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Show TUB FIRE LAST SIGHT. About fifteen rin-f t icvcn Iat evening, th: cry of ' fire'' sounded throjgb the city, followed by the exclamations ex-clamations upon all tides, "the Walker House is afire," "the Walker House is burniDg." Everybody within hearing at once Etarted for the Walker House, regardless of the strain of sweet sounds preparing at the theatre, and thoughtless thought-less of waiting wives and sweethearts on tiptoo of expectation. Arrived at the spot, the firo proved to bo in a small onc-itoiy granary, or wagon ! bouse, belonging to Mr. John E. Winder, Win-der, the flames lighting up all tun ound-ing ound-ing building?, "and thereby causing the error as to location. This wagon house was situated directly in the rear of Mr. Winder's new houe, building on Third South street, just west of Main, and beyond the new Clifc House. The fire, as we were informed by Mr. Winder himself, was started in an armful of straw lying under a wagon in one corner of the shed. Mr. Winder had but just left bis house when his little girl looking out discovered discov-ered the flames breaking out from the building and raised the alarm. Mr. W. returning immediately, attempted to extinguish the tire, but it had crept up the corner of the building and reached the hay in the loft above so that all his exertions were useless. Not half an hour before, be bad himself him-self fastened the gates to bis place but both wcro found open when he reached tha fire. It was also reported that two men were seen running from the place. During yesterday, too, threats are known to have been made to burn the oity. Theso circumstances all indicate that the fire was the work of an incendiary. It was undoubtedly the intention to cause a general conflagration, con-flagration, and had the wind blown from tho south this would have been tho result, as the delay in getting water upon tho fire allowed the flames to gain full headway. Indeed, during the whole affair tho amount of water thrown upon the buildings would scarcely dampen a ono horse bonfire. This result was owing to a multiplicity of causes, with which every one is conversant, and which are calling forth a storm of criticism and condemnation. con-demnation. We aro hardly prepared at present to add to this in a public manner, as we arc assured no one feels more keonly the deficiency than those who aro so freely condemned. The obstacle encountered by the fire, in the rear end of tho new house, separated from tae wngon house by some half dozen feet, and the earnest, hard work of the hook and ladder men, in tearing down this building, alone prevented pre-vented the fire from extending into tho Clift House. The Cc-opcrative hand engino was on baud promptly, and had there been a supply of water tho main building burned could have been saved. The steamer, after much delay, got a stream upon the back end of tho granary, after the fire hnfl nonrlu Ipfr. i't and was of nn nAr- ceptible benefit. Lick of hose, added to want of steam caused this. About eight o'olook the house was pulled to tho ground, and the flames were then equclchcd in a manner most brilliantly successful. Our reporter was on hand very promptly, oonsid-eriog oonsid-eriog that ho had to stop to put on his red shirt and call from the box his fire oap before tho real genuine run would movo his legs. The property was valued at somo $3,000, including ' the grain and hay, etc, in tho wagon houso, upon which there was no insurance. |
