The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-04
A RESUME OF THE HORROR.
Jacksonville People Crazed with
Excitement.

Yulee. Fla, May 4, $50 a. m.-
j. r. Parrott, vice president of the Flor
ida East Coast Railroad said tonight: II
consider it the. worst oonfagration the
country has known since the great Chi
cago fire. Not on account of the money
loss. although that viii nearly approxi-
mate the highest figures known since
then, but on account of the vast num-
Der OF homes destroyed, the thousands of
people left utterly penniless and the COM
pleteness of the destruction.
But it will be the individual and not
the city which viii be the greatest suf-
ferer. Jacksonville's position is too well
assured to doubt her speedy recovery. but
there will be hundreds of her citizens
who will be Obliged to begin to struggle"
MIR. Parrott's elegant residence was de-
stroyed early in the afternoon with all
its contents.
AS soon as Chief Haney arrived upon
the scene he realized the danger of the
situation, and saw that his force would
be powerless to cope with the fire. He
hurried word down town that help was
to Savannah, st. Augustine and Fernan-
dina for assistance.
ready response was received from
the nearby towns, and a special train
with three fire engines was soon on the
way from st. Augustine. These engines
did effective work, but were handicapped
for the want of water. One of them was
leo
1t was mainly through the well-drected
work of the st. Augustine company that
the Geneva Hotel block was saved, al
though everything around it was lost.
Attempts were made to stay the prog
ress of the fire by the use of dynamite,
and several buildings were thus blown
up.
Chief Haney was at one time overcome
by heat and fell unconscious II was re-
ported that he was dead, but was found
| to be untrue
Mr.. w. w. Cleaveland, in whose prem
ises the fire originated, and who was
one of the heaviest losers, dropped dead
from excitement.
The scenes attending the fire were heart
rending. Women were tearing their
hair and going about like crazy persons.
One man, negro, brought a huge trunk
from burning building. when he became
crazed with the horror of the situation.
He began running around in a circle with
the immense trunk on his head, until he
sunk exhausted.
Mr.. Latham, abe superintendent OF the
Boston store, also became crazed, and had
| to be forced. from the burning building.
| He was followed by a one-legged negro,
who hung from the burning roof until
he was forced by the heat to let go his
hold He was caught by two stslwart
firemen and taken to a place of safety.
Teams were at heavy premium, and
fabulous prices were paid for the removal
of household goods. In several instances
so rapid was the approach of the fire
that horses had to be cut loose from the
trucks, which were burning, with their
contents. In some instances when this
was not fast enough and the horses were
left to their fate.
Furniture and household goods were
| piled in vacant lots. but even then were
consumed. Orders we're given early in the
day to close the liquor stores. and the
order was generally complied with, al
though the police had hardly time to see
to its enforcement. Orders were also
given for the militia to turn out and a
guard win patrol the streets tonight
| However, to the credit of the people, both
black and white, be it said, the utmost
order prevailed and no evidence Of loot
| ing or other form of disorder showed it.
| self
The Fernandina firemen passed Yulee
after midnight on their way home They
| reported that the fire was probably un-
der control at Laura street, but change
might extend the fire to the wholesale
district. If the fire goes no further west
the Times-Union is saved. also the Of
fees of the transportation companies.