Navarro Express [Corsicana, TX], August 25, 1860
The Houston Telegraph says: “Last night about 11 o’clock a fire broke out between Kennedy’s steam bakery and Hoffman’s hotel (old New Orleans House) Travis street.” The loss falls on Mr. Kennedy, who owned all the property, including his bakery, Hoffman’s hotel, and Hogan’s grocery, R. P Boyce, C. S. Kelley, who had recently purchased the large hotel building called by his name, P. H. Hennessy, whose tin and hardware shop and store were among the first buildings destroyed, and several other whose names we have not learned. The loss amounts to about $40,000, of which we are informed there was $5,000 insured.”
A blind man by the name of Perkins was burned to death. The fire is supposed to have started accidentally.
The burning of Nacogdoches is contradicted.
The Telegraph learns that an attempt was made to fire Owenville several days since, and that the incendiary has been arrested.
We learn by a letter from Palestine to one of our citizens, that William Steaton was hung on Friday, the 17th inst., at Sugg’s Mill, in Anderson county, for attempting to incite a negro to fire the mill. About 200 persons were present all of whom approved the act. We learn through the same source, which is entirely reliable, that on the 19th inst., the stable of Col. J. G. Stewart, of Palestine, was attempted to be set on fire, but was discovered before it made any progress.