The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1898-04-20
FURY OF The FLAMES.
D.US0N EXPERIENCES A DISAS-
TROUS CONFEDERATION.
Many Thousand Dollars Worth Of
Property Destroyed. Starts in
thn Fnrnmm House Kitchen.

history of Dawson occurred Thursday
afternoon.
A strong gale was blowing from the
northwest at about twenty-five miles an
bour. and as the flames 1eaped and with
ad in the air the spectacle was one of aw-
full grandeur.
Embers and sparks were hurled
MANY blocks by the high winds, and
before the flames were checked fire had
been communicated to other buildings
and many thousand dollars worth of
properly reduced to ashes.
At one time it seemed that nearly half
Of the city would be wiped out, and the
streets we're filled with panic-stricken
mass of humanity, both men and women
being intensely excited.
The local fremen battled bravely, but
with seemingly little effect because of
the strong wind, and Mayor Cheatham
wired to Albany and Americus for help.
The departments of both of these cities
responded promptly, and were
soon speeding towards Dawson on spe-
cial trains. Before they reached here.
however, the flames were checked by the
heroic work of the Dawson firemen. and
the AmeriCus department was stopped
at SmthYiIle bv telegram. Chief
James Of the Albany department came
on 20 Dawson, having with him several
experienced men, an engine and 1000
feet of hose.
The fire originated in the Farnum
House kitchen on Vine street a few min
uteS before II O'Clock, and in a short
while that building, which had recently
been improved by the addition of sec
ond stOry was in ashes. From the hO-
tel the ire spread to the variety works.
giunery and gTist mill of Baldwin q Co,
x Geise and two tenant houses
and the warehouse stables of j. B. Perry.
badly damaging the buildings and ma
che.ery of the former and completely
destroying he buildings OF the latter,
The WaCehOuse also caught several times
but was saved by men standing on and
in it with buckets of water. The next
building to catch was the city hall on
JlhusOn street, but the fire was extin
guiShed before the flames got under
Roadway, Just across the same street
the residence of Mr.. n. Kenney and all
II his household goods were completely
destroyed. The large building of the
Dawson Grocery Co., adjoining Mr..
henney'S residence, caught and was
considerably damaged. The flames
next showed themselves at the Masonic
Temple, nearly two blocks distant on the
corner Of Johnson and Stonewall streets.
The hail. together with the charter and
rega.la Of the lodge and 81 900 worth of
lumber slowed in the lower storv by
Baldwin 4 Company & Gese, was com
H9,ely destroyed Sparks from the
Masonic building fired the residence of
Mr., $. A. L'yles5 two blocks further
down Johnson street, and the house and
all the furniture and effects were de-
SIoyed The residences of Mrs. 7. Y.
Martin and Judge j. b. Perry On the
same street caught several times from
sparks, but bucket brigades standing on
op OF these buildings saved them. A
oaE yng in the street near the intersec
uou OF Lee and Crawford streets, half
mle from where the fire started, was
discovered on fire, having been gnited
by a spark.
The losses and insurance of the par
uGS who suffered from the fire are as
follows.
w. w. Farnum, hotel building, loss
ToU0o, insurance $4,000; Baldwin & Co.
~ UeISe, loss $4,000, no insurance; j. B.
Jerry, loss $500, no insurance, Dawson
Ulocey Co., loss $3.50, covered by nsur-
S,[c'j NJ Kenny, loss $3.50, no insurance;
Masonic temple, furniture and re-
san', loss $1,000, insurance 500;
5nIl2htS of Honor Lodge and regalia IN
masonic temple, loss 800 with no Insur-
luce; ). A. LOyless, loss 81, 800, insur-
"uce 1000. The furniture bedding,
IIc" of the Farnum House belonged
10 Mrs. B. M Wilson. the pro-
Pn9tIeSs, and were removed from the
~ Upon these Mrs. Wilson had
SI''O0 insurance, which is sufficient to
cover the damage.
N"uy merchants moved their stocks
~ goods from their stores, and all of
49, Sunered from damage to their
soro Saws "no stealing. 1t is estimated that
n.t puhared dollars worth of goods
"I p' 81 len during the excitement.
th1 pI'giuen never did more heroic work
n r',,,l u.u me members of the Dawson de-
ana 't"en IL. thursday, To their persistent
Iior 'Dyetilgent work quarter of a mil
s}yod 'o III, worth of property was
nari, ihey were greatly aided by Su-
Wat a,enuent Horsley of the Dawson
c,, 1'v,w works Co. The pumps of the
and p s'' Were ruA to their full capacity,
teen rl.plId en- ugh water to keep thir-
is l o., HozzIes playing upon the flames. 1t
hnnJr lu@teo that between three and four
usaI thousand gallons of water were
feat puflng the fire several hundred
'T 81, OF hose We're burned.
the lG municipal authorities as we'll as