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THE RANDALL RUBEL PAPERS



From Chronicle Extras

 

Terrific Fire

 

More than Half the Busi­ness Part of the City Consumed

The Court House, Chancery Clerk’s Office,

Franklin Hall, Melodeon Hall, Business, Houses and

Residences a com­plete Wreck

 

This city was visited on last night and Sunday morning with a disaster unequaled in magnitude since its first origin. A fire broke out in a frame building in the rear of  Kineannon's Tin and Queensware store on Franklin Street, between Second and Third. The alarm was given about half past eleven P. M., yesterday and before help could arrive the fire had attacked all the surrounding buildings, first some other frame buildings between franklin and  Commerce streets, and very soon the main building  Kineannon's From this it spread  with appalling rapidity to the adjoining stores traveling more rap­idly west than east in consequence of the number of frame buildings In that direction Very soon the whole length of the square, from Alwell's block to Second St., was in flames.  Alwell's block being a three story brick edifice with a slate roof; and considerably higher than the neighboring stores was an obstacle to its progress farther south.

Soon however, the falling in of the houses on the south side of M. Mathill, confectionary and resident Levelle & Larkin furniture, W. A. Settle, M.A. Young and Conroy, all family groceries; office of Tobacco Leaf; M. Sullivan,  Charles Lehman, saloon Buck's barber shop, Weill's confec­tionary Estle gun shop W. E, Hendricks, J. N.  P.T. P. Burke agr'l implements Franklin Bank; Bailey & Dabney, family grocery; W. J. McCormac, photograph gallery; J. F. Warfield drugs.

The more important records and papers that were in the Court House and Chancery Office are saved.  Most of the buildings were covered, though inadequately with insurance.  The aggregate loss to our citizens cannot yet be estimated but it must be immense, not only from the property consumed but through the loss of business since with most of them it occurs at a time of year when a suspension carries with it nearly the years operations.  Strong suspicions of incendiaries are afloat, but the matter is under investigation and we any nothing more at present.

Our neighbor of the Tobacco Leaf saved their books and papers and a small portion of their material their loss is covered with an insurance of $3,200 and it is hoped they will soon be able to resume in full. Their present work will be done for the present in this office. We tender them our warmest sympathy and our aid in every way which may be found practicable.

The senior editor of the paper had his private apartment in the Alwell block and was in monetary expectation of losing everything he had, including his valuable library; but a thirteen inch wall without an opening, saved him, and not only him but the whole of the west side of the business part of town. This brings to us a very serious question, the fire proof walls of the Alwell and Hillman blocks saved what is left of the city Some years ago we repealed some excellent laws for­bidding frame buildings within cer­tain limits of the city,

 

Monday April 15, 1878

Public Meeting

           

A public meeting of citizens was called and assembled at the Market House at 12 p.m.  The  Hon.  G. A.  Henry was unanimously called to the chair.  Mr. M. V. Ingram, of the Tobacco Leaf, and Dr. D.F. Wright, of the of the CA ronicle were on motion appointed Secretaries. Dr. Cobb moved that a committee should be appointed to draft resolutions appropriate to the occasion.  Carried unanimously.  The Chair appointed Dr. Cobb, W.J. Ely, B.W. Macrae, F.P. Gracey, D.F. Kennedy and J.P. Y. Whitfield. The city ordinance reported in another place was read and the room being too small the meeting adjourned to the public square.

Here were read telegrams from the directors of the St. L & S.  E.R.R.

 

St.  Louis, Mo., 15, 1878 10:30. P. M.  V. Ingram: Have just learned of the fearful calamity to your city.

accept my sincere sympathy for your personal loss and for the de­struction of your beautiful city can we be of any service to you in the transportation line?   If so please indicate it. C. H Crosby

 

Evansville, Ind. April 14.—M. V.  Ingram - it is with sincere re­gret we learn of your great calam­ity. Only wish we could have got­ten assistance to you earlier, but did the best we could. - J. M. Shepard.

 

Judge Burton was then called for and took the stand. He alluded to rumors that were being circulated seriously affecting the peace of the city and the amicable feeling of the two races inhabiting it These ru­mors related to the killing a black man by the police on the night of  the fire and to the idea that the fire was the result of incendiaries iv revenge for the killing. He con­tended that public feeling needed to be satisfied on the subject and that both transactions ought to be inves­tigated by a committee, and impartial tribunal He therefore moved that a committee be appointed to consist of ten members, in which both races shall be represented

The following was the committee appointed: Hon. H. H. Burton, P. G. Johnson, Ex-Mayor Sullivan, John Rick, D. Kincannon, John O'Brien J. A. Jackson A. Ewing and John Bailey. The last three members are colored men. Dr. Cobb then read the following as the report of the committee ap­pointed upon his motion. 

Whereas, The disastrous and la­mentable fire of Saturday night and Sunday morning last has demon­strated to the citizens of the city of Clarksville and Montgomery county, Tennessee the lamentable errors and defects committed in the past in building up our city, and the re­cent fire having given to us ocular proof of what should be done and what avoided in the future, in the construction of buildings. Be it therefore resolved That it is the impera­tive duty of our city authorities now to pass such city ordinances as will prevent and avoid in the future the construction of any building within certain city limits, to be designated by them as shall not be so built as to be fire—proof or which shall not lie constructed or built otherwise than under ordinances passed by the city, and which ordinances shall conform to well ascertained rules and regulations as adopted in the best regulated cities. of the United States for prevention of fires and other defects


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