fury. and although the gallant members
OF the department worked with an energy
and determination deserving Of all praise
nevertheless the flames ate up everything
that came within reach, and, In their msa
desire to devour more. Jumped from resi-.
oeneo to residence with irresistible and
seemingly uncomfortable force.
BY this time fully 5000 people were ra,h
sreo around the scene of destruction; tho
entire block between Fannin and San Ia
cipto and Hadley and McIlhenpy annc,ro,
TO be enveloped IN raging ocean of burn.
ing devastation. and II was no longer n
question Of saving the buildings that wer,
wrapped In flame. but whether or not the
adjoining residences could be protected
from the devourins elements. To this ,na
the brave fire fighters stretched every If.
ior' ana several streams Of water were
poured with telling effect upon the doomed i
homo Of Mrs. 9. w, Hurley. whence the |
greatest danger OF the spread Of the disas.
ser threatened Their iabors were soon RI.
Wsrded with success, and by degrees the
p'asc which ooscd out from every nook and
aperture d the cottAgs was brought under
subsection. and In this way what nigh,
nave osen. and what for long time threat
snsd = y. the greatest conflagra,ion that
visited Houston IL many years was fortu.
nateay avefted.
- firA orissiated In the house az Mr.
Y. 7 campbsll. ebcut the center Il tho
b'eek - en- jaclnto street. between Had,av
~ Melihenny. "a Il bslIsvsd 10 nav.
- enpsed ~ : dessctiye kitchen flue.
4elr' Qnnpeeil ~ aslsep Il ths time. ana
49, - - A. $3.50 4, : =. ,--...--.s.,