Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-11
DALTON TO REBUILD
FIRE SWEPT BLOCKS,
!. TOTAL Loss $4,000
Handsome and Modern Build
ings Will Rise on Ruins of
Blocks That Were Destroy
ed by Morning Flames
(specIal DIspatch to The Journall

Especial Dispatch to The Journal)
DALTON, Ga, April 1O.-Almost before
the last smoldering heap of the disas-
trous fire of Sunday morning had ceased
10 burn plans were being made by prop
erty owners. to raise upon the scene of
the disastrous confagration modern and
superior buildings. While the insurance
will not begin to cover the loss, other
capital will be added by the progressive
property owners and out of the ruins will
grow two handsome business blocks.
At O'Clock Sunday morning the fire
which devastated about a block and a
half of Dalton's business center was un-
der control, having eaten its way to the
north wall of the two-story brick building
owned by ]. T. Richardson. In it's wake
was a smoldering mass of ruins of what
had been two of this city's handsomest
structures, Hotel Dalton and the A. ].
Showalter building.
BY $50 o'clock Sunday morning hun
dreds of people were on the streets view
ing the ruins. revised list of losses and
estimated insurance follows:
Hotel Dalton, building and equipment,
SS5. 900; insurance, $4,000.
The A. ]. Showalter company $4,000;
insurance, SAP. $50.
Opera house building. $4,000; insurance.
81. 400.
Fincher & Nichols drug store $4,000;
insurance, $9,470.
McWilliams Bros department store.
$25, 900; insurance, $11, 900.
w. A. Robertson. $4,000 insurance, s4,-
900.
The Thomas Dry Goods company. $1,000:
insurance. $1,000.
Building occupied by Dalton Buggy
company, s2OOO insurance. $1,000.
The New Dalton cafe, $1,000; insurance.
s, ZOO.
Secret order paraphernalia. $500; in
surance, 1000
Cuts. etc, belonging to publications
printed by A. J. Showalter Co. SIS, 600
Total loss, $275, 100. Insurance amounting
to only about S125, 900 was carried.
When the fire, which was destined to
prove the greatest disaster in the way of
property lost in the history of Dalton,
was first discovered, the entire north
western part of the Hotel Dalton build
ing was in flames. Warnings were sent
to all parts of the building, and all of
the guests made a safe exit with the
exception OF C. H. Downing, local en-
gineer, connected with the N. s. Jordan
Engineering company who was panic
stricken and leaped from the third story
of the burning building, alighting in a
network of telephone wires which greatly
broke the force of his fall. His room was
In flames when he jumped, and his rash
deed is attributed to the pain inflicted
by the flames.
WOMEN PANIC STRICKEN.
Several women, becoming panic strick-
en- were forcibly removed from the
building by the male guests, and when
the roll was finally called every guest
had been accounted for. The rapidity
with which the flames ate their way
through the large hostelry makes IL lit
tie short OF marvellous that some of the
guests were not burned to death before
they could be warned. Practically all lost
their clothing and personal belongings,
the value of which is not estimated in
the list above.
When the fire department reached the
confiagration it was seen at a glance
that Hotel Dalton was doomed, and they
Immediately gave the bigger part of
their attention to work on the buildings
at the south. brisk north wind prevent
ed the flames from spreading northward.
this being assisted by a four-story wall
of the hotel.
Seeing the danger, call for help was
sent to the Chattanooga fire department
An engine in charge Of First Assistant
Chic j. C. c. Garner and with six
firemen were rushed here by special train,
but so quick and deadly was the work
OF the flames that when the men and
apparatus reached here at 1888 o'clock
the flames were dying out. 1T was not
found necessary TO unload the engine
from the car.
In Hotel Dalton were located the stores
of the following firms. whose loss was
total: Mcwilliams Brothers (two stores).
w. A. Robertson and Fincher & Nichols
(two stores).