The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-10
Aroused by Red Glare in the
Wee Sma' Hours.
ALMOST A BLOCK BURNED
Reported Loss Of Life Afterwards Dsnied---Fire-
mems Splendid Work Confirms Fire to
Marrow Area---Loss May Reach
Halt Million,
(By the Associated Press.l

Atlanta Ga, Dec. 9.-Fire today in the
heart of the downtown section of At
lanta wiped out almost a block of busi-
ness houses, causing a loss estimated at
between 100000 and $500,000. The fire
originated in the furniture store of
Shook G. Austin, on the Whitehall street
viaduct, and was first discovered about
o'clock in the morning. 1t spread with
great rapidity to the Norcross building,
structure on the corner of Pcachtrce
and Marietta streets. whose six stories
were largely taken up with the offices
of physicians, dentists and attorneys.
The Norcross building and the Shook
building were entirely consumed, only
portions>of the walls remaining.
The building occupied by the Jacobs
Pharmacy Company adjoining the Nor
cross building on Marietta street, was
completely gutted and the Jacobs Com
pany and the Shook Company sustained
the heaviest individual losses of the fire.
Water did considerable damage to sew
eral stores adjoining and across the
street
The Williams House, a small hotel To-
Gated on the upper floor of the Jacobs
Pharmacy building contained about
sixty-fve dodgers. and for some time ru
n1ors prevailed that loss of life had oc-
Cured among the guests of the hotel,
but Fire Chief Joyner declared tonight
that all the guests had escaped un-
harmed.
The entire street ear service of the
city was suspended for period of about
four hours, during the fercest progress
of the fire. The burned buildings were
most of them old and their material value
was not great. The NoTcross building,
the nest valuable of those destroyed was
to have been demolished within a year
to make way for a modern office struc-
ture. 1t was built at q cost of about
| $50 000.
The heaviest monetary loss falls on
the merchants in the various burned
buildings who lost their stock and fix
lures.
There was considerable apprehension
early in the morning that the flames
would spread to the Kimball House and
involve the entire central business por-
tion Of the city, but the heroic work
of the fire department confined the fire
to comparatively narrow area. 1t is
not believed that the Whitehall street
vadUct is seriously damaged
The Shook building was originally the
old National Hotel, which, during early
reconstruction days was the headquart-
ers OF Robert Toombs Benjamin Hill,
Alexander H. Stephens, and other South.
ern political leaders.
The heaviest losers, with insurance, so
Jacobs Pharmacy Company, SIS 900; in
Jacobs Pharmacy Company, 5000; in
surance $4,000.
p. II. Shook G. Austin Furniture Com
parry, 100000; insurance about tho same.
f. M. Rose e. Company, liquor dealers,
$4,000; covered BY insurance.
Hammack Drug Company, $4,000; COW
cred by insurance.
Guarantee Clothing Company, SOS, 900;
insurance $4,000.
Williams Hotel, $1,000; insurance $4,000.
The other loans have not been tabu-
lated, but they will swell the aggregate
to an amount over four hundred thous-
and dollars. Almost all the plate glass
windows were BROKEN in the retail stores
across from the Norcross building, on
PeGchtree street.