The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-12-30
WHOLE BLOCK BURNED
DISASTROUS FIRE RACES IN
WETUMPKA.
Estimated That he Losses Will
Amount to Between $4,000
and $50, 0O0-An Engine Goes
from Montgomery.

Wetumpka, Dec. 29.-(Special )-Sunday
morning, December Is. 1902, will ever be
memorable in the history of Wetumpka
Then the most disastrous fire in the an
nails Of the town sinco the confiagration
of 1852 occurred. An entire block Of bust
ness houses was destroyed.
The fire originated about the middle por-
ton Of the upper story Of D. w. Walk
ley's emporium. The flames were under
such Roadway when discovered that 1t
was impossible to save any Of Walkley' s
stock. Dry goods. millinery. groceries
and furniture, all went up in the flames.
In rear warehouse in the same block
Walkley carried a line of buggies and
wagons A part Of this stock was saved.
The building in which this line of goods
was stored, owned by Mrs. F. A. Lam
caster, was total loss. being uninsured.
Mr.. Walkley carried $500 insurance on
his building and $4,000 or $1,000 on his
stock. His stock was worth much more.
The next building to go up in smoke
was Smith and CANDLES hardware store.
Ihey carried an immense stock but con-
| siderable portion of 1t was saved The
building was owned by Mrs. F. A. Ian
caster and was insured for $500 Then
Smith and CANDLES furniture store fed
the flames, large part of this stock was
saved The furniture store building was
owned by John Cain and the loss is par
TALLY covered by insurance. Smith and
Gamble carried an insurance of $11, 500 on
their stock, but the loss was much in ex-
cess of that, probably about $lS,0O0
John Cain and Company's drug store
was the next building to go. They saved
practically all OF the stock but much Of
1t was badly damaged. Mr.. Cain carried
some insurance both on his building and
on his stock.
Next came the fruit. confectionery and
grocery store Of d. Rosen! Mr.. Rosen
succeeded in saving the entire stock in his
establishment. The building occupied by
him was owned by the House estate.
Two buildings, owned by F. w. Lull in
the rear of these stores, were going up
in flames at the same time. One was
used as a pool and billiard room and the
furnishings and fixtures. owned by w.
A. Thomas of Pensacola, Fla, were en-
tirely consumed. Mr.. Lulls loss was
partially covered by insurance.
Another building in the rear row owned
by G. E. Enslen was totally destroyed.
Mr. Enslen carried insurance to the
stories of these buildings were fitted up
as law offices. H. L. Williams. whose Of
fee was burned, owns a magnificent IL
brary valued at So, Co., All of the books
in his office were destroyed but he has
recently had some of his books and legal
reports moved. Mr.. Williams was In
Montgomery at the time of the fire.
Mr., Gillian, whose law once in Alex
ander City was consumed in the Alexan-
der City fire, has only been resident OF
Wetumpka a few months. His office was
in the doomed block last night and his
furniture and Office fixtures again fed
the flames He had not collected many
books.
D, D. Askewss living apartments were
in the upper portion of one OF Mr.; Luz
stores. Mr. Askewss household GOODS
were destroyed.
The MONTGOMERY FIRE department was
telegraphed for and the fire ladies came
but too late to render material assistance
as the block was destroyed before their
arrival. Had it been possible for them to
reach here earlier doubtless they would
have succeeded in saving some of the
buildings.
Wetumpkians feel very grateful to May
or Joseph and to the fire department for
the ready response to the call for help
The fire ragged from o'clock in the
morning to or and at nightfall Sunday
1t was still burning slowly 1t will prob
ably be some time before the debris cools
entirely.
A conservative estimate places the loss
on buildings and goods between $4,000
and $4,000
At the outbreak of the fire 1t looked
as IL the whole town would be sacri-
feed The Bank of Wetumpka and Col
sons law Offices across the street were
in imminent danger and were saved only
by hard labor, wooden porticos and steps
being cut and pulled down.
c. X. McMorris's undertaking estab-
lishment and the Office of Lull & Tate
were threatened and were saved only by
the heroic efforts of the bucket and wet
blanket brigade. The Colet House was
threatened ythe flames as was also the
Riverside Inn. The night was cold and
comparatively still. Had there been much
wind to fan the kames adjacent blocks
would have assuredly gone.
Already the business men burned out
are planning to reopen. Every available
room in the business district will be
used until the stores can be replaced.
John Cain & Co. and Smith & Gamble
have already obtained business houses
temporarily. The others will doubtless
do