The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-05-07

o'A ""' Noii ihf beoliuStl'S ohlpclo
all through the doomed city, tho fair
est portion of which lay right in tho
wake of the wind. Some delay WAS
experienced, and to add the tragedy
OF fatoful accidents, the engine at
the water works suffered a mishap,
and nothing more than ordinary
pressure could be obtained. by this
time the flames had swept to the
Boston store, huge furniture cstub.
lishment belonging to W. w. Glove
land & Son, who were also proprio-
tors Of the fiber factory. 1t lcaped
across Davis street and took q course
right through section where block
after block Of frame buildings, most
ly occupied by negroes, had been
erected. Hero is where the fire do
partment lost it's grip, as simultauo-
ously in half q dozen places, some of
them six blocks from tho main fire,
roofs were seen to burst out in flames.
The wind rising higher and higher,
moved down whole rows Of these
buildings and attracted at first a
crowd Of curious sightseers, who
seemed to bo fascinated by the sight,
until they learned that their resi-
dences, too, were in danger of total
destruction.
1t took just four hours for that re-
sistless sea Of flames to consume
every building in its wake for q
space of six % eight blocks wide
from Davis street near where it start.
cd to the Hogan's crock viaduct, q
distance of over one and half miles;
and then, not satisfied with eating
out the heart of the residential por-
tion Of the city, it doubled itself and
came roaring up the principal tho
roughfare Of trade, destroying every
thing in what was the original incor-
poration of Jacksonville. Tie gov
ernment building, which caught fire
at one time, but was saved, is the
only pretentious building left stand
ing, and it may go before morning.
From the humble homes of the
poor to tho elegant residences of the
well-to do was but short journey
for the flames. After passing Bridge
street, tho first house which sue
cumbed to the flames was tho elegant
brick mansion Of former Councilman
Stansell. Thon it seemed that wher-
ever there happened to be shlngle
roof on building erected before the
fire limits were extended, the flying
embers found lodgment. Blocks
away from the main fire other fires
would break out.
Right into tho heart of the town
the flames swept. The Windsor and
st. James hotel, both of which are
the finest winter hotels in the South,
were consumed in an incredibly short
time. The opera house followed
next, and then row upon row of eIe-
giant residences were offered up to
the Unsuitable fire tiend.
AS the viaduct leading over the
marsh and of Hogan's creek to East
Jacksonville was reached it was plain
that the limit of the progress of the
flames westward had been reached.
The hope of the people grow strong
that the worst was not over, but 30
far as the money value of the dam
age was concerned tho worst WAS yet
to come. Just as the material for
the flames was apparently consumed
q shift in the wind sent roaring sen
Of flames southwark toward the river.
Then it WAS beginning to dawn on
the minds of the unfortunates who
had refugeed to tho riverside that
they were in danger of being cut off
and suffocated. A rush was made
for the south Jacksonville ferry, and
hundreds sought refuge on the other
shore.
Then came the most thrilling scene
Of the entire day. The flames caught
the freight warehouses of tho Allan
tic, Valdosta and Western railway
and began from there its backward
march in the eye Of the wind. Slow
ly but surely it ato it's way against
the wind, taking other side of Bay
street until it reached Jones' boat
yard. Tho wholesale grocery store
"a O.