The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-03
Among the Structures Burned are the
Masonic Temple, the Bank Of Rocky
Mount and the Sherrod Building.
The Known Loss is Placed at About
$4,000 With Insurance of $48,-
900. Already Rocky Mounts San.
guine and Progressive People are
Preparing to Rebuild.
Especial to News and Observer

(Speclal 10 news anu ODSeINSlI
Rocky Mount, N. c., March AT
11:3 last night while the moon was shin
ing bright Policeman Sumner discovered
a small flame just outside the southeast
window in the second story of the Masonic
Temple which contains the opera house.
He Immediately turned in the fire alarm,
the fire company responded promptly, but
in spite of their efforts the flames leaped
to the scenery behind the stage and the
splendid temple which contains the Post
Office, Cutchell Brothers, gentlemens $
furnishing goods store. the Rocky Mount
Insurance Agency on the first floor the
opera house on the second floor and the
large halls used by the Masons and other
orders on the third floor, was wrapped
in flames from bottom to top.
The large two story building belonging
to Taylor and Cuthrell, containing Ty-
sons Shoe Store, Cochran's Clothing
Store Levy Brothers Grocery Store and
the Rocky Mount Furniture Co., on the
first floor and sample rooms sleeping
apartments and Red Mems hall on the
story brick building of the Bank of
Rocky Mount On the north was soon
ablaze and burned to the ground.
The second story of the building was
used by the Telephone Company as CEN
trail office.
The fire company fought bravely and
succeeded in stoppin.. the flames at the
Rocky Mount Furniture Company store
h,Yci Of no
town seemed to be doomed.
For three hours the magnificent little
fire engine poured two mighty streams
upon the mountain of flames and Tor the
second time saved the town.
About the time the fire was gotten
under control the second alarm was
turned in from the third ward, where
fire was discovered in the armory of the
Second Regiment band on the second floor
of the Sherrod Building on east Railroad
Street After heroic efforts this was ex-
tinguished with little loss to building
But for the prompt response of the fire
company this fire would have been more
serious than the first one. The band
saved all the instruments but about Is
or 90 uniforms which were entirely con-
sumed.
The origin of this second fire was evi-
IDENTIFY incendiary, as the fumes of oil
were plain to all.
This morning the postoffice is at work
in the old Hales and Edwards building
and Postmaster Robbins, is doing all
in his power to facilitate the government
business. The Bank of Rocky Mount
opened business this morning on time in
the Savings Bank building and there will
be no inconvenience from the fire so far
as they are concerned. The vault con-
tanning the money, books and papers has
not been opened yet. but there is no
doubt they will be found all right.
All other losers have made or are MAX
ing arrangements to resume business.
But the Corinthian Lodge of Masons
who owned and loved, and had made great
sacrifices for the magnificent Temple
which was burned. their loss is saddest
of all l heard one of them say today,
"Our building was worth S20, 900 we did
not save an article even our charter and
dear old Bible is gone. We owe $4,000
and we have $4,000 insurance. Our lot