Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-05-04
A TERRIBLE FIRE.

A terrible fire prevailed in Jackson.
vile, Fla, last night which was cause d
by the displacement Of bit of inno-
cent.ooking wire which accidentally
got into the shreddiDg machine of the
| American Fiber Company, at the COR
ner OF Davis and Union streets. The
fl Der factory was a wooden shell full Of
inAammable m terisl. and 10 few mo.
ments as 8 msss OF flames. The wind
which was already blowing strong from
| the southwest, seemed TO be possessed
| With sudden fury. and soon was cary
| ing destructive embers all through the
doomed city, the fairest portion of
which Icy right In the wake of the
wind.
The fire leaped across Davis street
and took course right through Sec
ton where block after block of frame
buildings, mostly occupied by negroes,
had been erected. Here Is where the
fire department lost control, as stimuli
taoeousIy 10 half dozsn places. come
of them six blocks from the main fire,
roofs were seen to burst out in flames.
The wind rising higher and higher
moved down whole rows fthese build.
iugs and attracted at first crowd OF Gu
rious sighiseers, who seemed to be fas-
cinsted by the sight until they learned
that their residences, too, were In dan
ger OF destruction. 1t took just four
hours for the resistless flames to con-
sumo every building in their path for
space six TO eight blocks wide, from
Davis street, near where it started, to
the Hogan's creek viaduct,a q distance OF
vsr II miles. Tten, not satisfied with
eating out the heart OF the residential
portion of the city, the fire doubled on
itself and came roaring up the principal
thorougbflre OF trade, destroying
everything in what was the original in-
corporation of Jacksonville.
The government building, which
caught fire at one time but was saved,
8 the only pretentious building left
standing. From the humble homes OF
the poor to the elegant residences OF
the we'll to-do was but short journey
for the Fl limes.
Right into the heart of the city the
flames swept. The Windsor Hotel and
the St. James, both of which lare
among the finest winter hotels 10 the
south, were consumed in sn incredibly
short time. The Opera House fol-
lowed, and then row upon row OF eleg.
ant residences were offered up to the
Unsuitable bltz'.
As the viaduct leading over the
marches OF Hogsn's creek to East Jack.
sonvills was reached it seemed plain
that the limit Of progress of The fiimes
westward had been found. The hope
Of the people grew strong that the
worst was over.
But ss far as the damage from the fire
was concerned the worst was yet to
come. Just as the material for the con-
hAgration WAS apparently consumed
shift in the wind sent the flames south
ward toward the river. Then it was
beginning to dawn on the minds OF the
unfortunates who had q ID to the river
side that they we're Ia danger OF being
cut oil and suffocsted. A rush was
made to the South Jacksonville ferry
and hundreds sought refuge on the
other shore.
Then came the most thrilling scene
of the entire day. The fire caught the
frei hit warehouses of the Atlantic,
Valdosts and Western railroad and be-.
gan a backward march. Slowly but
surely it ate its way against the wind,
taking both sides OF Bay street until 1t
reached Jones's boat yard. The whole
sale grocery stores of the F. q h.
Dowling Company and Muller & Co..
and doz ns of smaller concerns were
wIped out.
While the flames failed to cross the
open space known as Jones's boat yard,
new danger threatened. They swept
down 10 the rear OF the United States
Hotel, and that, with the Law Ex-
change, was doomed. Meantime the
county courthouse caught fire and au-
other splendid edifice was soon wreck.
From the United States Hotel the
flames again jumped across the sire ct
aud the line of march was taken up
again, only to be checked when the
last building between Mccoy and
Hogan's creek has been destroyed.
D.zsns OF drug, retail grocery, milli-
merry aod other stores were also de-
stroye ed before the fire was finally got
ten under control. Six lives are re-
ported lost. Tee loss ia placed at
sS.OOO.OOO.