The sea coast echo., 1906-05-19
DWELLING 0F MAYOR
EDWARDS DESTROYED
BY FIRE SATURDAY NIGHT =
COTTAGE ADJOINING OWNED
BY DR.. TURNER ALSO DES-
TROYED-CAUSE OF FIRE UN-
KNOWN - ONLY $1,000 INSUR-
ANCE CARRIED, AND THAT ON
THE EDWARDS PROPERTY.


Fire on Saturday night entirely de-
stroyed the Edwards dwelling and the
building adjoining, occupied by Samuel
Breard as furniture store and dwelling,
! in Washington street.
The alarm was sounded at about 1f:t5
o'clock by the ringing Of the Catholic
Church bell, used as the official fire bell
for the city, by Ben. L. Posey, night
/ operator for the Cumberland Telephone
/ Company, in the Planchet Building,
adjoining the church. Shortly before,
L. NJ. Gex had closed his place of busi-
I ness and was on his way home, walking
! up Goodchildren street, when he dis
/ covered the rear of the Edwards build
ing enyeloped in flames. The alarm OF
/ fire was quickly given, and Mrs. Ed
wards and daughters, who had retired,
while the Messrs. Edwards were out at
/ tending the entertainment for the ceme-
! terry benefit, barely escaped with their
lives, fleeing without shoes and only
partially clad in street wearing apparel.
The Edwards dwelling was a two
story frame building, with slate roof, of
unusually large and handsome prop or
tions and was comparatively a new
structure Modern in detail and equip
ment, the interior was exceptionally at
tTactive and convenient, and even until
quite recently from time to time ''finish-
ing touches" were being added. Mrs,
Kate Edwards owned the property and,
with her daughters and sons, one of
whom, Hon. Jno. K. Edwards, is mayor
of the city, occupied it as their home.
/ No insurance was carried on the build
ing until lately, when policy for $4,000
was taken out in the Mechanics and
Traders Insurance Co., Of New Orleans,
through Geo. r. Rea, representing the
Merchants Bank Insurance Agency.
/ There was no insurance on the contents.
! With the exception Of d small amount
of parlor furniture and few rugs,
everything was lost, including the en-
tire wardrobe of every member OF the
| family. The books of the lumber firm
OF Mrs K. Edwards C Sons were fortu-
nately saved.
Adjoining the Edwards dwelling was
the business place and home Of Samuel
Breard, the building owned by Mrs.
Laura Turner, wife OF Dr.. r. j. Turner,
and on which no insurance was carrie d.
The Edwards loss is roughly estimated
at $1,000, and Mrs. Turner's property at
about 81 900. How the fire originated
| is unknown. 1t started from the kitchen,
and, when discovered by Mr.. Gex, was
already we'll under headway.
Mrs. Edwards will rebuild as early as
possible, and it is the present intention
to duplicate the former structure. In
the meantime, the family, temporarily
stopping in the home of Judge Breath
and family, will occupy the Joseph
Combel property, rented TO Mr.. c. A.
Fricke, whose family will summer in
Europe. AS to DR.. Turner's intention
of building, no expression in the prem
ises has been given out.
The Edwards interests seem to be the
victim of series of misfortunes, as
every local reader is aware. Repeated
death and other misfortunes seem to
follow the family, and much sympathy
for these excellent people is felt and
expressed. Scarcely year ago the Ed
wards saw mill was totally destroyed by
fire, entailing a loss of fully $4,000,
with no insurance. Sunday morning,
after the fire, Messrs. Edwards learned
that their steam tug boat had sunk to
the bottom of the waters, and it was with
much difficulty and expense that the
boat was raised during the week.