BIG ISLAND - FIRE
TRANSCRIBED BY : TINA EASLEY
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ar/county/greene/
FROM THE DAILY SOLIPHONE
APRIL 22 , 1902
A CONFLAGRATION
SWEPT OVER BIG ISLAND YESTERDAY DOING GREAT DAMAGE TO PROPERTY
FENCES , FARM HOUSES , TIMBER AND OTHER PROPERTY SWEPT AWAY
LOSS RETARDS FARMING
LEE WEATHERFORD , OF BIG ISLAND ,WAS
IN TOWN TODAY AND INFORMED A SOLIPHONE REPORTER
OF A DISASTROUS CONFLAGRATION WHICH OCCURRED YESTERDAY , SWEEPING
OVER THE ISLAND AND DESTROYING FENCES AND RESIDENCES.
THE FIRE CAUGHT FROM A BURNING BRUSH HEAP , WHICH COMMUNICATED THE FLAMES
TO THE DEAD TIMBER WHERE IT SPREAD LIKE A PRAIRIE FIRE , LICKING UP
EVERYTHING IN ITS WAKE .
THE RESIDENCE OF JOE WEAVER , OCCUPIED BY A.L. WEATHERFORD , FATHER OF LEE,
WAS A TOTAL LOSS , INCLUDING ALL THE HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE. A HOUSE
BELONGING TO HARV. RICHARDS AND OCCUPIED BY WILLIAM OLIVER
WAS ALSO A TOTAL LOSS.
THE FENCES AROUND THE MCHANEY AND WEAVER FARMS WERE SWEPT AWAY AND LEE WEATHERFORD LOST
ABOUT FORTY RODS OF FENCE .
THE WALL SCHOOL HOUSE WAS ALSO CAUGHT IN THE FLAMES AND WENT UP IN SMOKE.
BIG ISLAND IS ONE OF THE RICHEST SECTIONS OF GREENE COUNTY AND LIES SIX MILES
EAST OF TOWN . THE PEOPLE OVER THERE RARELY EVER FAIL TO RAISE GOOD CROPS
AND THE LOSS FALLS HEAVILY UPON THEM.
IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE DESTRUCTION OF FENCES , PLANTING WILL BE
DELAYED UNTIL THE SAME CAN BE REBUILT.