The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-02-13

~1N ISS ~ AN @1SNN MA
is no doubt but that G. w. Liuder,'
who runs a store ON the corner OF
Front and Dock and an Assyrian and
Arthur Holmes, who have stores on
Front street on the north side Of the.
Vollers building were badly dam
aged by water and smoke. The
extent of their loss, of course, cannot
be estimated. |
The fremen worked bravely and
time and again they were in serious
danger for the walls of the Vollers
building were badly cracked and all
the walls of the Bag Company fell
in soon after the fire burst through
the roof. When the fire company first
arrived on the scene they put In most
Of their work on the Front street.
building but they soon saw more
could be accomplished on Water street
and as there was greater danger of the
fire spreading on that side they has.
tened to Water street. The tug Marion
ran alongside the dock opposite the
Bag Factory and threw a stream on
the building and the Compton thre],
a stream on the store of Brooks and
Taylor, which on several occasions
seemed I 0 be doomed. The f~iercest
fire ragged in the Willard Bag Factory.
In the building was stored large quan-I
titles of cloth and bagging and this
made a terrific fire. 1t was about II
o'clock when the roof of the Bag,
Factory, with a roar, fell in n tie
flames leaped skyward. Soon after
this the wall on Water street gave
way and then a portion of the north
wall. Just enough of the wall on the
north was left standing to make 1t
dangerous for the firemen to get near.
as bricks were falling every few min
utes. A cliff of the wall on the north
west corner was left standing, the full
| height of the building and this q
to the danger OF the situation Tor IN
| its condition the firemen did not Know
! Tlen il would come crashing down.
The enormous crowd gathered along
; Water street were sure the warehouse
of J, c.. Stevenson n Company,
! wholesale grocers, was gone when the
flames burst from the roof of the Bag
Factory. The warehouse was for a
few minutes covered in flames but the
heroic efforts of the firemen who were
on the building and had a steady
stream of water pouring over the
south wall did not desert their post.
Had this stream ceased for a minute
lust at this point the building would
have been burned.
The building of Thomas ]. Gore was
not so badly damaged and it Will not
be necessary to e a down the walls.
On the Front street side on the south
OF the Vollers building is properly
owned by the Won Claim estate and
in which G.. W. Under has his store
and on the north the building OF }.
w Duls. The fire on Water street
went to what is known as Steven
sons alley. On the block where The
fire occurred is located several large
business establishments, the largest
being the jacob Hardware Company.
The Assyrians having stores IN the
block were badly frightened. Some Oh
them did not have a cent OF insurance
and in this list was the one in the
store of J. w. Duls, which was mex:
door to the Brady Music Store. GooGs
we're packed all out in the streets 2no
among other things was noticed a mat
tress. Several young men had placed
it against the front OF a store or
/ Front street and were quietly lying
back taking in the fire.
The loss of the Willard Bag Com
pany cannot be estimated purely by
the loss of the building n stocE
carried. They were doing an enor'
nous business and the force LETT I'M
building last night after y O'CLOCK
They employed about 100 girls anc
this does not include those who work,
ed in the bag department. 1t VII
mean a severe blow to- many a pool
family.
The fire was estimated as being lhe
largest since 1886. Fol 1t to nave go
under such good way before the de
partment could get a good water pres
sure, the firemen did remarkably
we'll and deserve credit. With III
of the falling walls, not a person was
hurt.
Fire was feared by merchants II
other sections OF the city on accounI
of the sparks. They fell like hal
all over the business sectlon, out ut
other fire broke out.
On the third floor Of the VOTERS
building was the old hall where u
dreds have spent many enJoyaoi
evenings. For the past Few year:
Miss Bessie Gore has had the hal
for her dancing class. She expect:
70 secure another hall at once. The
VOllers building was erected y
years ago.
EThe crowd that gathered to witness
the fire was very large and AT
o'clock this morning Front street IRON
Market to Dock was crowded Win PEG
pie. For some time there was a lar2'
crowd on Water street but seVera
wires looked like they would fall an!
minute and this caused the cro"1 U
scatter for fear of being struck b. {
live wire.
All, TuE EVIDENCE is IN