The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-12-12
ATLANTA IS VISITED
BY A S5Oo,0O0 FIRE
Half Of Valuable City Block
Is Destroyed.


Early Morning Conflaeration Breaks
Out and Though Fircmen Fish:
Flames Hcrolca!Iy, Muci, Valuable
Property Goes Up In Smoke.
Atlanta, Dec. 9.-This morning
shortly before o'clock most destruc.
tive fire occurred in the heart of the
business section OF the city, cntaiiins
of the block bounded by Marietta,
Broad, Peachtrec streets and the rail
road tracks, being burned.
Among the buildings burned was
the handsome Norcross office building
valued at about 100000; Williams
house, Snooh & Austin furniture store,
Guarantee clothing store and Jacobs
pharmacy.
The fire started in the basement Of
the Shook 6; Austin Furniture compas
ny's store On Peachtroc street. 1t
was discovered by James r. Johnson,
n watchman. and when he saw the
flames they had already spread to the
Niaduct restaurant, which was in the
same block.
For hours the frCmen doggedly
fought the flames with all the bravery
and persistence of heroes. but the fire
gained or them The block bounded
by Marietta. Peachtrec and B-oad
streets and the railroad tracks was
almost entirely destroyed.
AS soon as Chief Joyncr reached the
scene the general alarm was turned
in
Every available engine and ladder
was brought to the scene.
Five engines and eight ladders were
Soon in action, and 90 streams were
soon playing on the conllagration.
Five minutes after the first engine
arrived the flames reached the stores
OF iniammable furniture in the upper
part of the Shook e Austin building.
They burned like tinden and in spite
OF the efforts Of the fremen the roof
fell in with a loud crash shortly before
s o'clock
AT a quarter past 5 o'clock the south
wall OF the Gurantec clothing store
building fell with terrible crash
across the railroad track The cry
was raised that three fremen had per-
ishcd In the ruins, bat upon investiga-
tion this was found to be untrue.
A scene of the greatest excitement
was enacted at the Williams house
No. l, when the fire was raging in that
block. Firemen rushed through the
house, neelng under their weight Of
hose and shouting orders and giving
a general alarm.
The inmates rushed from a deep
sleep into sudden panic, poured into
The streets. wild with fear.
The Kimball house was next
thought to be in danger and Chief
Joyner dispatched dozen nremen to
TIE roof to fight the shower Of sparks
which wore falling On that building in
perfect torrents
The flakes OF fire were falling as
large as hen eggs and it was only with
IL" greatest effort on the part Of the
Eremen that it was prevented from IL.
hitting.
The estimated actual losses caused
b. the fire arc as fellows:
ine Niaduct restaurant, SO 900; the
stGck and tlXtuHcs &C Hammack's nbor.
macy. $4,000; the stock and fyturcs
O: Jacobs pharmacy. $4,000; the
seek and fixtures Of the Hub haber.
Ga:@ery. $4,000; the furniture stock
Q: Shook G Austin, $4,000: the stock
an" fixtures Of tho Gua.Gr.cc cloth.
tnE store, so o; the stock and fix.
lures of Hollis saloon. 100000. tho
sock and fixtures Of Daniel Bros bah
edashery, $4,000; plate glass windows.
Goors. corniccs and facnCs Of entire
r2:th side Of Peters oC!cc buildjng,
%S.G30; Wcstvicw Flora. coApany,
s50": Hughes &; McClcllard's habnr.
r"Eh2ry $4,000; Union Pacific railroad
Office, 5000; E!Seman e We'll. c!otbiers
$1,000.
Ihc loss On the buildings burned is
cs;ir'ateGt as follows:
Tho Norcross building was built at
cost Of 100000; the Williams bouse,
with Jacobs three stores, $4,000: the
new stores on the viaduct occupicd nv
Fcllis's bar. Viaduct restaurant. Snooi,
& Austin, the Hub and the Guarante
Clothing store, $4,000.