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

oH Nhu
the Compton Prevented Great DAM
age on the Wharf-Weak Water
Pressure Partly Responsible for the
Great Roadway of the Flames.
Company, building, stock and equip
ment. $4,000.
Mrs. Elizabeth VOIlcrs, building on
Front and also on Dock streets.
$4,000.
". \. Vollers. groceries. stock,
$4,000.
Braddy Music store. stock. $500.
IL. /. VolIcrs. goods stored in Vol
Icrs' building, $500.
Thomas J. Gore. building and stock.
$1,000.
George n. Phares & Co. furniture
stored in warehouse, $500.
Last night a few minutes after II
o'clock smoke was seen issuing from
the rear of the grocery store Of W.
A. Vollers at % South Front street.
1t was difficult to tell whether the
smoke was coming from the Vollers
building or rear of the Willard Bag
n Manufacturing Company. Some
one sent in a telephone alarm for the
chemical engine and. also a hose wag-
on. They quickly responded to the
alarm and when they reached the
store and saw the extent of the fire a
general alarm was sent in. When the
deqArtment first arrived they were
badly handicapped by a poor water
pressure. A stream could not be
thrown to the second floor of the Vol
lers building and it was at least three
quarters of an hour before a good
pressure was to be had. In the mean
time the entire Vollers building and
also the building of the Willard Bag
and Manufacturing Company were in
flames. By l o'clock the fire was un-
der control but in the meantime prop
erty had been destroyed to the ex-
tent of between $4,000 and $4,000.
Several of the local insurance men,
as q rough estimate, placed the total
lost at the above figures. There was,
of course, a diversity of opinion as
is always the case in estimating, but
the general opinion seemed to be that
$75, 900 or $50, 900 would cover the
loss. 1t was impossible last night to
get anywhere near a correct estimate
of the insurance, but from what
could be learned the stock and build
ings burned were fairly we'll covered.
The following buildings were burn
ed: Willard Bag and Manufacturing
Company, three story building on Wa
ter street from No. 13 to 81; building
valued at S1O,O 900; stock on hand of
overall goods, overalls and hemp bag
'bing, $25, 1000 and equipment $4,000.
Building and stock very we'll covered
with insurance.
Building owned by Mrs. Elizabeth
Vollers and having two stores in same
on Front street. one at % South Front
occupied by w. A. Vollers, groceries
and liquors and % occupied by the
Brady Music Store. There was
a store on Dock street that was
used as a store room. On the
second floor was practically moth
ing and on the third floor was what
has always been known as Ger1ranla
Hall. The estimated value Of the
building is placed at $4,000; stock OF
W. A. Vollers at $4,000; stock OF
Brady Music store about $500, and on
the Dock street side H. L. Vollers had
goods stored that were worth from
$1,000 to $1,000. 1t is learned that the
building was amply insured but 1t is
not known to what extent the stock
was insured. The walls OF the o
lers building are standing but are
badly cracked and will have to be
pulled down.
The last building to catch was that
of Thomas Gore on the southwest
corner of Water and Dock streets. Be
fore the main building suffered to an
extent several small buildings on Dock
street and just to the rear OF his saloon
were burned, the walls only ie1'
standing. The building on the corner
was a brick building and was esuma
ed to be worth about SS,OoO and stoch
carried $4,000. Mr.. Gore stated ina
his insurance would by no means
cover his loss.
Alderman w. w. Kings undertake
ing establishment was in n or ne
buildings on Dock street and IT Is
not known just what his loss VII
be. AS a rule he did not carry a large
stock.
The firm of CASTOR D. Phares and
Company had $500 of furniture which
they received yesterday stored In 9
ware room in the rear OF the Willard
Bag and Manufacturing Company and
this was a total loss.
When the fire first broke ont Il
looked like every building on the
block between Water and Front ane