Editing Fire of 1880

A '''fire''' that erupted in the early morning of [[December 11]], [[1880]] destroyed five blocks of [[downtown Pensacola]], including several government buildings and "nine-tenths" of the city's business district.

The fire originated from [[Simon Damiani]]'s confectionary shop, whose inhabitants barely escaped the blaze. Mrs. Damiani later died from her burn wounds.

The fire spread quickly by a brisk wind, sweeping down [[Palafox Street|Palafox]] from [[Romana Street|Romana]] to [[Government Street]]s. Reaction to the fire was slow, as the only steam-powered fire engine in town was at a machinist's shop being repaired, but eventually citizens formed a bucket brigade. The fire was stopped at the [[City Hotel]] near [[Tarragona Street]] to the east, and behind the [[Old Customs House|Customs House]] to the west.

Damages were estimated between $500,000 to over $1 million. Over 100 buildings and businesses were razed by the fire, including:
*The [[Old Customs House|U.S. Customs House]] and all its records
*The [[Escambia County Tax Collector]]'s office
*The ''[[Pensacola Gazette]]'' offices
*The [[Pensacola Telephone Exchange]]
*[[F. C. Brent]]'s bank
*The [[Merchants' Hotel]]
*The [[Yniestra Building]], including [[Frater and Monroe]]'s dry goods & grocery
*The [[Moreno Building]]
*The [[Roache Block]]
*[[N. B. Cook]] & Company, groceries
*[[A. L. Avery|A. L.]] & [[A. M. Avery]]'s [[Avery Hardware|hardware store]]
*[[J. B. Walton]], barroom
*[[W. F. Fordhall]] & Company, drugs
*[[Dunn's Exchange]], billiard hall & restaurant
*[[W. B. Hoyt]], groceries
*[[John Pons]], barber
*[[W. T. Hutchison]], furniture
*[[Henry White]], bakery &
*[[Thomas Velasco]], cigars
Many of the businesses had just received their Fall stocks. Insurance coverage was initially estimated at $250,000.

The [[Escambia County Clerk of Court|County Clerk]], [[Felo de la Rua]], rescued the important records from his office at the cost of his own residence, which was also destroyed by the fire.

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*"Fire's Disastrous Work: the Business Part of Pensacola Nearly Destroyed." ''New York Times'', December 12, 1880.
*"Fire and Disaster." ''Boston Daily Globe'', December 12, 1880.
{{refend}}

[[Category:Fires]]