The semi-weekly messenger., 1903-02-13

handsome dry goods and carpet estab-
hshment OF Mr.. A. D. Brown. No. 90
north Front street. AS stated, the fire
was first discovered about 2:3O a. m by
Policeman w. N. Harris, who turned
in An alarm from box Al at the foot of
Market street. 1t took tn fire depart
ment but about two or three minutes to
reach the scene and from that time till
after daylight the firemen worked he
roicAlly
The ire originated in the basement
and Investigation yesterday showed
that it started near the rear of the
building, which upsets the theory that
it was caused by the throwing of
cigar of cigarette stump through the
grating on the pavement. 1t is the
opinion of Chief Charles Schnibben, of
the fire department, that the fire was
of incendiary origin. He was one of
the first to reach the scene and when
ne got there he went to the rear Of the
building and found the back door wide
open. That door il always carefully
locked every night, and Mr.. Aubrey
walsh, one OF the statesmen in the es-
tabltshment says positively that he
shut the door himself and barred and
pinned it on Tuesday evening before
the store was closed. The latest the
DRY, therefore, is that some one secret
ed himself in the store and after rob-
biag it. set the place on fire to cover
up his tracks. 1t is evident that the
back door was not broken open, for it
bore no signs of having been violently
opend.
Owing to the sitting smoke. the fire
men could not reach the basement or
get into the first floor Of the building
The fire consequently had the advant-
age OF them and burned through the
first foor, and then swept up through
the two upper floors. carrying every
thing before it. By 5 o'clock all three
aeors were burned out and the roof
fell in. leaving the building completely
gutted. Mr.. Browns fine stock of dry
goods. carpets, etc, valued at from
sse,ese to 5000, was totally consumed
with the exception of a few odds and
ends OF the stock that got covered un-
der falling debris. He had already re-
eeived most of his spring stock.
Hundreds of people viewed the scene
yesterday, and watched the fremen in
an effort to straiGhten up the ruins as
much as possible. The large safe
which stood in the office on the second
aoor had fallen through to the base
ment. Beyond having the dial melted
eff Snd the iron sides blackened by the
Ere, It was intact with It's contents.
Mr.. H. M. Foard, the bookeeper, had
fortunately locked up the books and
what money was on hand the night be-
fore
MR. BROWNS LOSS.
Nh Browns loss will be considerably
more than his insurance, as he car
ried policies for only s19.IU0. The poll
cies were in the following companies:
Liverpool and London and Globe, 81 500;
Scottish Union and National, $1,000;
Phoenix OF Brooklyn. $1,000; Hartford,
$1,000: Piedmont. $500; New Hamp-
shire s.. 900; North America, 81, $780, Ma
tioual. s1.70O; Sun OF England. $4,000;
Philadelphia Underwriters, $500;
HONS OF New York. $500; Georgia
Home. s1.500: Springfield. $500.
The losses OF the above companies
will be as follows for the local under
writer's representing them: J. VanB.
Netts. $500; ". W. Hodges. $4,000;
Willard & Giles. $500; Walker Taylor,
$500; J. H. BoawT!ght & Son, $4,000.
Total, s19.7GJ.
MRS VOLLERS' LOSS.
The building occupied by Mr.. Brown S
store belonged to the estate of the late
Luhr Volers. 1t consisted of three
stories and a basement. ana all that is
left OF it are the two end walls. She
had policies for $4,000, in the following
companies: Wilmington Underwriters
represented by Colonel Walker Taylor
$1,000: Carolina Insurance Company. OF
Wilmington, represented by Willard s
Giles, $4,000; Phoenix Of Hartford. S.
600. 1t is estimated that the loss or
the building will be about $500.
A. DAVID COMPANY BADLY DAM
AGED.
The fire from the Vollers building
suread to Mrs. P. II. McRary's thret
story brick building occupied by tn,
wholesale and retail clothing establish
ment Of the A. David Company, on the
southwest corner Of Front and Princes:
streets. The skyIight and a portion O.