Early Friday morning news was received here that our neighboring city of Beverly was in flames, the entire business portion of the town being reduced to ashes. The Defiance engine was at once placed on the Cassell and sent up the river to aid in mastering the fiery element.
Everybody was in a state of excitement, anxious for news from the scene of devastation and ruin. Reports of the most exaggerated character were told and retold, and it was not until after dinner Friday that the real nature of the calamity was ascertained. The fire, which was bad enough, was not near so extensive as reported. We copy from the Beverly Dispatch the following account of it:
Thursday night we worked rather late in the office, and as is our usual custom before retiring, we went out to see that everything was all right. As soon as we got into the open air we knew there was a smothering fire some place in close proximity, the air being blue with thick smoke caused by burning pine.
We ran up and down the street and examined the interior of the buildings thoroughly. Not finding the fiery fiend, we ran to Fifth Street, when to our horror we saw great volumes of smoke issuing from D. C. Staley's shoe store. At this moment W. R. Parker's wife gave the alarm which was reechoed by others as they were awakened by the yelling and thumping of the Dispatch men.
The whole interior of the building was enveloped in flames, and it was impossible to enter. Men ran wild and it looked as though a vast conflagration was inevitable. Through the calmness and engineering of some, a line was formed to the river and the water was passed along, assisted by men, women and children alike.
But the destroyer was not going to be smothered in a minute, but swept on and ignited J. T. Palmer's residence and business block and hissed and crackled as though laughing in derision at the heroic efforts of the people to save their property. For awhile it was believed the stores of Oliver Tucker, William Glass, Dr. Parker, Johnston & Shoemaker's marble works and the Star Foundry would go, but thank God, through his goodness the rain began to pour from the skies and the people's property was saved. The property of Mrs. Raredon, which joined Mr. Palmer's, was saved in a damaged state.
The fire is supposed by some to have been incendiarism and was done for plunder, as no lamp or fire in the stove had been left burning when the clerk closed for the night. Mr. Staley's building and stock of boots and shoes was fully covered by insurance. Mr. Palmer was less fortunate and his loss is his all, which is indeed a hard blow to him in his declining years, but he managed to save his household goods. F. Preston, merchant tailor, occupied one of the store rooms, but saved his entire stock. The entire loss will reach about $7,000, partially covered by insurance.
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