The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-22
BAD FIRE AT BLACKSHEAR.
POsToFFICE AND BUSINESS HOUSES
DESTROYED.

The Brown Houses Narrow Escape.
william Davis the Heaviest Loser.
Train Crews Arrive in Time to
Save Valuable PrOperty-NO Indi-
cation As to How the Fire Origin
ated-The Losses.
BIackshear, Ca, April A.-Biackshear
was this morning visited by a disastrous
connagration, the second in its history.
The fire was first discovered about 4
o'clock in ore of the brick buildings owned
by William Armitage, apparently having
Its origin in the rear of the store occupied
by T. D. Hughes.
The fire alarm whistle was Immediately
sounded from the factory yard of the a.
z. Brantley Co., and in an incredibly short
time an immense crowd had gathered, and
were at work in an earnest effort to save
the burning building and contents.
Despite all effort to stay their ravages,
the flames gathered Roadway and soon
made their way to the two-story brick
building owned by William Davis and
occupied as a general store by W. T.
Hughes & Co.
Meantime, the fire was gaining head
way In the opposite direction, and was
quickly communicated to the postofice
the drug store of r. F. Lake and the
general stores of Grady & Darling.
Immediately to the south of this latter
building was the Brown House. a large
two and one-half-story wooden building,
in imminent danger, and il seemed as if
no earthly power could save it.
How Building Was Saved.
Everything movable was taken from the
building, including the doors, blinds and
SASH In the fun expectancy that it was
doomed. 1t now seems that the building
could not have been saved except for the
timely arrival of a Plant System train
in charge of Train Master Wright, fol-
lowed mmediatel by a construction train
with about forty able-bodied negroes
aboard. who were Immediately put to work
| taking water from the tenders and putting
it where it was most needed
At one time 1t was thought the Brown
| House would certainly go next, and in that
| event il was believed the fire would be
| blown across the railroad to the depot
| there being considerable wind in that di-
rection.
At this juncture the situation was tele-
! graphed to Waycross. with the result that
| Trainmaster w. II. Wright and his crew
arrived in the nick of time, as stated.
| Losses by the Fire.
| The losses are quite heavy, and as far as
ascertained are about as follows: William
Davis, on building. $500, with no insur-
| ance; William Armitage, on building "a :
| coo, with $1,000 insurance; w. L. Hughes
& CO., on stock, $4,000. with $1,000 insur-
ance, and $1,000 worth of merchandise
saved; L. D. Hughes, on stock 81, 900. with
no insurance; postoffice. on supplies. fur
niture, etc, $3.50. no insurance; T. F. Lake,
on stock, 5000, with $1,000 insurance
Grady & Darling, on stock, $1,000, with in
| surance, $500, and about 81 1000 worth OF
! goods saved
The loss is divided between the Liver
| pool and London and Globe, the Hartford
| Fire, the Home of New York and the
Continental Insurance Company. Il is
not known just what the sufferers will
do, but it is presumed that as soon as
losses are adjusted, they will Immediately
| rebuild
The origin of the fire is shrouded in mvs-
terry, and will probably never be known.