The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-24
LOSS IS $4,000
Elizabeth City suffers Severe Loss. Heroic
Work by Firemen

A special from Elizabeth City to the
Norfolk Pilot virginan gives full particu-
lars of the fire at Elizabeth City on Sun
day. 1t saws:
What proved to be one of the most de-
structive CONGREGATIONS in the history of
this city swept over a portion of Main and
Water streets early Sunday morning, At
2:30 a. m. lady residing in the upper
portion of the building adjoining the dry
goods store of Mr.. j. l.. Sawyer made the
discovery that the interior of that store
was IN flames She at once made her
discovery known and an alarm was imme-
diately turned in and quickly responded
TO By the fire and hook and ladder COM
panies, which. aided by quite a number
of citizens. did gallant work, but they
were unable to get it under control until
the following property had been destroy
ed: One three story and two two-story
buildings on Main street. owned and oc-
cupied by the hardware firm of Sharber &
White, were completely destroyed, to-
gether with all but an insignificant portion
of their extensive stock of hardware, guns,
ammunition, oils. etc.
1.-The small building on Main street,
owned by ]. B. Flora and occupied by j.
B. Ferebee IS a barber shop. was COM
pletely destroyed, Mr.. Ferebee being able,
however, 70. sove all his fixtures. tools.
etc.
THE building which fronts on Main
and Water streets, in which the fire
originated, owned and occupied by j. L.
Sawyer, a dry goods merchant was en-
tirely consumed together with Mr.. Saw
yer's entire stock of dry goods, shoes.
hats, etc, he being unable to save one
penny's worth of his large and elegant
| stock
THE building on the corner of Main and
Water streets. owned by ]. B. Flora and
occupied by the jewelry firm of Hathaway
| Bros, was completely destroyed Only
portion of their valuable stock of jewelry,
clocks, watches, bicycles, etc, was saved.
THE building on Water street, owned
/ by ]. 3. Flora and occupied by the insur-
ance firm OF Culpepper, Griffin, Old &
Grice, was completely destroyed, they,
however. being able to effect the removal
Of their safe, books, papers. fixtures, etc,
before it was too late.
1.-The building on Water street, owned
| by the d. S. Kramer heirs and occupied
| by Louis Selig, ieweler, was completely
| destroyed after he had removed his en-
tire stock of jewelry, clocks, watches, etc.,
| together with his safe and store fixtures.
1.-The merchants occupying the Kramer
block, on Maine street. sustained no ma
| terial loss, with the exception of DR.. j. u.
| Wood, whose stock was damaged to the
extent of from $3.50 to 5000 caused by
breakage, etc. in removing them on ac-
| count of the danger of the store taking
fire. as it was next adjoining that occu
pied by Sharber & White, which was en-
| tirely consumed.
| THE LOSSES
"The total losses will aggregate $150,000
and are partly covered by insurance
"Never before nor since the spring of
| 1884. when all that portion of the city
| from Poindexter street on the west to the
river on the east, and from Fearing street
on the south TO Poindexter creek on the
north was laid in ashes. has such
catastrophe visited our city, but it is
probable that this would have been
repetition of that had it not been for the
heroic and almost suoerhuman efforts OF
| the fire companies and citizens. who work
ed from 1920 to o'clock in temperature
but little above zero. with the sidewalks
/ surrounding the burning buildings and
| the roofs and walls of the adjoining build
| ings covered with ice.
mot until about o'clock a. m. did
| they succeed in getting the fire under
control Their efforts, however, were
we'll directed and highly commendable.
| The Albemarle Fire Company is an honor
to this city and should meet with hearty
| encouragement at the hands of our citi-
zens. The hook and ladder company, COM
posed of cur colored citizens, rendered in
valuable services. and now, as ever come
in for their share of the honor
WILL REBUILD.
tThe owners will all rebuild, and
| force of workmen will soon be engaged in
removing the debris preparatory to COM
mencing the new buildings.
1.-THE manner in which the fire origi-
mated is unknown"