The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-03
FIERCE FIRE.
AT Y \. WILSON /. N
.Conflagrationa Wipes Ou't
the Prosperous Caro-
lima Town.
DOZEN BUILDINGS BURNED 7''I .E
Center Warehouse, That Of Coop
er s. Watson and Dozen BUSH
Iii ness Houses Destroyed.
DOZEN BUILDINGS BURNED l.E

tspeclnl to Tho Times. Dlspateh.)

q t..
WILSON, N. tC.. Jan. "a conflagrn-
4tion which began here at 1i:45 last night
G(Snturday) destroyed a dozen brick ana
+ frame buildings. Including the handsome
Center Warehouse. n large brick strtc-t
ture, containing IL large stock or lea 10
3bncco, caused a total gross loss or prod
ably 100000, and for two hours seriously
mcnaced the business section of the town
The flames when discovered had gained
Jslch Roadway that 1t was impossible to
stay their progress, aud stiff vino
made the task or the flremcnt but tho
more hopeless, While the fire was at its
height II call for assistance was 'phoned
to the fire department at Rocky Mount,
but when just before A. NJ a reply was
received stating that they were ready
/, to start, the conflagrntion was under cons
troll, and the request for assistance was
countermanded. s,'& lt 3 Y,
The flames; were discovered ut 1l:4b
r.. NJ. In the warehouse OF Cooper & Wat
son, which was soon destroyed with It's
contents, a considerable quantity Of leaf
tobocco and tho flames spread to adjoin-
Ing property. The flames spread to the
adjoining building, the Bats block, which
was totally destroyed and then leaped to
the Center warehouse substantial Drick
structure, containing about 125 900 pounds
OF fine bright leaf tobacco. !583
Adjoining the Center warehouse was
the barroo1n of Lewis & Cook, one
story brick structure, owned by w. e.
Morris. This, too was soon swept away
and the flames were communicated to tho
grocery store of Hayes & Son, q .one-story
brick struct,ve, owned by W.tH. Nor
iris and thence to the livery stable of John
Y. Morris, a two story brick building,
owned by u .jT. Virgins, both OF which
were destroyed. The horses We're saved
aud most Of the vehicles.
Across the street the fierce heat soon
limited the brick livery stable OF w. !
Clark, the building owned by j. -. Wig
gins, and next to that leaped to tile
horseshoelng shop Of Young d FfargroVe,
a one story brick building, owned by j.
ed and next came q negro restaurant the
structure being owned by f. A. WOOD
ward This, ,$swas burned,
|sfThc ore-story frame bar-room OF III.
IT. Davis building owned by f. a. Wood
Ward) was thesnext to go, and the ten
lin alley of John Broaddus, djoining,
was soon swept away. This, too, was
owned by Nll,t Woodward. The two ,.
story frame livery and sales stable, own
ed and occupied by Edwards l3rothers
was next destroyed, after q stubborn n
/ fight. ~ :,
BY this time the desperate struggle Of
th9s firemen and: citizens began to tell.
ana shortly before 2 AM, . fire was
under control, though 1T burned With con-.
si6era Bile fury until 3, S'it;s 7
Tie totalEloss, as stated, is estimated
apnroxirns tely atlasl0O 600, and Is Dut
slightly oil fset lby insurance, the owners
q nd occupants Of the burned properties
carrying .;llttle or none: "a For; more 4 IMAM
two hours theIflre was one Or the 1ho2st
n,enacing in the historysofathe town. j: =