The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-05-08

The City Of jacksonville, Fla. In
Ruins-Thousands Homeless-Lfves

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, May 1, D. III. lug Woe
disastrous fire In the history OF this city
began , yesterday shortly afternoon In small
factory, from a defective wire, according te
the best belief. and burned for nearly ter
@sea from On hss InGRo Gs%sas Sas s
According to the city map. one hundred
and thirty blocks we're burned, many OF then
In the heart of the business and residence
section. The estimate OF houses TO the blocs
is ~, hence 1900 OF them went up in smoke.
Many of the finest public and private build
ings were destroyed, including hotels. the
atre. churches and residences.
mated tonight. That there were severa
seems to be we'll authenticated. Among
them was that Of the fire chief, who sustained
q bad fall.
The mayor ordered all OF the saloons closed
and has impressed help TO clear the wreck
The mayor at late hour stated that be
1000 to 1900 people were homeless.
Jacksonville, Fla, May AT l a. NJ, the
situation Is one approaching desoiailon iI i, =
large section Of the city. The burned distriG,
10 the ST. Johns river on the soutn, ols
tance Of quite two miles. The width OF tne
desoiated area Is thirteen blocks. Wltnln
this nlincpa rs map
OF trade, the Western Union Telegraph com
papy's building is the first going west. Every
thing east OF Laurel on Bay IL gone.
AT lois O'Clock last night the fire was under
control. having practically burned Itself out
The suburban settlements. with the excep'
tion OF La Villa, are intact. La Villa was
badly hnT The OF the
persons are Oh the streets tonight homeless
with practically all OF their worldly posses
sions upon their backs.
Meetings Of the city council, the commercial
bodies and the charitable institutions will be
called Saturday morning to devise ways and
means for meeting the situation. 1t Is not
known yet II an appeal for help Will be ls-
sued though it is thought likely that the eI'
igencies, OF the occasion will demand such
action. 1t is hoped that an appeal can be
avoided.
Jacksonville, Fla. May Sat l245 today
Jacksonville experienced the most disastrous
tire of her existence. the entire length OF
Beaver street from Davis street TO the creek
on Liberty street have been totally destroyed
same distance Ashley and Church streets
have been completely blotted out. When
the fire reached Bridge street In lis eastward
course IT enveloped In flames three blocks
Duval, Monroe and the north side of Adams,
burning up that entire section OF the city and
running fourteen blocks to the Duval street
bridge. The conflagration has caused as far
as is definitely known distance oftWo and
half miles by q half mile wide.
The local military companies were called
out to keep back the crowds and the fire de-
partment began to use dynamite to blow up
The houses block away from the fire and
fierce was the blaze. however, and 80 strong
had become the wind that millions Of sparks
and flying burning shingles spread over five
sr
Leaping madly across the street from the
Windsor, the Sells House caught fire. and
then the Methodist parsonage, and In few
minutes the Trinity NJ. E. Church was mass
OF flames. The opera house block followed
and the Richards and Livingstone boarding
houses. A desperate effort was made TO save
the Baldwin. mansion, whicn was recently
purchase1 by the Elks for $4,000. No earthly
power could save this building, and that en-
tire block and the one west was quickly q
mass Of flames. Once the fire got started on
Main street, the closely adjoining buildings
barrels Of oil we're plentiful in that district
and as they caught fire one after the Other
the blazes arose hundreds OF feet high. and
quickly set the other building across the
street on fire.
Then the Hubbard hardware store caught
and the people scattered when they saw what
had happened. Hundreds OF pounds OF pow:
der and a great deal OF dynamite was stored
in the building. Ten minutes passed. when
suddenly there was roar, and the building
collapsed like an eggshell. The dynamite
and the powder had exploded. Here again
Cartridges began to fly around, and the effort
10 fight the fire at this point had for time tc
be abandoned.
The city building went. the fire department
,
the clerks Office, with the county records
the criminal court house, the city Jail and
the graded schools and the Catholic Church
and orphanage, st: Johns Episcopal Church
and the convent. The entire city of magnifi
cent buildings all burned up In less than foul
hours. The scene was one that beggart
description.
Among the prominent hotels burned were
and the Windsor.
1t is irp possible at this hour to ascertain the
losses, but 1t Is said by insurance agents
that 1t will be between eight and nine mil
lions.
Six lives are reported lost in the confiagra
ton.
The mayor has called meeting OF the oity
council for tom morrow to consider ways ano
means Of the sufferers.
Such Is the sad story of destruction caused
by the displacement OF bit OF innocent look
ing wire which accidentally got into the
shredding machine OF the American Fibel
company.
MANY LIVES LOST.
Jacksonville, Fla, May 6-From the ruins
and wreck OF the devastating fire-fend comes
human lives were claimed by the Unsuitable
thirst Of the monster oonflagration.
Meagre details as yet are at hand-the first
details since the wild cry for help was sound
ed by the city Friday at noon. The particu
lars will not be learned until the city and the
river give up their dead.
N Because Of the heat 1t has been impossible
before TO enter the ms. Eye witnesses. too
Western portion OF the city 1t is said
6yXfemen, all corrobofating each other, thai
six negroes burned TO DEAN Wnlle tney crleo
Ave children. They were discovered in 9
burning block after all escape haa been /sn'
of. The fire was eating its way toTsfds the
center OF the block from all sides. The fire
40 ho rA
human hand could save them.
AS the fire progressed and fanked the ne
gro cottage the cries became subdued-ther
ceased altogether.
Two bodies have been recovered from the
river. Both were negroes; one woman, the
other man. The woman, insane from ex
citement, was seen to leap into the water
shouting that all was lost.
Tie other other body was recovered with
the face so badly chsrred that indentiacatior
was impossible.
At the foot of Market street 1t is estimated
that at least ten persons were burned to death
The river Is being watched TO day, believing
that the water will give up its dead on the
third day-a common belief among rivel
men.
A STORY OF HORROR.
The story that is told hear today of the last
chapter Of the conflagration of Friday is hor
rible In its details.
Market street ends at the river front, ont
block after crossing Bay street. Between
Gated Gardner's ship yards, occupied a space
of about one acre. Many boats were moorec
at the waters edge.
The flames were being swept down. Bay
street east, and those who had congregated ir
the ship yard felt they were safe. Many were
advised to hurry there for deliveranoe from
the fire.
About o'clock the wind that had been
blowing from the west suddenly turned and
came swiftly from the north. In moment
the flames righted themselves and made fu
rious leap over the ship yard, carrying vol
ume OF smoke 80 dense as to defy the gloom
midnight.
The refugees, horror stricken, wild with
panic, fed to the pier at the end OF Marke
street, and scrambled for the boats that wer'