The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-17
BAINBRIDGE is FIREsWEPT.
FLAMES DESTROYED TWENTY-sEv-
EN BUSINESS HOUSES.


BeIcher BrOs.' store the First Build
ing That Cnught-spread of the
Flames Was Rapid-Stores That
We're Burned-City Now without
Mntcr-EstImatcd Loss Between
$00,OOO and 100000 and Insurance.
$35, 1000.
Bainbridge. Ca, July 16.-The largest
condensation ever Witnessed here occurred
last night, when twenty-seven business
houses were completely destroyed
The a.arm bell sounded at midnight and
the fire proved 20 be in the rear Of the
large mercantile establishment of Belcher
Bros, which was soon completely envelop-
ed in flames. There having been no rain
here for several weeks past, everything
was as dry as a Undertook, and the fire
burned rapidly.
Notwithstanding the fact that IL was a
two-story brick building, it was soon COM
p.etely destroyed, and none OF tho stock
was saved. The fire was at once commit
nicated to adjoining buildings. south on
Broad street. and east on Water street.
The two-story brick buildings of NJ w.
Subora and Mrs %. Born. one occupied by
W. II. Morrow, as IA saloon, and the other
by DR.. T. r. Warden as drug store,
were completely destroyed. not even a wall
being left standing. Adjoining the drug
store Of Dr. Wardel was a one-story
wooden structure belonging to Mrs. T.. O.
Dickinson ana occupied by j, w. Patter-
son as a saloon, which was torn down.
The fire was arrested at this point ON
Broad street
Adjoining the building Of Belcher Bros.
ON Water street. were two stores Of d.
d. Stults. one occupied as a saloon, tho
other as a general merchandise establish
ment Both of these stores were COM
pletely destroyed, as well as every other
building in the block.
| Two stores OF Mrs w. c.. Broome, one
occupied by n. NJ. Moore and the other
| by Mr.. SHELTON, both fancy grocery es-
| tablishmeuts, were burned, and the flames
| then reached to the two Clyett stores,
one occupied by BelOte, az a harness man
| ufactory, ana the other by Mathis Bros,
| as butcher shop. All Of these mem
| toned, except one, were brick buildings.
At this point the fire crossed the streer
and completely destroyed the following
| buildings, which include all from Hines
| & Callahan's carriage repository on Water
| street to Broad; Hines a. Callahan's car
riage repository, Calahans livery stable
! BracSin & Cox's livery stable Kelly's sa-
loon, two stores used at butcher Shops
Wallace q Mills saloon, Mollie Whites
| restaurant two more butcher shops, Mrs.
| NJ. E, Knotts restaurant. two buildings,
| owned by Mrs, y, Born, corner Water
| and Broad streets. one used as a grocery
store and the other as IA grocery store
| and watchmakers shop.
on Clark street. below Braokln's sta
| Bile, the following buildings were destroy
| ed: Fire engine house city guard house.
| house and stable OF A. w. Fordham and
| the city water works pumping station.
The fire burned rapidly. and the entire
| lot of buildings named were completely
| consumed IN less than four hours. The
Joss of the pumping station throws the
| city entirely out OF water, except what is
| hauled from a distance, as the people de-
pend entirely upon the artesian well
| Hon. Il. j. Willis the Mayor, is doing
| everything In his power to have the
| pumping station In shape for service in
| the next forty-elght hours, so that the
people can have water. II could not be
ascertaned whether all of the burned
| buildings win be rebuilt. nor could the
amount of loss and insurance be learned
| definitely. The estimated loss is between
900 and $50 900. with insurance probably
| asgregating $35, 000