The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-01
GONE UP IN FLAMES
HENRY GRADY's WORK FOR VET.
ERANs A PILE OF ASHES.
SOLDIERS HOME DESTROYED.
PROPERTY TOTAL Loss wITr
SMALL INSURANCE.

The Seventy-two Inmates All Safe,
Though Some Escaped with DIM
culty-Their Little Belong ngings Gone
as Well the Furniture of the
Home-Fire Caused by Defective
Crematory Furnace-AtIantaJ Jour
nal Takes Care of veterans-Home
VIII He Rebuilt.
Atlanta, Sept. S0.-The Confederate
Soldiers Home near Atlanta, built ten
years ago with subscriptions from the
people of Georgia, raised through the
efforts of, Henry Grady, was burned to
the ground this morning There is
nothing left to tell the tragic story but
an ash heap and the bare chimneys
from which the flames swept every
piece of timber. Every one of the sew
enty-two inmates from all parts of the
state was saved, though some Of them
barely escaped with their lives. Two
of the veterans, in making their way
from the second story, came near per-
ishing. They lost their way in the
dense smoke. and were rescued with
considerable difficulty.
One of the most pathetic features of
the conflagration was the loss of the
clothing and personal belongings of
nearly every inmate of the home. Few
of them thought much of the loss of
their clothing in comparison with the
destruction of their souvenirs and relics
of the war, things of little instrinsic
value, but which in most instances no
price could have purchased.
The fire started from the crematory
used to dispose of the waste matter
at the home. 1t appears to have been
defective, and it is said has come near
causing a fire several times before.
When discovered IL had made too much
headway to be stopped. The are de-
partment responded promptly, though
the home is way outside the city limits,
but owing to a lack of water and the
progress the fire had made, it could
do nothing.
Open Less Than Four Months.
The home was opened on June 3, this
year. and at the time of the fire had
seventy-two inmates. Some of them
We're sick and helpless and had to be
carried from the building AS the fire
did not occur until nearly $3.50 a. m.
everybody was UP and about, and the
first efforts were turned to getting out
all the old veterans. BY the time this
was accomplished the fire had made
such headway that 1t was impossible
| to get out any of the furniture or per-
sonal property of the inmates The
cost of the building was about 100000.
while the furnishings, many of which
were donated by citizens, We're valued
at $1,000 to $SOO0 The home was i'm
sured for $4,000. and the furniture for
50, 900. a total OF less than half the
value of the property destroyed.
The Journals Philanthropy.
Under the act of 1888 the Governor is
allowed to insure public buildings at
orly one-half their value
The Journal has rented Thompsons
Hotel at IA Marietta street. and will
give 1t to the veterans for a month be-
sides furnishing their meals. They
came in and had dinner there to-day.
Subscription lists were promptly OPEN
ed and already more than $1,000 has
been subscribed for the rebuilding of
the home. 1t will probably be rebuilt on
the cottage plan with central build
ing. to be used as a hospital, dining
hall and other purposes.
To Help Soldiers Home.
Sam Small and John Temple Graves
have both rendered their services to
deliver lectures in various parts of the
state for the benefit of the Soldiers
Home fund. and Adelaide Thurston,
who is at the Grand Opera House. will
give a benefit performance for the
home tomorrow night.