The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-21

prominent business block and for some (
little time to come an ugly and unsightly I
hole will destroy the symmetry OF the |
row OF handsome threo-story brick build |
ings that occupied the east side OF Main
street. between Congress and Preston.
Shortly after o'clock last night the
fire alarm called attention to conlagra-
ton in the very heart of the business por-
ton Of the city and almost simultans Gus
with the alarm the heavens were lighted
with blaze that cast its reflection for
squares around the central portion of the
city. 1t was before the time for retiring
and hurrying multitudes from all parts of
the city headed in tho direction OF the fire.
speculating as they went as to its exact
location. and as the flames increased, men,
women and children rushed to the scene of
the danger crowding the sidewalks and
thoroughfares along Main street. exhibit
ing all the anxiety which people feel when
confronted with common peril. When Il |
was seen that the FIRE was in the very
heart of the business part of town, the
excitement grew all the moro intense.
heightened by the changing Of the fire de-
psrtment as its different apparatus would
rush by to the scene OF the disaster. 1t
was not long after the sounding Of the
alarm till the entire Norris block on Main
street was a seething mass OF flames and
all predicted that all the buildings on the
block clrcumscribed by Main and Fannin
and Congress and Preston would fall vic
tins to the flames. So generally did this
apprehension prevail that people occupy
ing buildings In other portions OF the /
block were hurried moving out their ct
fects. even to those occupying sleeping |
apartments In the opera house building
on Fannin street.
There was no room to doubt that ef-
fective work and prompt decision was
necessary on the part of the fire depart
ment and to say that they fully met the
emergency Is but TO give them the credit
they deserved, despite the fact that they
were fearfully handicapped by an inofA-
cient water supply.
1t was a beautiful sight sublime in its
very terror with red. seethng flames
shooting out from the roof and from every
one OF the hundred or more windows along
the spacious FRONT fearfully ominous of
the havoc and destruction that was going
on within and when the entire Morris
block was q sheet of flames, people began
realize that the ccnhagration would be
disastrous one.
There were fully 10000 people blocking
u streets in the Vicinity of the fire, maxi
II 1T impossible to cross Main street at
eier TIE intersection OF Congress or
Prton. Finally ropes were stretched
anthe crowd in this way was kept ,at
a Nance to prevent their interference
witthe work OF the fire department.
loon became not question of saw
inge Morris block. but whether or not
adjong buildings could be saved from
the curing elements, the Jones building
ON thorth, the Latham building on the
southnd to this end the brave Are fight
ers SEIZED every effort and several
strearyere soon playing upon the burn
ing pboth from the front aud rear
Their ors were eventually rewarded
with sas. and when the front wall
the Mo building came down with a
crash, heal was in this way so dlssi-
pated' the chances Of war were turned
in favoi the ERE hghters and by de-
groes TIE was finally brought under
sublusalnot, however, until hand
some ouy had been made the victim
and It's Vighbors were badly scorched.
The paIthe building in which the
fire origihNas owned by the Planters
and Meeh'hank, being three stories
high ana ty-hye feet front. The
north haii lower aoor was occupied
BY Ehreh yzarus, clothing dealers,
and the hu,lf by an Edison phono-
grqph con- Temporarily The bank
WAS h,s'n5 uildiug overhauea and
repaired "n.,as thought they were
golnB to the south half Of The
lower NO. NJ second iloor was o.
cupHeu " " yter, real estate agent;
WOOD ~ orneys; Moulder &
Gregs' l ri agents, and the hall
four was vaci
the osnei the building which
purneo "es ny j. w. Jones and
oeoupleu " =, I'd floor by the cloth
ING house - 1ros. On the second
moor MeLe ~ IF Crank & Caruth-
ers, a'to a., Jeter, real estate
agtnl' NV Porter & Son, real
esta,r $780, ,,.s,ad floor being vacant.
WINE ,s,,t. on parties this is all
one uu.h loclf rmerly known as
nc mVta ia car,s valued at about
amount could nonaV pu' 'ho
Messp 10 ny Ultimate their loss
~ S ~ ,,sr,,rsrce 1xtlres and had
$-usVuO Ahouts' Was a tofn1 1o'ea