The times., 1901-05-07

Refugees from the great Jacksonville
fire are just beginning to make their way
nortbward. Several arrived in Washing
ton yesterday. among them Col w ID.
Barnes. Of New York CITY. Colonel
Barnes is newspaper man, dramatic
critic. and an ex-army officer. He is at
present connected with the New York
Hotel Gazette" and was in Florida in
vestfgating the condition of the hotels
there. His escape from death was mirac-
ulous and he came north with only L
cents in his pocket his trunk, containing
all his clothes and his money. nearly $500
having been burned.
He makes a frank confession that any
attempt to describe the fire would be
futile, and says the imagination of even
the most yellow journalist could not
picture scene or a situation more terri
bic. Yet he thinks there is a bright side
to il all as the burned district included
large number OF bad shanties owned by
negroes. and the city would have been
only too glad tC have had them torn
down except for the expense. The fire
wiped them all away. and upon their
ruins Will rise fine brick dwellings or
nothing at all. as Jacksonville Will be
built up with regard to all the rules for
tions that none but brick buildings can
be put up within the fire limits.
Colonel Barnes is not willing 60 make
even a guess at the number of the dead.
The fire loss he places much higher
than the estimates made in the press
dispatches. for he thinks that it can he
not a dollar less than 10000. 600. Not
more than one-third Of the city remains
standing, and $1,000 people are homeless.
They will not suffer much. Colonel Barnes
thinks, because of the prompt assistance
which IS being given by the neighboring
cities. and by the Government.
The tents which are arriving viii af-
ford housing accommodation for the null
titude that has been wandering. and the
provisions that are coming in by the car
load viii undoubtedly suffice. II there is
prompt payment by the insurance com
panies, Colonel Barnes says he is con-
hdent that the business men viii imme-
diately begin to build up. and the bust
ness OF the city will be but little inter
1ered with
l was living at the Windsor Hotel" he
said at the Riggs House, where he arrived
yesterday afternoon. "and the Windsor is
now mass of ruins, as is every other
hotel in the city, with the exception Of the
DuVal The fire made clean sweep of
all of them. As you know it originated
IN the works Of mattress and fibre com
pany. The company was making palmet-
TO shreds used in the manufacture of mat
tresses TO substitute for hair and for
packing purposes a lazy negro threw a
cigarette stump into the refuse and that
began the fire. The fibre factory stands
some distance to the east Of the river
and the wind, very high at the time, was
blowing due east.
The fire broke out at 1915 and no one
had any idea that it would assume such
proportions To this / attribute the loss
Of life. The people imagined that they
were safe when they had gone fifteen or
more blocks from the fire. but they had
only gotten themselves into g trap. as
the outcome shows. l myself went ff-
teen blocks, taking my trunks from the
Windsor Hotel to re United States Ho-
tel. bUt the flames followed ne almost as
fast as l could drive. They seemed to
race alons from house to house like an
express train, and it was impossible TO
get ahead OF them.
The fire department Of the city was in
adequate, consisting Of only three en-
gines. There were companies sent from
Savannah. St. Augustine, Palatka. and
other towns near around, but they were
ld--t n all toSelneF- worth nothing against
such a fire when it had gained headway.
DynamIting buildings in the path OF the
lire did no good.
The flames went practically due east,
cutting a swath about six blocks wide and
about twenty-five blocks long. The path
Of the flames was so arranged in relation
TO the river that il enclosed a section and
burnt il all out down to the very wharves
at the river edge. Naturally the people
who thought they would find safety at
the edge OF the water were finally driven
10 the ends OF the wharves, and those
VINO We're not able TO ind boats were
forced eventually TO chose between death
by drowning and broiling. Many jumped
IN the river, and the list of these will not
be known until the stream gives up its
dead They viii form the greatest item
IN the casualty list. The cries of these
poor unfOrtunates who found themselves
between the fire and the water We're an
palitng. There were a few boats 10 help
these people to places Of safety. but they
could not make even an impression on the
crowd that clamored TO be taken away.
Contrary TO the report the greater part
Of these people who crowded uDon The
wharf We're white people, not negroes.
Il was within a few blocks Of the fire
when II broke out. happening to be up
town on business. l got away as soon
Is possible, and in less than twenty min
utes after / had left the door of the
house where 1 had been consulting, nv
doctor, the entire building had been
swept away ] hastened to the Windsor
Hotel TO get my trunk, and had by the
aid Of boys got II across the street into
a park.
I stood by a young lady. under the
palmetto trees The Cinders and sftarks
set her dress and hat aGre and soon Tie
paImettos were cracking and blazing |
BY chance / managed to get "A dra,-,nan /
TO take my trunk. and l started to the
I Inlted States Hotel, fifteen blocks away /
The nre was there almost as soon as / /
was, and my trunk. which was dunlBed on /
the wharf, was blstered with the heat
A business friend, going in bis carriage /
10 the station CHANGED 20 seeNne. and he /
took me in his carriage, which. Of course /
saved my life, for fortunately the fire {
burnt itself out before il reached the /,
depot.
The scene was enough 10 drive aI,von4 |
mad. Negroes who saw their houses
burning, though themselves in a
place OF safety, would rush back md (
perish in the flames. The ATTEMPTS of /
people 30 save their household goods were (
ludicrous. More pots and pans and kct- /
ties were deposited IA places of security /
than You can imagine, ard lots OF peouIe /
saved books and pictures, when valuable |
papers, money. and jeWelry Were p,iug
up In the flames. There was sorng az
tempt At robbery, bat the militia STONED !
al that Other kinds Of vandalism vcra
rare, even among the negroes. II is rob 1
ably now an orderly town Mayor R.W-
den gave nae my pass 10 come North and /
he supplied similar passes 70 many hun
dreds more.
The Oregon Homeward Bound.
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