The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-05

PIE sept on improvised beds near their
furniture on the streets away from the
burned district. In the early hours of
the nre many people moved their proper
" distances of half mile or a mile, only
10 ma 1t necessary TO move il again, as
tne names encroached
n. L. Cleaveland, proprietor of the
CleaVeland Fibre Company, made the fol-
loWlhS statement to-day regarding the
origin of the fire:
Mr.. CIeaveInnd's Statement,
Outside the factory there is a driving
pattofm 200 feet square, upon which the
moss is piled after it has been ginned
twenty feet away there are two negro
cottages, and the chimney of one of these
cottages was on fire. This. however. is a
frequent occurrence, and once or twice
peIore the fibre on the drying platform
had oeen set afire with the falling SCOT
from the chfmneys of the cottages The
men Knocked off at u o'clock for dinner
and were lying around in the shade. when
one of them discovered that from the mid
die OF the pile of moss, smke was issuing
rms having happened before no import
ahce was attached to it, and two men
seized buckets of water and went to cx-
tinguish the fire.
But the fire by this time had gained
considerable headway. The hose was
quickly brought into play, but the fire
got away from the men, and the alarm
had to be sent in.
There is no fire in the building. the
factory being worked with electricity, and
1t is two months since we had the boilers
at work
Every effort that could be made 10
put the fire out was made, but the strong
wind and the dryness of everything was
too much for the men at the factory. and
when the department reached the scene
the fat pine building and the flying burn
ing shingles made it impossible to con-
troll the fire.
To Bond City and County.
Chairman of the County Commissioners
Board Porcher LEngle said to-day:
"A bill will be introduced in the Legls-
lature at once to bond Duvs county for
perhaps 100000 to rebuild the Court House
and the county Jail. The bill is being
prepared.
81 understand that a bill for the issu-
ance of $500,0OO city bonds will be at once
introduced also OF this $3OO,OOO will be
used to take up the judgment debts of
the city and the remainder to rebuild
city buildings"
The prisoners in the county jail, thirty
five in number, including many for Sc
rious offenses, some capital, were marched
to Riverside under heavy guard before
the fire reached them. This morning the
prisoners were taken by the sheriff TO
Green Cove Springs, Fernandina and st.
Augustine.
The county records were placed in the
vaults in the court building. Their condi-
ton will not be known until the vault
cools.
No Dividing Line Now.
The disaster has effectually obliterated
the dividing line between the rich and
poor, and common catastrophe has made
all akin. Beautiful women, wealthy yes
terday, penn,ess to-day, sat on the curb
ing beside the beggar. sharing alike the
pitiless fate that befell them both,
Tonight the sidewalks are threnged
with homeless people. The wharves are
crowded with sleepers, and every avail
able craft in the harbor has been made
into a temporary hotel.
Religious services will be held to-mor-
row in the open air. Not a city church
remains standing. Fire Chief Haney is
improved Tonight and il is thought he
viii entirely recover.
The children OF DR.. P. II. Dean, re-
ported as burned or missing this morning
have been found alive. DR.. Deans in
juries are slight.
President Barnett of the National
Bank of Jacksonville. is not seriously
hurt. There were many prostrations
from heat during the day.
The City in Total Darkness.
jacksonville is in total darkness to-
night, save for the red reflection that
burns in the sky in the western portion
of the city, marking the vast fields of
glowing embers that now and then are
famed into flame.
At o'clock the first trolley car was
opera ted since noon yesterday Later in
the evening semi-schedules were main
tained on the western end of Bay street
and on the Riverside line.
AT 7 O'Clock additional state troops
reached the city to relieve the soldiers.
who had been on duty for more than
twenty-four hours.
Vast crowds are leaving the city on
outgoing trains, yet the multitude of
homeless people on the streets does not
appear decreased.
The night scenes are picturesque and
pitiful. About the entire city Gordon of
soldiers and special policemen has been
thrown, and at every corner a soldier
stands guard. Notwithstanding the great
excitement under which the day has pass
ed ana the anxiety of the night the
CITY is very quiet and but little disorder
has been reported.
Excursion Trains Prohibited.
At a meeting of the citizens commit
tee this afternoon resolution was adopt
ed prohibiting the running of excursion
trains into the cfty. Request had been
made by several places for special trains
to Jacksonville, but the committee noti-
fed the railroads that if the trains were
run. the eXcursonists would not be al
lowed to leave the trains.
The negroes though hungry and terror
stricken. have so far shown no disposi-
ton to give trouble and at o'clock the
entire city is reported quiet
The debris on the eastern end of Bay
street is burning briskly, but there is no
danger of the flames being spread by
sharks. unless the wind should become
very high.
The Times Union and Citizen announces
Tonight the receipt of nearly 5000 con-
tributed to the relief fund from cities
throughout the United States.
Many Lives Were Lost.
A sail boat that was at the boat yard
was made use Of by Alfred Ball. mem
ber of the Jacksonville Rifles who lives
I'm Springfield suburb at Third and Main
streets Mr. Ball says:
"rhero certainly were many lives lost
al that point. The shrieks and cries for
holm that came to my cars during the
drst moments OF the four hours that
was In the river were heart-rendng and
awful. | was utterly helpless to aid.
an Dositive at least five persons were
d,ovped at that place.