FIRE AT ABBEVILLE.

TWENTY-SEVEN FIRMS LOSERS IN THE TOWN'S WORST CONFLAGRATION.

LOSS ABOUT $100,000.

NEW IBERIA SENT OVER ITS FIRE DEPARTMENT ON SPECIAL TRAIN. SPREAD PREVENTED BY RAIN.

MENACED BUSINESS SECTION.

INCENDIARY ORIGIN IS SUSPECTED -- FIRE STARTED IN A SALOON AND THREE WERE CONSUMED.

Special to The News.
Abbeville, La., Feb. 20. -- Last night at 9:15 o'clock Abbeville was visited by the most disastrous conflagration in its history. The fire, which was evidently of incendiary origin, originated in the rear of ERATH'S saloon, corner of State and Concord streets. It burned more than half a block in the business district, including twenty-two budsiness houses and twenty-seven firms doing business therein. The total loss approximates about $100,000. Among the heaviest losers is:
the Cumberland Telephone Exchange, a total loss.
the Bank of Abbeville, which lost a handsome two story brick building and fixtures, loss $5000.
STAUFFER Bros., general merchandise, loss $5000.
A. J. GODDARD, drugs, $5000.
Among the buildings destroyed were three saloons.
The New Iberia fire department and their steamer and some forty firemen came on a special train, furnished by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company.
But for the slow rain which had been falling steadily all day and night, the entire business district would have been totally destroyed.

Galveston Daily News Texas 1903-02-21
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!