Fire believed to have been started by trespassers in a store room in the rear of the building completely destroyed the old Atlantic Coast Line offices on lower Queen street yesterday morning between 4 and 5 o’clock, burning out the Scott Register Company, the woodworking establishment of Mr. C.O. Griffin, destroying a quantity of furniture owned by Mr. Lee Reed, and putting a Coast Line baggage coach out of commission.
Mr. J.H. Nelson, who resides on King street, was first to discover the blaze, it was learned at the time of the fire. He had arisen early go to on a fishing trip and saw the light of the blaze. For 10 minutes he attempted to get the city hall, but the telephone operator did not answer. Finally the alarm was got through, however, and the department responded promptly, both trucks reaching the scene a few seconds later.
When the firemen got their apparatus into play, however, the building was almost completely enveloped, and with sparks carried by a strong wind off the river falling for blocks around, adjoining property was endangered. To people in all parts of the city the light from the heavy flames indicated that at least a whole city block was burning, and by 4:30 a thousand people had visited the scene.
Mr. J.T. Harris, manager of the Scott Register Company, estimated his loss between eight and nine thousand dollars, and stated that he had insurance of $4,000 on his stock and $900 on office equipment and furniture. He added that there was no truth in the report that he would not reopen his business, saying that as soon as possible he would start up again.
Mr. Griffin’s loss was about $5,000 with insurance at $1,000, he said, damage to machinery embracing the major part of the loss. Mr. Reed had practically all of his household furniture stored in the building; this and valuable furs of Mrs. Reed’s were (article ends here).
From the New Bernian, Sunday, June 10, 1923
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