The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-21
GEMS LOST IN FIRE
ROBBERS WORKED WHILE FLAMES
SPREAD.
E. r. FEGEAS BADLY BURNED
TWO FAMILIES NARROWLY EsCAP-
ED WITH THEIR LIVES.

ton Street, East, Where wild Man
Aggregation Had Been-StrOng
Wind Was Blowing and Four
Buildings We're Enveloped in
Flames When Alarm Was Sounded.
stones JeweIry store and GayOu's
Barber shop Durned-E- +. Fegeas
Heavy Loser-LOsS VIII Probably
Reach $1O,OOO-superintendent Ma
auire Says Fire Was of Incendiary
Origin.
A fire at o'clock yesterday morning
destroyed the jewelry and hair store OF
Z. F. Fegeas at 20 Broughton street, east,
and the store at No. %, occupied up to
the night before by a fake wild man ag-
gregation. The barber shop of John p.
Gayou at No. 80 and the jeweiry store of
A. Stone on the corner of Drayton were
also badly damaged and the loss is rough
ly estimated at $4,000.
Mr.. Fegeas was seriously burned and
cut by glass during the coniagration and
barely escaped with his life. The outer
covering Nof both eye balls was burned
and Mr.. Fegeas may lose his eye sight,
even if he RECEIVERS. He was also burned
about the face and hands and received an
ugly cut on the side of the head. He
was taken to the Savannah Hospital for
treatment and his condition last night
was reported by the house physician as
serious.
Mr.. and Mrs. Fegeas and a clerk nam
Itsl1 he
The place was enveloped in flames when
they awoke. Luhrs' room had caught fire
on the inside when he was taken out Of
bed and the young man had narrow es-
cape from being cremated. All of his
personal effects were burned as were
those of the proprietor and his wife, who
escaped in their night clothes. In running
out of the burning building Mr.. Fegeas
struck a glass door and received several
cuts on the head. He was burned in an
effort to save his wife's diamonds.
Jeweler Stone and his wife slept over
their place of business and also had a mar
row escape. They awoke in time to es-
cape with their lives The four stores
were wrapped in flames when Mr. Stone
was awakened by the screams of a baby
A strong wind was blowing and the
flames spread rapidly. An alarm from
box IA, at Abercorn and Broughton streets
was sounded and the northern section of
the fire department responded Supt
Mcguire saw at glance that more APP
paratus would be required to fight the
fire and two taps brought out engine
company No 4. For a time it looked as
If the flames would jump across Drayton
street, and the Morrison House was in
danger of catching. The iremen fought
hard and after much work subdued the
flames.
Supt Mcguire made an investigation as
soon as the fire was got under control
and is quite certain that the b.aze was
the work of an incendary. He so report
ed to the police and it is understood that
an arrest is likely to be made. The fire
started in the place where the wild man
show had been running and quickly
spread to the adjoining stores. There was
a quantity of hay in the wooden cage,
which contained the wild man during
show hours, and 1t is possible that, after
ell, the fire started by the dropping of
lighted cigarettes in the Enclosure late the
night before.
That robbers were at work during the
confiagration or Immediately afterward
two diamond pins, valued at $3.50, and Mr..
Fegeas lost a god watch valued at $50.
Mr.. Stone is unable to say if anything
was taken from his pace, but nothing
was taken out of the barber shop. The
wild mans manager stated shortly after
the fire that several articles had been
taken out of his place, including some
paraphernalia used in the flying lady act
that was to have been put on.
Mrs. Fegeas' diamonds were in her peck
etbook, which she placed under her pi,-
low before retiring. When the fire was
discovered she only had time to escape
with her life, but as soon al she reached
the street she reported to the tiremen and
police that her husbands watch was in
his vest pocket and that her diamonds
were also in the room. A careful search
failed to reveal any of the jewelry, and
their disappearance is somewhat of
mystery. That they were taken from the
room during the fire there can be no
doubt, but in whose hands they fell will
probably never be known. 1t may be
that articles in the jewelry stores were
also taken, but this will not be known
for several days. Besides her jewe,ry Mrs.
Fegeas lost several valuable and hand
some gowns in the flames.
Mr.. Fegeas stated last night that her
husbands loss would be over s., 900, but
that she was unable to name the exact
figures. He only carried insurance for
$1,000 on the stock in his jewelry store
ard hairdres sing estab ishment. The bar
Der shop was damaged mostly by water
and Mr.. Gayou carries a pol cy of $3.50.
Jeweler Stone sta ed yesterday aftern on
that he had no idea what his loss would
amount to. He will have to take an in
ventory before he can tell. The total
amount of his insurance is $500. The
buildings at 26 and 2S are owned by Mrs.
Mary Wood of South Carolina, and are
insured for $780, The other property
is owned by Mr.. Pope Barrow and Is in
sured for 81 90. The burned buildings
will be rebuilt at once.
The coffee wagon located at the Cen
trail fire station on Ogl thorpe avenue
was used for the first tine during the
fire and the men were served with hot
coffee end sandwiches The wagon was
wheeled to the scene of the fire by one
of the men detailed for that purpose.
-S-ope
CLIMBED TELEGRAPH POLES.