The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-14
DISASTROUS FIRE.
THE OLD C. F. &Y. " SHED DESTROY
ED THIS MORNING.
The Loss will Amount to About $780,
O00-Mr. ). p. McNair Loses sac ,OOO,
Mr.. C. C. Covfngton SIS 200 and 9th
ers Large Amounts-The Kerchner
Building Burned.

This morning about ten minutes to 1
O'Clock. an alarm of fire from box %,
at Water n Chestnut streets startled
the ~slumbering people who were
awaken by it. as it indicated a fire in
the very business part of the city. The
fire department was quickly on the
scene and hundreds of citizens poured
down own to see what was the matter.
The cause of the alarm was the dis
coyery that the large shed formerly
used by the Cape Fear and Yadkin
Valley railroad was on fire. This build
ing IS on the water front and extends
from the foot of Chestnut street to the
dock at the loot of Grace street.
When the department got to the
scene the building vas a mass OF
flames. and with all the department
at work on the fire, the flames aided
by a stiff breeze from the south, quick
ly ran from one end of the shed to the
other. totally destroying it. 1t was
burned down to the wharf.
The flames also communicated to the
Kerchner building, PIG north Water
street and al 1.-The inside was burned
out. a car belonging to the New Or
leans. Chicago and st. Louis roalroad
standing on the track in the old c. F.
& Y. V. railroad yard adjoining the
shed, was also badly burned. 1t was
loaded with -four and it was also badly
damaged by fire and water.
The loss roughly but approximately
estimated last night was as follows:
Half the shed and warehouse occu-
pied by S. 2. McNair and owned by
the Atlantic Coast Line, valued at SO.
900. Partly insured. The other half OF
the shed owned by the North State
Construction Company. valued at ST.
900. Probably partly insure
The Kerchner building, a two story
brick business house. with a large store
Underneath and offices on the secon
story. Damage estimated at 5000
probably insured.
The northern end of the shed
belonging to the Coast Lin was occu'
pied by Mr.. s. P. McNair wholesale
grocer, and he estimates the value o.
his stock at $4,000, with about SIS, 00'
insurance. He also had 500 barrels o.
rosin burned, and two fine mules were
burned in a stable next to the shed
The carload of flour burned also belong
ed to him.
The southern end of the shed wa!
occupied on the end next to CheStnu
street by Mr.. c. G. C~ovington, who haC
stored there a stock of molasses value
3 at about $4,000. The loss is coveret
? by insurance.
Captain James / Metts also had
lot of hay and other stock in the south
ern end and and his stock is estimates
in value at about SO, 500. It is insured
The Wilmington Brokerage COmpan,
also had some stock in the southern
shed but their loss is slight.
Roger Moore's Sons & So, had a stool
cement and builders material store
in the southern he'd and their loss viii
be about $4,000, with insurance suffl
Gent to cover it.
The first floor of the Kerchner build
ing is occupied by the John r. Tur
rentine Co. Their stock, valued a
$1,000 consisting of meat lard, canne'
goods, etc, was a total loss. The stocl
belonged principally to the P. D. Armou
Company, and they carry their own in
Surance. The Turrentine Company ha
81, 500 individual stock and had abou
$1,000 insurance, and besides carrie
y $500 on office furniture.
The offices on the second floor of tn
Kerchner building were occupied b
Messrs. Smith & GilchiSt. whose los
will probably be $500; by Mr.. ]. \
Sloan, cotton exporter whose loss wi
be about $500, and by Captain j..
Metts- merchandise broker, whose los
will be about 500 on office furnitur'
Ali three parties are probably insured
The fire caught and destroyed tn
new steamer CIlmaX winch was IyILi
at the Grace street dock. n wa
nearly completed and was the propert
of the Merchants and Farmers Steam
boat Company. She is a total los
She is valued at $4,O0 to $1,000 wit
So, 600 insurance. Mr.. Oliver Evans,
Fayetteville, is president of the con
pany, and Mr.. t. d. Love, of our cit,
is secretary and treasurer. Mr.. LoN
has worked hard in having this boz
built and as he has given his person;
attention to it, it makes his loss heav,
The origin of the fire is nkn
nbut it was probably the result of II
Ffre which broke out in the same pla'
last evening at $40 p. m. though tt
flames this morning appeared to be
a different part of the shed. The fir
fire is noted elsewhere in The Me
Senger-