The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-05-07

Jacksonville Florida, May 4, l q.
m.--The most disastrous fire in the
history of this city began yesterday
shortly after noon in small factory,
from defective wire, according to
the best belief, and burned for near
ly ten hours. In that time a prop.
erty damage estimated from $1O,-
100000 to $15,0OO,O00 was effected.
According to the city map, one
hundred and thirty blocks were
burned, many of them in the heart
Of the business and residence sec-
tion. The estimate of houses to the
block is 10, hence 1900 of them
went up in smoke.
Many of the finest public and
private buildings were destroyed, in
Guiding hotels, theatre, churches and
residences
The casualties cannot be accurate
ly estimated tonight. That there
were several seems to bo we'll authen-
ticated. Among them was that of
the fire chief, who sustained bad
fall.
The mayor ordered all Of the "a
looms closed, and has impressed help
to clear the wreckage.
The mayor at a late hour stated
that he estimated the loss at $15,-
100000, and that 10000 to $4,000
people were homeless.
Mr.. W. w. Cleveland, in whose
promises the fire originated, and
who was one Of the heaviest losers,
dropped dead from excitement. A
stalwart negro, bringing trunk on
his head from a burning building,
went crazy from the horror of the
situation. He ran around in cir
Gle with the trunk on his head unit
he sank exhausted and died. Women
ran through the street tearing their
hair and clothes and in several in
stances had almost denuded them
selves when they were caught by
friends and led to places of safety.
!, Horses hitched to trucks could not
"5be cut loose quickly enough and
many of them ran wild through the
demoralizod throng. At night the
military was ordered out to guard
the household goods piled high in
vacant lots.
Jacksonville, Fla, May AT
q. m, the situation is one approach
ing desolation in large section of
the city. The burned district
reaches Burbridgc street on the
north to the st. Johns river on the
south, distance of quite two miles.
The width Of the desolated area is
thirteen blocks. Within this space
practically everything is -blackened
ruins. On Bay street, the principal
mart Of trade, the Western Union
Telegraph company's building is the
first going west. Everything east of
Laurel on Bay is gone.
At 1915 o'clock last night the fire
was under control, having practically
burned itself out. The suburban
settlements, with the exception of
LaVilla, are intact. La Villa was
badly hurt. The extent Of the dam
age cannot be told until tomorrow
Thousands Of persons are on the
streets tonight homeless, with prao-
tioally all of their worldly posses
sions upon their backs. The depots
Of the railroads situated in the south
eastern section, have been turned
into temporary lodging houses and
hospitals. Luckily the weather is
fine, so that there will be no suffer
ing on that score.
meetings. OF the city council, the
commercial bodies and the charitable
institutions will be called Saturday
morning to dsvise ways and means
for meeting the situation. It is not
known yet if an appeal for help will
be issued though it 10 thought likely
that the exigencies Of the occasion
will demand such action. It is hoped
that an appeal can be avoided.
At 12:4e today Jacksonville expe
lienced tho most disastrous fire OF
her existence, the entire length OF
Beaver street from Davis street to