Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2021 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Gainesville Star 27 October 1903 GAINESVILLE HAS ANOTHER FIRE Fire is Believed to be of Incendiary Origin. STARTED ABOUT MIDNIGHT Started in Hay Barn - Considerable Damage - Good Work by Firemen. A few minutes before twelve o'clock Sunday night a fire alarm was turned in and the department was summoned to the Whetston old stables, occupied by Crawford & Davis as a hay barn, and just across the street from where this concern's stables and live stock were burned less than two weeks ago. The fire started in a forty-five ton lot of unbaled hay, and the building being an old decaying wooden structure the fire spread almost like fire would in a field of dry sedge. Before the firemen could get a stream on the flames several wooden buildings on the opposite side of the block - facing the square - were on fire, as was also one used as a resi- dence and tailor shop in the next block to the east of where the fire started and when the noble firemen had got- ten well to work almost one-half a block was on fire, and the entire block, and the adjoining ones, were in imminent danger. "No better work was ever done by a fire company," is the universal verdict. For about one hour it looked as if no human power could prevent a complete destruction of the entire block, and adjoining blocks, but by the most desper- ate and well directed work of the heroic firemen the fire was brought under control when only the stable, one resi- dence, three stores and several smaller buildings had been destroyed. The remains of the Sanchez law office, which was wrecked by falling walls after the fire of two weeks ago was consumed. The building occupied by a colored man as residence and tailor shop, worth several hundred dollars, was also destroyed. Crawford & Davis lost about $700 worth of hay; no insurance. W. P. Mosely, cold drinks, fruits and confectionaries, no insurance, saved nearly all of his stock. The building was owned by Mrs. Whetston, and was uninsured. John Chrisomedea, fruits and confectionaries, no insurance, loss several hundred dollars. J. G. Harrold, meat market and grocery store, loss $1,500 to $2,000; insurance $600. This building was owned by J. R. Dell, and was not insured. E. A. O'Neal, groceries, damaged $150, covered by insurance. Mrs. W. Lee Smith, damage to goods by removal, $100, covered by insurance. Besides the above named persons slight losses were suffered by J. H. Vidal, grocer; a colored cleaner and dyer named Mustin, and the electric light, telephone and gas companies - the companies by the destruction of wires, pipes, etc. Some others probably suffered slight losses by the removal of goods, furniture, etc. There can no be enough said in praise of our excel- lent firemen who certainly prevented the destruction of several blocks in the heart of the city, nor can too much be said in condemnation of the fiend who started the blaze, if it was really the work of a fire bug. =========================================================================