Thomasville, GA Business Section Fire, Mar 1899

LARGE BLAZE AT THOMASVILLE, GA.

FIVE BUILDINGS DESTROYED BY THE FLAMES YESTERDAY.

OPERA HOUSE ONE OF THEM -- LARGE LIVERY STABLE AND CONTENTS WERE BURNED.

FIREMEN POWERLESS TO CHECK FIRE.

SPARK FROM A LOCOMOTIVE THOUGHT TO HAVE STARTED THE CONFLAGRATION -- LOSSES AND INSURANCE ON THE PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN DESTROYED.

Thomasville, Ga., March 23. -- (Special.) -- A disastrous fire occurred in this city before day this morning, destroying twenty-odd thousand dollars worth of property.
It started at PALIN'S blacksmith shop and carriage manufactory at 2 o'clock. This building was soon in ashes, with all the contents.
The large livery stable establishment of WHITTAKER & ELDER adjoined the above building, and followed next. Some fifty horses were got out safely, another being injured and still another burned to death. All the rolling stock was saved, but some harness and many odd things were lost, as well as several carloads of hay and over 1,000 bushels of corn and oats.
The opera house and its contents came next, and was soon licked up by the roaring flames.
The German hall met the same fate.
The residence of Captain WHITTAKER, at the rear of the stables, was also destroyed, but most of his furniture was saved. The fire was then stopped.
PALIN'S loss was about $2,000, with no insurance. There was $3,000 insurance on the stables, $4,000 on rolling stock, $300 on feed, $7,259 on opera house and contents, $1,000 on the WHITTAKER residence, which was owned by S. L. HAYES, and none on the German hall. WHITTAKER & ELDER will lose $1,000 on feed, not covered. Their loss on other things probably covered.
The opera house and contents cost $17,000. It was owned three-fourths by S. L. HAYES, who had $5,500 insurance, and one-fourth by REID & CULPEPPER, with $759 insurance.
The German hall was of small value. All the buildings were frame, and very combustible. They made the biggest fire ever seen here. The department worked faithfully, but were helpless.
The following companies were on the various risks: E. M. MALLETTE'S agency, St. Paul FIre and Marine, $1,000; National, $500; Phoenix, of London, $1,000; HANSELL & MERRILL agency, Aetna, $1,000; Home, of New York, $1,000; Westchester, $600; Delaware, $500; Hartford, $750; E. M. SMITH agency, Liverpool, London and Globe, $4,000; Royal, $2,000; T. J. CULPEPPER agency, Niagara, $1,000; J. F. EVANS agency, Continental, $1,000; J. F. PARKER agency, Palatine, $1,000.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but is supposed to have been sparks from a passing locomotive.

The Atlanta Constitution Georgia 1899-03-24
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!