The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-01-05

A telephone message at I O'Clock
this morning from Wilson to The Mes
senser brought the information that a
terrible fire was raging in the heart
of the business section Of the city
and was threatening to do extensive
damage. The estimated loss at that
time, when four large buildings had
been burned was 100000. After two
o'clock another message was received
stating that the flames were under
control, but much more damage had
resulted and the total loss will prob
ably reach 100000. Before the
Rocky Mount fire company, which
had been appealed to for aid, could
respond, the fire was under control
and the request was countermanded.
The fire started in Cooper and
Watson's warehouse at 11:45 p. m.
and the building was totally destroy
ed. About 10000 pounds of tobacco
was stored in the building.
The flames spread from the ware
house to an adjoining three-story
brick building belonging to the w. j.
Bats estate. This building was also
totally destroyed. The first floor OF
the building was occupied by Webb's
saloon, but the second and third
stories were unoccupied.
The Bats building being a tall
structure caused the flames to leap
across the street, setting fire to the
Centre Warehouse, occupied by Co
zart, Goggles and Carr. About 10000
pounds of tobacco was also stored in
this building, which was totally de-
stroyed.
Another warehouse belonging to
Woodard and Jones was also totally
destroyed.
The building belonging to the Bats
estate and the Centre Warehouse
were both brick buildings The
other warehouses were two story
frame buildings.
I 1t was pouring down rain in Will
| son last night, but still the fire COM
panies were unable to get the fire
under control.
The total amount Of insurance car
| ried on the different buildings could
| not be learned last night. Cooper and
| Watson had $4,000 on their ware
| house, but this will not cover the
loss.
| LATER NEWS.
| It was learned at z:15 a. m. that
| eight other buildings had been de-
| stroyed, but at that time the fire was
| under control.
| The other buildings burned were:
| A one story brick building owned by
| W. II. Morris, and occupied by Lewis
| and Coopers bar room.
One story brick building owned by
| w. H. Morris and occupied by Hayes
| and Son, groceries.
Two story brick livery stable, build
4 IN hSr D livery
business by John G. Moore.
| Two story brick livery stable, on
the opposite side of the street. Build
ing owned by J. P. Virgins and livery
business by w. L. Cork.
Two story frame building owned by
J. P. Virgins and occupied by Young
and Hargrove's blacksmith shop.
| One story frame building owned by
F. A woodard and used as a restau-
rant
One story frame building owned by
F. A. Woodard and occupied by Mr..
7. Davis saloon.
Ten pin alley owned by F. A.
Woodard, run by John Brogdon.
Two story frame livery stable own
ed and occupied by Edwards Broth
|, erS-
All of the above buildings were to-
, tally destroyed.
. | Mount asking for assistance, but a
o'clock the Rocky Mount company
had not started, so the request was
, | countermanded.
In less than two hours and a hall
, more than one hundred thousand dol
lars worth of property was destroyed
! This is a very conservative estimate
of the loss, many thinking that j
: will exceed this sum.
About a quarter of million pound
: of tobacco was burned. Two horse
r were burned at Cooper and Watson
warehouse.
The firemen, assisted by hundred
: OF the citizens. fought the flame
!, heroically. The fire would rag
. fiercely on one side of the street 70
: awhile and then sweep across to tn
: opposite side.
Z The principal buildings destroye
| were either warehouses or liver
! stables. The warehouses had man
. thousand pounds of tobacco stowe
- away in them and this caused the firt
!, when once started. to burn rapidly
After the fire had once gained goo
headway In the warehouses 1t woul
e have been almost impossible to hav
. saved any of them with the mos
modern IRE fighting apparatus