The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-07

Jacksonville. Fla. May 4.-Jackson-
ville's great fire which began yesterday
has burned iesef out. One hundred
and forty-eight blocks of a beautiful
city have been laid waste. Tke loss
will no the known even approximately
for a week, but it IS believed it will
amount to 10000 600
There are many rWmors aflost of loss
of life but as every undertaken in the
city was burned out it is impossible to
obtain an official report. One story
which is persistently reiterated is to
the effect that a party of Haen and wo-
men driven to the docks by the fire,
were compelled 10 jump into the water
and that several of them 1vere drowned
Jane Hogan, a negro woman, was
burned in her house and her charred
remains were buried by friends this
afternoon.
The burned district is thirteen bloGzs
wide and two miles long, and extends
from the St. Johns river, where 1t
burned ten cocks to the waters edge, to
Catherine street on the east, Orange don
the north and Davis to the west. This
immense erea was swept as clear as a
floor.
The city is under martial law and all
of the available constabulary is on duty
on the streets. Some order is being
brought cut of confusion. Jacksonville
is facing the emergency calmly and
has organized for=relief work.
Ten thousand people are homeless,
and many of them left on afternoon
and night trains for st. Augustine and
other coast cities and nearby towns.
while numerous river craft took many
TO little places on the st. Johns river.
Supply stations have been established
in various parts of the city and all day
they have been thronged by the hungry
The prompt action of Secretary
of War Root in rendering the Use of
the barracks at Fort Barrancas, near
ST Augustine. was received with, graft
tude on every side. The east coast
train leaving here at o'clock this af-
ternoon carried over 1000 people to st.
Augustine, who hope to receive tenn
porary shelter from the government.
TENTS NEEDED.
A committee was appointed at a
telegraph the governors of various
I states TO send al tents they can ;spare
to Jacksonville. II will be weeks be-
fore anything like permanent shelter
can be provided for the homeless Fthou-
sands. and Jacksonville for some time
to come will be, the city of tents.
The relief fund raised by the citizens
OF jacksonville al a meeting this af-
ternoon amounts 70 $4,000. This s8vas
augmented tonight by a telegram
from the Armour Company. at Chica-
go. instructing Mayor Bowden to draw
for 1,000. Other subscriptions are Sbe-
ing received from many places. The
city of Jacksonville has not yet made
an official appeal for aid. There seems
to be some cebjection to this. but it is
based mainly on the assertion by many
heading citizens that Jacksonville and
Florida can meet the emergency and
care for its own-
The following telegram was received
from the governor:
Tallahassee. Fla, May 4
MAC Williams. Adjutant General:
Your call for Gainesville and Stark
companies is approved. I have ap-
pointed LpEngle. Broward and Rogers
special relief committee. riacing $2o.-
900 at their disposal
wv. s. JENNINGS.
governor"
UNDER MARTIAL LAW.
AT O'Clock this morning, Governor
Jennings declared the city under mar
tiaa law. Colonel Lowell. Of the First
regiment. is in command Of the.troops.
The following troops in addition TO To-
cal companies. arrived during the day
and are on duty: Governors Guards,
Tallahassee; Columbia Rifles, Lake
City; Suwanee Rifles, Live Oak and
Gem City Guards, Of Palatka-
Major Bradshaw. under Colonel Low
ell. is in iulmediate command or the
troops The city is patrolled and the
entrances to burned district guarded
by sentin..is Military headquarters
have been established on the vacant lot
behind the federal postcf1ce building.