[Marshall] Texas Republican, August 18, 1860
We copy the following from the Henderson Times of Saturday last. Who that reads this article will not feel his heart melted with sympathy over this great misfortune? It forms another of the terrible outrages, which have driven our people to the verge of madness.
The Fire.—The painful duty devolves upon us of recording one of the most terrible and distressing calamities that ever befell any community in the time of peace.
Henderson is in ashes. Our once beautiful, quiet, and peaceful town is now a scene of the most awful desolation. The whole square is destroyed with the exception of three dry-goods stores, one provision store, one drinking saloon, and the Court-house. Our neighbor of the ‘New Era’ has lost everything in connection with his office.
Men, that a few days ago were in the enjoyment of peace and plenty, are now cast upon the world penniless, and without employment. We might name at least twenty men, we think, who have lost their all. And men too, who were shining examples of industry and moral worth, and who had labored energetically all their lives to accumulate what they have seen destroyed in one short hour.
As we before published, on Sabbath night about eight o’clock, when the most of the people were assembled in the Methodist and Cumberland Presbyterian Churches, for public worship, the alarm of fire was given, and such consternation, such excitement, as then prevailed. The women and children running and screaming in every direction, the men, a part of them endeavoring to save some property, and the rest in arms to protect the lives of the citizens, as that was the time which report said, the negroes incited by abolitionists, were to raise an insurrection. And from our exchanges, we learn that there is a deep laid plan among the abolitionists and negroes, to burn towns, and poison and murder the people of North Eastern Texas.
These are truly alarming times, the people are in arms both night and day, to protect the town and their families, and the greatest excitement prevails thro’out the whole country. Discoveries, constantly being made through the county; several white and black men are implicated, and poison has been found in the possession of some of the negroes. Such are the fruits of Black Republican teachings.
A Vigilance Committee has been in session ever since the burning, and doing all they can to discover the perpetrators of this hellish crime. We understand that the guilty party have been found without a doubt, and will be brought to justice.
The same paper contains the following:
Consequence of the Fire.—The undersigned Committee appointed by the citizens of Rusk county, to ascertain the fact attending the burning of the town of Henderson, on Sunday night the 5th inst., and the amount of losses sustained by the burning, make the following report, to-wit:
That the fire was caused beyond a doubt, by an incendiary, and that the losses sustained are as follows:
Loss.
- F. McDonough $25,000
K. Meyer 9,000
Turner & Harper 30,000
Felton, Wiggins & Hogg 3,000
Martin Casey 5,000
John E. Jones 15,000
A. M. Murphy 3,000
L. & A. Mayer 11,000
Insured for 4,000
Rosambug & New 600
J. W. Shelton 10,000
Dr. J. A. Jordan 1,000
Charles Fox 10,000
G. M. Nichols 3,000
H. D. E. Redwine 5,000
Thos. M. Yates 6,000
Insured for 4,500
W. B. Ector 5,000
Duncan Preston 3,000
Bromley & Yates 2,600
J. L. Miller 1,300
Webster Flanagan 15,000
Estill & Likens 5,000
Wm. Stedman 10,000
S. L. Earl 500
Lewis Hammock 100
John Dyke 2,500
Latham & Wester 3,000
Thos. M. Likens 12,000
S. G. Swan 2,500
Jas. McBride 1,000
W. A. McClanahan 300
Wiley Harris 6,000
M. O. Ector 1,000
Cobb & March 300
Dansby & Dodson 250 [?]
J. W. Harris 1,000
M. D. Graham 5,000
C. J. McDonough 15,000
D. Le. Rosen 400
R. B. Tutt 2,000
Estate of J. T. Likens 2,000
R. H. Cumby 2,500
J. B. Likens 2,000
Ben. Smither 500
_______
$220,000
Insured 8,500
_______
Clear Loss $211,500
A Vigilance Committee has been organized and been at work since the morning after the fire. The result of their investigation, we suppose will be known in due time by the report of the Committee.
- D. Ector, G. H. Gould,
Wm. Stedman, W. H. Estill,
J. R. Armstrong, W. C. Kelly,
A. B. Graham J. McClarty,
J. M. Dodson J. E. Cobb.