Planters Warehouse Destroyed, Houses Damaged by Fire, Nov. 21, 1922

Warehouse Burns, Houses Damaged. . . Origin of the Fire Is Unknown, Was Discovered While Sales Were Going On

While tobacco sales were going on this morning at 1);30 o’clock at the Planters warehouse, located on Mulberry street, smoke was seen escaping from the basement and in an incredible brief time the entire building was in flames and made the fiercest fire Goldsboro has witnessed in many a day.

The origin of the fire could not be determined but where once stood the Planters warehouse there is nothing left but a vacant smoldering space and many thousand pounds of tobacco have gone up in smoke.

The homes of Messrs. G.W. and E.R. Brown across the street, owned by Messrs. H. Weil and Bros., were damaged, as were the home of Father A.R. Freeman, A.R. Morgan, E.E. Taylor and Leslie Davis, all were slightly damaged, the extent of which is not great.

Located in the rear of the warehouse was a brick building in which was stored some 450 bales of cotton that belonged to different parties. This was covered by insurance, but it is not known how much will be saved, or what the exact loss will be.

Under many difficulties the fire department handled the situation unusually well. At one time a line of hose was laid and when the water was turned on the force was so great a section of the hose burst, causing a delay, while another stream of water to go in every direction and dealing a heavy ducking to a crowd of people that stood by witnessing the fire.

The Planters warehouse, for a number of years had been in charge of Mr. D.R. Currin and was the only open sales tobacco warehouse in the city. Another firm who lost heavily in the fire this morning was W.P. Taylor & Co., who handles tobacco in connection with T.B. Jenkins Co. of Warsaw.

Until a few days ago the Taylor Company had occupied the old North (lines obscured) had moved to the Planters and was able to save not more than half of the tobacco they had bought.

In his rush to save something our young friend, Bill Taylor, as he is better known, tried to jump too many fences, and as the result is minus a part of his clothing. Bill took it all good naturedly and was glad to get away without further mishap.

While this fire was at its height another alarm came from Beech street, the damage of which was slight.

The loss by this fire in the aggregate is estimated at between $60,000 and $75,000, with the actual loss probably covered by insurance.

From the front page of the Goldsboro Daily Argus, Nov. 21, 1922