The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1917-01-19
Fridays Disastrous Fire.

Crescent City suffered a disastrous
fire last Friday morning when the
store and home of Mr.. and Mrs. Aus
tin was completely destroyed, togeth-
err with all contents. The fire was
discovered shortly after 10 o'clock in
the forenoon, but at the time of dis
covery had made such Roadway that
by the time help could arrive it was
among the impossibilities to put it
out or save anything from interior
of the burning building.
The lower floor of the building was
used as a store, while the upper, or
second story was used as residence
flat. Shortly after ten o'clock Mr..
Austin went upstairs and started a
fire in the kitchen stove; then he
closed the door and returned to the
store. 1t was some time after that
they were aroused by hearing some
sort of cracking noise, which was at
first dismissed as unimportant; but
the noises grew lowder, and then APP
peared to come from upstairs; Mrs.
Austin then went upstairs, opened
the kitchen door and was pushed back
by great volume of black smoke
which came through the door. She
ran back down stairs and gave the
alarm. By this time the smoke and
flames were issuing out of the back,
upstairs window and, seen by par
ties on the street, they also gave the
alarm. In a moment more there was
roaring, belching sheet of flame
and smoke breaking from the rear
and sides of the upper part of the
building and falling through the floor
to the lower story. Some few ar
ticles were saved from the stock but
before the crowd could arrive it was
found impossible to enter the store.
There was nothing to do but allow
the building to burn and direct at
tention to the saving of adjoining
buildings. Fortunately the wind was
from the north. Had it been from
the south or southeast it would have
been impossible to save the residence
of B. F. Pursell and his stable ad-
Joining and the other building stretch
ING toward Lake Stella. A bucket
brigade by the continuous pouring of
water on the Pursell home, as it was,
only saved it from destruction. The
fire was so hot that it was impossi-
BILE to pass in front of the burning
store on the opposite side of the
street, and once or twice the fence of
S. E. Neal caught afire. In little
over a half hour the building was a
smoking, smeuldering ruin.
Mr.. and Mrs. Austin saved nothing
except what they wore. All their
clothing, household effects and accu-
mutations of years, together with
what ready money they had on hand
was destroyed. Their stock, consist
ing of dry-goods, notions, shoes and
millinery, amounting 60 several thous-
ands of dollars, was total loss.
Being well along in years, this loss
! falls with double force, and they are
only sure of the deep sympathy of
all the people in this section, where
they have lived for about forty years.
years.
There was insurance on stock and
building amounting ito $1,7OO, but
this is only drop in the bucket COM
pared with the loss.
Mr.. and Mrs. Austin own house
on South Prospect street, unfurnish'
ed, but they have fixed up at least
temporary quarters there and viii
reside there until they can determine
their future course.
This disastrous fire renews atten'
ton in a costly way to the towns
need for that protection which a wa
ter system would give. And it !:
encouraging to note that the people
are now generally discussing this
need.