an ACADIA PARISH article

Cultures of Acadiana
a look at the French, Cajun, Creole, and Native American cultures of south Louisiana
(a project of Carencro High School - 721 West Butcher Switch Road, Lafayette, LA  70507)

Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser, August 26, 1997

The Fire Fiend: Rayne business section destroyed

by Jim Bradshaw

Big fires struck practically every community in the early days of Acadiana, when wooden buildings were crowded together in growing communities with little fire protection. The one in Rayne happened in February 1895.

This is the way it was reported in the Crowley newspaper on Feb. 9:

THE FIRE FIEND

A DOZEN BUILDINGS LICKED UP BY THE FLAMES

LOSS ESTIMATED AT $30,000

RAYNE THE SCENE OF THE CONFLAGRATION

A VISITATION OF PROVIDENCE SAVES THE TOWN FROM TOTAL DESTRUCTION

The business portion of the town of Rayne was visited by the fire fiend on Thursday morning that within a space of two short hours left a dozen buildings in ashes, while the entire business part of the town narrowly escaped total destruction from the fiery elements. The total loss to property and goods will aggregate possibly $30,000, partially covered by insurance in some instances. A number of the losses are complete and fall upon individuals who can ill afford to stand them.

It was possibly 10 o'clock when our erstwhile quiet neighbor was thrown into a state of excitement by the announcement of fire. There was a prompt response upon the part of the citizens and every possible effort was made to subdue the flames in their incipiency. The fire had gained considerable headway, however, before aid arrived and it needed only the stiff gale that was blowing to fan it into a flame that in its fierceness threatened destruction to the entire town. Starting at the extreme northwest business portion the flames were swiftly swept southward laying bare a square and a half of business buildings almost within the hour. The citizens did all within their power to allay the progress of the fire but they were ill prepared to fight the flames, through lack of proper facilities. They were without ladders and almost without water. The fire had only fairly started when the news was telephoned to Crowley and a relief party of probably a hundred was organized and carried to Rayne on a special placed at its disposal by the Southern Pacific. The relief came none too soon, as many of the Rayneites were almost exhausted from their battle with the flames, and realizing the necessity and importance of at once stopping the progress of the flames if any of the business portion of the town was to be saved, our boys went to work with a will. It was only by the almost superhuman effort of the united force that the fire was within a short time gotten under control.

When the Crowley boys started to return home, they boarded the train amidst three lusty cheers given them by the grateful citizens of our sister town. While pleased with this recognition, the benefactors realized that they had performed only a duty owing their neighbors in an hour of need.

THE COURSE OF THE FIRE

The fire started in a building situated in the extreme northwest business portion of town and occupied as a residence by Rev. J. H. Walker since Saturday only, Mr. Walker removing to Rayne from Catahoula Parish. A defective zinc above the flue is believed to have been the cause of the fire, as when discovered, the flames were already bursting forth from the roof surrounding the chimney. There was a prompt response on the part of the citizens to the alarm of fire, but the building being of dry pine, it needed only the stiff gale that was blowing to fan the fierce flames that within almost a moment's time involved the entire building. Realizing that the destruction of the building was inevitable, the citizens who had turned out in force found it possible by prompt work to rescue most of the furniture.

The building was the property of P. F. Besse, being until recently occupied by him as a barroom, and was situated but a few feet from the ware-room and two story building occupied by Ed Smith which were also the property of Mr. Bessel. Both the latter buildings were ignited by the flames from the Walker residence and it was by the hardest work that the greatest portion of Mr. Smith's stock was removed. The printing plant known as the Ranger outfit, but lately used in the publication of The Herald, occupied the second floor of the Smith building and was a total loss.

A street here separated the fire from a new business building that was being repaired for P. F Besse, and which lacked but a few hours work of completion. Although the citizens did their utmost to stay the fire there, the flames had no sooner fairly enveloped the Smith building than the fierce northwest wind swept them across the street and into the new structure. It then seemed that the entire business portion of the town was doomed, the flames sweeping southward with lightening like rapidity and licking up everything that lay in their course. First after the Besse building came the warehouse of David Levy and then the large two story business building, both of which were crowded with a large stock of merchandise that furnished food for the flames and added to their intensity. Fearful of the results that might follow the explosion of oil, powder and other combustibles which the store building and warehouse contained the fire was here given full sway, the citizens directing their attention to the removing of goods from other buildings which stood in the course of the flames.

The store building and warehouse occupied by David Levy were owned by Mrs. F. M. Levy of Abbeville. Adjoining was the harness shop and justice's office of E. O. Bruner, the building being owned by Ferdinand Gumbel & Co. of New Orleans. Mr. Bruner saved the stock in his building with the exception of the safe and a lot of machinery repairs. The next to go on this side of the street was the corner building, the property of Judge R. T. Clark and occupied by G. Derouen as a grocery and restaurant. Mr. Derouen owned the building adjoining on the west and which he occupied as a residence. The greater portion of his stock and household goods were saved but his home was burned to the ground as was also his barn. Spreading farther west a building owned by Ferdinand Gumbel & Co. and occupied by David Levy for furniture and stoves next went up in smoke, together with its contents. The home of Elias Deputy, standing not more than twenty feet distant from the latter building was saved from total destruction by the hardest work, but only after it was damaged by fire and water.

Thus the progress of the flames in this direction was arrested, but two buildings on the opposite side of the street from Bruner's harness shop and Derouen's store were also destroyed. The fire spread across the street during the burning of David Levy's store, igniting the livery barn of E. O. Bruner, burning it to the ground, together with a lot of corn and hay. All the stock, harness and buggies were saved. The building was owned by Dr. R. R. Lyons. Flames from the livery barn soon ignited the building on the corner of the street to the south of it, which was owned by H. D. McBride of Church Point, and occupied by Paul Hebert as a saloon. Further progress of the fiery elements was here cut off by the almost superhuman efforts of those who so gallantly fought the flames, and the fire was within a short while brought under control.

THE AMOUNT OF THE LOSS

There were a dozen buildings burned and two others damaged, entailing a total loss of fully $30,00 which was only partially covered by insurance. P. E Besse valued the building occupied by Rev. Walker at $250 and the building occupied by Ed. Smith at $1,450, with $800 insurance in the Milwaukee Mechanics Insurance Co., placed by the Thos. S. Foley agency. The contractors, Frank Blanc and J. W. Stephens, will lose $250, the contract price, while A. C. Poulet will probably sustain loss on account of lumber.

E. Smith places his loss at probably $300, while the Ranger plant was valued at about $450.

David Levy stated that his stock of goods would invoice about $18,000 and that nothing was saved beyond his books and papers. He was insured with the Lewis & Lacombe Agency, Opelousas; A.A. Woods & Co. and C.C. Crandall Agencies, of New Orleans, but declined to state the amount of insurance. Mrs. Levy carried $1,000 insurance on the buildings placed in two companies.

Ferdinand Gumbel & Co. lost about $1,800 on their two buildings, which were probably covered by insurance.

E. O. Bruner places his loss on feed at $400 and on stock at $200, with no insurance. Dr. Lyons carried no insurance on the building occupied by Mr. Brauer, losing possibly $700.

The R. C. Clark building was uninsured and was worth possibly $600. Mr. Derouen lost $500 in merchandise and household goods. He valued his residence and barn at $1,000 insured for $500 in the Inter-State Fire Association, of New Orleans, through the Gates & Craig agency.

The residence of Elias Deputy was damaged to the extent of $200 or more, and is covered by a policy for $250 in the Lewis & Lacombe agency.

The McBride building was worth possibly $500, and is not thought to have been insured. Paul Hebert places his loss on stock at $200; no insurance.

Chas. Oudan had some lumber burned and sustained loss on stock to the amount of $300, fully insured. O. Broussard claims a similar loss on account of goods being moved out and scattered around the street, with no insurance.

The building owned by A.S. Chappuis was only slightly damaged. The contents were carried out and scattered about, a large amount of whiskey and other goods carried away, while numerous bottles were broken. Mr. Zimmer said his loss will be between $200 and $250.

This article is copyrighted © by the Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser and is used with permission.  This web site was originated through a grant awarded to Carencro High School (Joel Hilbun/Bobbi Marino, Grant Administrators) by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from the Louisiana Quality Education Support Fund - 8(g).