Augusta, GA Business Section Fire, Nov 1921

BIG FIRE LOSS IN AUGUSTA, GA.

BUSINESS HOUSES GUTTED BY BLAZE; HOTEL DESTROYED.

CAUSE OF BLAZE STARTING IN HARRISON BUILDING IS NOT DETERMINED.

HOTEL GUESTS FLEE IN NIGHT CLOTHES.

PLATE GLASS WINDOWS MELTED BY HEAT --
NO LIVES REPORTED AS LOST.

Augusta, Ga., Nov. 26. -- At 5:45 today firemen succeeded in bringing under control the most disastrous fire in the history of Augusta.
The harrison building and the Johnson building, two big steel and masonry modern buildings, had been gutted by the flames, which started at 2 o'clock in the Harrison building. The Augusta Chronicle building was believed a total loss, the Albion Hotel was badly damaged, the Genesta Hotel was burned badly, Stohrer's drug store was a total loss and other business firms were hit hard.
The loss was variously estimated, some declaring it would reach $2,500,000, while others placed it as low as $1,500,000.
No loss of life was reported.
Soon after the fire was discovered in the Harrison building, it broke out in the Johnson building and then spread to other structures. The Augusta fire fighting force became alaarmed and calls were sent to several nearby towns for assistance. The Aiken, S.C., fire department's relief force soon reached here and helped in subduing the blaze.
The Augusta Chronicle office, destroyed by the flames, housed valuable files of this newspaper. They were burned, according to best information. The Chronicle, however, did not suspend publications. The paper was issued from the plant of a contemporary.
The fire had reached several blocks when the calls for assistance were sent out, but many of the structures were finally either saved entirely or from total loss.
The two big office buildings were burning fiercely before the Albian and Genesta Hotels were touched. Guests were notified and hurriedly made their escape.
Damage will be heavy even at spots where the fire did not touch, plate glass windows were shattered by heat. Water was used freely on surrounding structures to halt the progress of the blaze.
Guests of the two hotels camped in the streets, many of them in their night clothes until taken by private citizens to private homes and boarding houses.
The origin of the fire is unknown.

Robsonian Lumberton North Carolina 1921-11-26
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!