The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-02-28

swept the southern portion of this city
today doing great damage. The losses
are variously estimated at from one
million to two million dollars. Three
charred corpses have been found among
the ruins and several persons are re-
ported missing, the death list may be
increased. The identity of the victims
has not been established. One of the
bodies is supposed to be that of a fe-
male guest of the Grand Central Hotel.
WORST F'IRE IN THE HISTORY OF
THE STATE.
The fire which started at $3.50 o'clock
this morning was the worst this state
has ever experienced, and in five hours
had burned over an area of one square
mile. Block after block of residences,
business houses, hotels and other build
ings were swept away and the entire
town was panic stricken, although the
fire was confined to the southern part
Of the city. Telegraph and telephone
lines were destroyed and these services
were temporarily demoralized.
The fire swept area includes every
house on Chapel street, on all Market
street from central avenue west; Or
ange street to Grand avenue and por-
ton of Oak street.
SOME OF THE BURNED BUILDINGS
Among the buildings destroyed are
the Grand Central Hotel the Lee House,
Moody Hotel, Plateau Hotel, Columbia
Hotel, the County court house. jail,
First Methodist church, the Jawish
church and residence and stores to g.
large number, conservatively estimated
at from 200 to 250.
The fire started in the Grand Central
Hotel, and its origin is a mystery. All
of the guests had retired for the night
and only the night clerk and watchman
were on duty when the flames were dis
covered.
A strong north wind was blowing and
before the fire department could reac.1
the scene, the flames spread rapidly
to adjoining buildings. A general alarm
was sounded and every engine in the
city responded. Guests in the big hotels
were awakened and hundreds of these
hastily dressed and repaired to the
scene of the conf1agration.
FLAMES COULD NOT BE CHECKED
The f1remen and police worked val
iantly but their efforts could not check
the onward march Of the flames and to
add to their difficulties the water pres
sure gave out at o'clock. Bucket
brigades were then formed. citizens
and visitors alike volunteering their
services. Excitment was manifested
everywhere when the flames got beyond
control. Many lodging houses AMI
cheap restaurants were in the
rath of the fire, and the occu-
pants were hurriedly apprised of their
danger Many in their anxiety, jump
ed from windows and sustained severe
bruises and shocks.
STRONG WIND FANS THE FIRE.
At daybreak the wind increased in
force and famed the flames into q
seething glare which lighted UP the
country for miles around The fire
swept along Central avenue, south, eat
ing UP building after building before
occupants could recover their valua-
bles. Many Of them barely escaped
with their lives.
On the west side of Central avenue q
strip of woods covering about ten acres
the progress of the fire to the
west.
The Park Hotel through a favorable
shift in the wind escaped possible de-
struction. The guests were hurriedly
from their rooms and many
Of them packed trunks and valises and
made their way to the streets. The
Arlington and Eastman Hotels were
not in the threatened district
People WE'RE PANIC STRICKEN.
After the fire had gained full head
way the streets became choked with
people. Hundreds of those who had
been driven from their houses were
running frantically about. some carry
Ing clothing. valises. and other prop
erty looking for q place OF safety. The