The courier-index., 1918-08-16
i Stared in Griffis-Newbern De-
|rtment Store and Burned Build
|cs IN Both Sides of Street as Far
birth as Beazley's--Bank Of Mari
Ina Building is Saved on South
n HarringtOn's Drug Store on
birth of the Burned Area.

een business institutions put out of house and home!
ven BIG brick buildings reduced to ashes!~
onerty valued at not less than million dollars lost!
bref is the result of the terrible fire that all but
zd Marianna last Tuesday morning. .
nhn less than three hours from the time the alarm
ded at five fortyfive Tuesday morning the heart of
sness district mass OF ruins.
aiming at the big three-sory department store OF the
|Newbern Company, extending north on the west side
lar street to the Beazey building; and on the east side
lar street beginning with frame building opposite
nk Of Marianna owned by Mrs. w. w. Longey and oc-
by Earl Harris. tailor extending north to and including
man building occupied by the Mississippi Cash Store,
made clean sweep. Ten days previous another fire
Bhoyed the buildings occupied by Davis & Sims Brian
and Louie Wilenzick. This gap the north side of
area Tuesday morning is all that saved more than a
other rbck buildings in that block, beginning with the
lore then the Atkins building the occupied by
an Company and extending east to the building occu-
the Newbern Grocer Company.
the west side of Poplar street the fire was halted by
NJ fire wall the south side of the Beazey building
Ne flames overcome this barrier they would have de-
all the property in that block taking in Harringtons
store, the E. ]. Beazey Company, Turner's drug store,
ten Company the corner and other buildings on
Main street.
e fire originated in the Griffs-Newbern building. Its
not definitely known, though it is believed to have
aused by defective wiring
Monday night about ten O'Clock when w. D. Newbern
wife about to leave the store, Mrs. Newbern
she detected odors of fire. Mr. Newbern went all
ne building and found evidence of fire anywhere.
e after leaving the store he went back two differ
caons to examine more closely in places where he
yea there might be fire. but found none. He informed
nl polcema Dave Shea, ad asked him to keep an eye
building
| intervals through the night, Mr.. Shea went to the
and looked all around but found everything appar-
l right AS late five O'Clock Tuesday morning sew
es passed the building and evidences OF fire
made his last inspection at five twenty or thirty
Long negro porter at the Bank of Mariana, located
mry feet of the Griffis-Newbern building, was at
Tween live and five thirty sweeping out the bank lie
IRE The night telephone operator the third floor
nk OF Marianne building, observed nothing suspicious
Az lorty-fve the flames burst out OF every wIndow
% anu oor and within less than half an hour the build
b u runs 1t is believed the fire smodered several
l @ lnothing but smoke produced All the openings
|; ee and because there draft the fire did not
u" names until the pressure became great that the
snt were broken. Within very few minutes after the
IH,o OUT the flames spread the street to the
nlhe and the Jarratt building occupied by Harris
M song south wind swept the conflagraton ON both
MI I street. to buildings the north. Next TO the
he Mrcrh building, separated only by narrow alley,
n th ,a S,ntock building occupied by w. w. Cmsums $
bnl; M Observation-Disclosures general store and the McCn
oo oaoguarers law offices of w. L. Ward, offices of
WI benham, real estate and insurance; offices OF
Ihn "ai Dr. w. B. Bean, DIR. W. w. Longley. DR.. W. A.
N ra" nus l. P Foster and F. t. Sellers, real estate
In h M oi the Woman's Self Culture Club. Within less
h a tne fire had consumed this building and easily
peons narrow alley to the Grove building, occupied
|Ae fp Savings Bank and by Houston Potts, hardware
ipbt department. which had been making game Dut
|nce.uo oand an ally in the Beazley wall. The depart
@ Its efforts to checking the fire at this wall
he e e wind stilled for long enough period to en-
The no to successfully combat the conflagraon
HE side of the street little could be done BY the
east reached the Grove building all the structures
work M Soe had been burned down By exceptionally