Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-07-07
RUIN BY THE FLAMES.
The City of Memphis Suffers by a
Costly Fire.
PROPERTY WORTH S45O,OOO In ASHES
The Historic Gayoso Hotel Is One of
the Buildings Burned Falling
Walls XIII Negro and In
jure Two Firemen.

Memphis, Tenn, July "a fire broke
out in the establishment of the Mem
phis Paper company, at the corner of
Gayoso and Front streets, late Tuesday
afternoon, and before it was subdued
had caused the loss of one life, the fatal
injury of eX-Fire Chief Cleary and the
serious injury of Assistant Fire Chief
James Ryan, besides property loss of
about $45o,0O0. The Gayoso hotel, one
of the Oldest landmarks of Memphis,
was on of the buildings totally de-
stroyed, and while the guests were all
rescued in safety some of them lost
valuable effects in the fire, which ragged
tiercely for over six hours.
One Man Killed.
During the progress of the fire in the
Blumenthal liquor plant Assistant
Chief Ryan had his leg broken by fall
ing stone and was carried away. En-
Chief James e. Cleary had his spine
dislocated little later and will prob
ably die as result of the injury. An
unknown negro was caught under the
falling walls and crushed to death.
The blaze originated in the Memphis
Paper company about four o'clock
Tuesday afternoon and had obtained a
good Roadway before being discovered.
From lack of rain the buildings were
all dry and infammable, and in short
time after the first alarm the paper
company's store had been Quilted, and
then the adjoining stores began to ig-
mite. In quick succession the plants of
the Blumenthal& Heilbronnerc company,
the American Biscuit company and the
Office of the Standard Oil company
were destroyed. All efforts of the fire
department to prevent the flames from
communicating with the Gayoso hotel,
situated directly across the street, east,
proved futile and soon it was seen that
the old structure was doomed to go,
after many narrow escapes from de-
struction by fire during its history.
The Losses.
Owing to the absence of the insur-
ance men and managers of the burned
property it is difficult to get an accurate
list of the losses. 1t is said, however,
that they are pretty well covered by
insurance. The Gayoso hotel was in
sured for 100000; the buildings oppo-
site for about $4,000 and the stock of
Blumenthal & Heilbronner $4,000.
The Gayoso hotel building could not be
duplicated for 100000 and insurance
men say the remainder of the burned
buildings are worth at least $25O,OOO to
$30O,ooO.
Hotel with n History.
The Gayoso hotel was established in
1912, and has been the scene of many
historic events. 1t was the headquar.
tiers of Gen. Grant during his brief stay
in Memphis, before the fight at Vicks.
burg. Gen. Sherman also established
his headquarters there for time and
Gen. Hurlburtnarrowly escaped capture
by Forest in the same building. During
Forests siege of Hurlburt in the hote
one of the confederate cavalry leaders
rode into the rotunda of the hotel and
shot a federal officer dead. The hotel
has changed hands many times and
been threatened by fire at least half g
dozen times, the narrowest escape be.
ing during the Menken fire few
months ago, when the Gayoso ignite6
and was only saved after heroic effor,
by the fire department.