The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1899-10-14
BIG FIRE AT NEW IBERIA.
The Business Portion of the City
Was Swept by Flames. The
Fire Started by the Eek.
plOsiOn of Il Kerosene Lamp.
Losses are Estimated at From
$:SOO.OOO to T5OO,OOO-
Insurance Unknown.

Especial to the Picayune.I
New Iberia, La, Oct. Io.-At
o'clock this evening the fire alarm
was sounded, and in a few moments
thereafter a cloud of smoke was
seen to issue from the top of Es-
torge's wholesale drug store, on
Main street, in the very center of
the business portion Of the city.
The alarm was quickly responded
to by the various fire companies,
but owing to the dry condition of
everyth:ng, no rain having fallen
here in five weeks, the fire spread
SO rapidly that it was soon beyond
the control Of the fremen. These,
however, being Reinforced by the
Jeanerette and ST. Martinville
companies, renewed their eff
forts and directed them tn build
ings which had lot yet been reached
by the raging flames, and succeed ed
IN checking them, but not until
damage to the extent of from $780,
900 to half a million had been suf-
fered.
The fire, it appears, originated
in Estorge's drug store by the ex-
rloslon Of a lamp.
The portion of the city now in
ashes extends from Iberia street to
Julia street along Main street, and
from Main to ST. Peter. The fol-
lowing are the losses:
James A. Lees drug store; Pfster
Bros jewelry store; New Iberia
State Bank; J J. Craig & Co IS in
suranCe office; Harry & Muller's
dry goods store; ]. w. Eckart's
jewelry store; Nathan Levy, grocer;
Smith, DeblanC & Suberville, dry
goods; A. f. DacOurt, barber shop;
Moss Hotel and Barroom; Sol AID
Ter, grocery; A. Lassale, saloon;
jules Landry, saloon; Albert Es-
forge, retail and wholesale dug
store; P. A Ross, dry goods; New
Iberia National Bank; John Brous-
sard, livery stable; Pierre Lebrun,
dry goods and groceries; George
d. Daerle, grocery and bakery,
also the following residences:
Charles Fontelieu, 6. P. Moss,
Max Levy, Sol Adler, H. Coleman
and Mrs. Lequin's boarding house,
and many other smaller buildings.
The occupants of the residences
saved most Of their belongings.
The above fire is the most dis
astrous, as we'll as destructive, that
has ever visited this little city, and
has cast a gloom upon the entire
community, in view Of the fact that
prosperous wave had just struck
the town.
On the SYST of August an election
was hCEes here to impose 5-mill
tax upon the town to secure an in
rI.1 Il
an electric plant, and was carried
by a large majority. This would
have nccessitated an expenditure Of
provements.
out, as was also the lines of the
Cumberland and Teche and Yer
million. The Western Union build
ing, being located in the Cou-
genhein block, which is substantial
brick building, with iron roof, with
stood thu ravages of the flames A
strong east wind prevailed al the
time Of the fire, which helped the
flames to spread faster and faster,
and it appeared to increase with the
fire. James A Lees drug store was
generally considered one of the
finest in southwest Louisiana. His
loss Will aggregate $50, 900 or
more.
The Moss Hotel Company's loss,
including the residence, $4,000.
Estorage's wholesale drug store,
loss about $4,000.
Harry & Muller's dry goods
emporium, loss $4,000.
Smith, Deblanc & Suberville, loss
$4,000.
p. A. Ross, wholesale dry goods
and grocery, loss, $4,000.
See DR.. ]. A. Martin for dental
work