The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-11-02

The fire which swept away the large
BlOunt building and the Brent build
ing early yesterday morning. destroy
ing all Of the contents and completely
cutting that portion OF the PalafOy
street block from Garden almost rO
Romano, was the cOstliest c0nfagrd-
ton that Pensacola has experienced 81
since the great fire of 1880.
AS shown I'm the table Of losses and
insurance published today, The Jour
nails hurried estimate of the total
losses of 100000. as given yesterday
morning, was not far out of the way
It is impossible of course to get at the
exact loss and the tabulated state
ment published herewith ls regarded
as a very conservative estimate. I'm
that table the losses sustained bv the
telephone, electric light. and street
car companies is not given. To was
not great. but Still aggregated a con-
siderable amount Other losses which
it was not possible 20 estimate were
also not included.
viii Rebuild.
While r. G.. Brent who owns tho
greater part of the PalafOx street
frontage of the burned section. has
not yet definitely decided what he iu-
tends to do about rebuilding. he has
determined To- clear away the debris
Immediately and it IS understood that
ne has under consideration the erec-
ton of a magnificent six story bu'ld-
ing on the site of the present ruins.
w A. BlOunt, who owns the proper
ty on the corner of Palaf0x and Car
den, is now In Chicago and nothing
could be learned yesterday regarding
his intentions. It Is certain however.
that he will rebuild and it is prac-I-
cally certain that the structure which
he viii erect viii be a fine one
Insurance Was Small.
The fact that few Of the occupants
Of the burned property carried any
where Ike adequate insurance, aud
that many of them carried none at au.
has been the cause of great deal OF
surprise The matter is easily exc
planned when DC is known that the in-
surance rate on goods located fin the
burned buildings ranged from 9 20
2 40 per Cent-a rate which MAIDS
The carrying of much insurance in
some of the businesses almost impOs-
sible
Building a Fire Trap.
The high rate of insurance fs exc
planned by the fact that insurance
men regard the Brent property as but
little better than a fire trap. In fact,
f the structure had been erected with
hat object I'm view it Us doubtful f a
better fire trap could have been put
up. The interior was constructed
mostly of pitch pine. and a IOng nall
way ran through the center OF the
building. north and south. almost
my portion of &c could hardly help
Jut sweep the entire structure. as tbs
natural draft through the long pass
geWay must necessarily be createf.
Tne hall was equipped with fire doors.
put these were seldom If ever closed.
md when the fire was discovered
here was not sufficient time To- close
hem and shut Of the draft
Fire Departments Fine Work.
The fire department under Chief
3icker has received a great deal NJ
raise for the way the fire was c0n-
rolled IL is a miracle that ir did nct
weep the whole western portion of
he city clear through 90 the water
rOnt and had there been strong
lreeze blowing it would assured'y
ave done so.
A Desolate Spectacle.
TIE scene Of the fire presented a
Ics0late spectacle yesterday. The
walls of the buildings had either tai
en- or the most dangerous parts OF
hem had been pulled down. and the
gEOle area which the day previous
lad been prosperous business block
vas simply a mass Of sm0ulderins
uins.
The Street Cleared.
PalafOx street was impassable at
hat point but the city street forc5
vent to work early and before noon
lad the brick and other debris cleared
way so that teams and street cars