The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-02-25

OF DGnaIdSonVflle visited TINS CITY On
Wednesday last, the 22nd inst. Wiping
out nearly score of buildings in the heart
of the business and residence sections of
the community and causing property loss
estimated at approximately aquarter OF a
million dollars. Starting from defective
fue in the kitchen of the Nichols Hotel
at about 1890 o'clock a, m, the flames,
famed by high north wind, soon got
beyond control of the fremen and sWirled
through the doomed district with great
velocity, consuming frame buildings as
though they were pile of shavings and
devouring the more substantially con-
structed brick structures with seemingly
equal ease and rapidity.
The fire originated at about 1880 o'clock
in the forenoon from defective fine in
the kitchen of the Nichols Hotel. An
alarm was Immediately sounded and the
fire department responded with its usual
degree of promptitude, but despite the
best efforts Of the gallant fire ladies the
81 Z
flames gained Roadway rapidly and soon
communicated to the main building of the
hotel. a two-story frame structure. A
stiff north wind was blowing at the time
and made it virtually impossible for the
fremen to fight the conhagration with any
effect, although there was plenty of water
at hand and numerous leads of hose
available. The flames, after consuming
the hotel building, spread rapidly to the
Stephenson stable on the west and the
two LaDgbecker buildings. both tWo-story
frame structures, on the east. At this
time it was realized that the fire was be-
yond control, and r. N. Sims, with rare
presence Of mind and GOODNESS, teIephoned
to Napoleonyille, Plaquemine and White
castle for assistance. Fortunately, Paige
Harris. division superintendent of the Z.
and P. Railroad, happened TO be passing
through DonaIdsonvilIe in a special train,
and Mr.. Sims was lucky enough to catch
him at the depot Responding to the ap-
peal for help, Mr.. Harris rendered the
available facilities of the I. and z. Rail-
road and Immediately exerted himself to
do all that was possible under the cir
cumstances. A special train was made
up and despatched to NapoleonviIle, re-
turning in record time with Chief Frank
Bergeron of the Napoleonyille fire depart
ment and nearly hundred volunteers,
including a company of negro firemen who
subsequently did valiant work in subdu-
ing the flames. The train also carried
several hundred feet of hose, which at
that juncture was badly needed. about 200
feet of the local department supply hav-
ing been destroyed. The Napoleonville
fremen and equipment were loaded into
stheee-mule plantation carts which had
been stationed at the depot by the
Lemann CO.. Ltd. through the instrument
atty of Mr.. Sims, and were rushed to the
scene of the coniagration and placed un-
der the direction of Chief Henry Schaff,z
ST.. The Plaquemine and Whitecastle
fremen did not reach here until after the
fire had been extinguished, but would
have arrived sooner had it been possible
for any human agency to convey them.
In the meanwhile the fanes after de-
5stroying the Nichols Hotel. Stephenson S
stable and the Langbecker buildings, has
spread TO and eonsumed j. N. CoIomb's i'm
surance office and the several one. story
ed across the street and attacked the big
Meter store and the residence of Meyer
Meter at the corner of Railroad avenue
and Lessard street. From this point the
fire spread to the Bank of Ascension build
ing across the street from the Meter
store, and after consuming that structure,
ignited the handsome tWo-story brick
building Immediately adjoining owned and
occupied by F. Trepagnier. which was
soon in ashes. While these buildings
we're burning, the residence of Mrs. ".
Maurin. ST., in the rear of the Bank of As
eension, also took FIRE and was con-
sumed, together with the adjoining dental
Office Of DR.. S. !. Vega and the Vega
residence next door. Here the fremen
made last desperate stand, and by ex-
erting the utmost effort they succeeded in
checking the flames at the residence of D.
D. Daiferes on the west side of Lessard
street and at the residence and Office Of
l.. w. Warrick on the east side.
Sparks from the burning structures. how
ever, carried BY the wind, fell on the roof
of the tWo-story residence ID Iberville
street owned by Mrs. Felix Leblanc, and
soon this building had been entirely con-
suned, together with the two single story
frame cottages adjoining to the east, also
belonging TO Mrs. Leblanc Sparks from
this fire in turn were carried to the roof of
the tWo-story frame building 10 the rear
Of the convent of the Sisters of Charity, |
used as sehoolhouse. which was also
burned to the. ground. Not content with
wiping out many residences and business
houses in Donaldsonville. the FIRE. again
through the medium Of sparks Whirled