Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-05-09
148 BLOCKS BURNED SEVEN LIVES LOST
The Devastation at Jacksonville, Fla, as II
Was Seen Saturday Afternoon.

The Devastation at Jacksonville, Fla, as 1t
Was Seen Saturday Afternoon.
Jacksonville, Fla, May "A deyas.
tated city, ruins everywhere, greeted
the smuke enshrouded sun today. The
fire, which broke out at noon yesterday
and was aided in its work by south
west gnle, spent its force by 9 o'clock
last night. The damage is enormous.
One hundred and forty eight blocks
were swept by the flames, and as far as
known seven persons lost their lives.
A report was in circulation this morn
ing that a party of 20 persons, driven
TO the docks along the st. Johns
River, were forced into the water, all
attempts Mt rescue by boats being
futile. The river is being searched.
All the LEGAL companies of the State
militia have been on duty since mid
night; and on order of Gov. Jennings,
the military companies from four cities
are speeding to Jacksonville by special
trains. Many extra police bave been
sworn in, and every able bndied man
not doing duty in some capacity in the
fire swspt district has been pressed into
the service. The negroes are in groups
sn different parts of the city, and the
fear of an attempt at lawlessness by
them. although not openly expressed
By the whites, IS the reason for the
large military force ordered here.
| The fire companies from Savannah,
| worked the entire night on the fire but
soaking rain will be necessary to
effectually quench the flames.
| The losses by the fire will not be
known for week. The path of the
flames was ID blocks wide and nearly
two miles long.
| OLD JAoKsoNvILLE DESTROYED.
Practically all OF old Jacksonville
was destroyed, nothing having been
left but few suburbs and Riverside,
the mest fashionable Fart of the city.
| 1t ie believed that the FIRE is the largest
on record in proportion to the size Of
| the city.
A feature OF the conhagration was
| the loss by many families OF libraries,
| pianos and household goods after they
had been moved to supposed place
Of safety.
The street car service has been at q
complete standstill since yesterday
afternoon. AL night, the city was in
darkness. The electric light circuits
were INTERRUPTED, and the gas plant
was destroyed.
A conservative estimate places the
number Of homeless people in the city
as 10000 Most of these spent the
night in the parks, or on doc6s and
barges, while somo slept beside the few
belongings they had been abs to save
from the general wreck.
The Board of Trade and other rom.
meroial bodies he'd meetings at 10. 80
o'clock this morning to take action
looking to the alienation of the suffer-
ing. Ii is expected that an appeal to
the people OF the United States, call
ing for aid, will be issued during the
day. Leading business men and in
surance agents estimate the total loss
Of property ar from $40, QUO, 600 to
SIS, 100000. The st. James Hotel,
which was destroyed, had been closed
since April 18th. The loss on the
building Ia sl75. 600. Among the build
ings destroyed are the Emery Audi
torium, Board OF Trade, st. james
Hotel, Windsor Hotel, tine Seminole
Club, the Daily Metropolis, too City
Hall and Market, the Gardiner Build
ing, the largest Office building IN the
city, and the Hubbard Building.
NOT "A HINT OF LAwLEssNEss.
Mayor Bowden said to The Assori.
ate1 Press repres sentative this morning
''Say t, the world, please, that the
loss TO Jacksonville ia greater than ever