"It's gone," said an owner's representative gazing sadly at white porch pillars, twisted brick chimneys, and an entrance still framed by leaded panes. "Anybody want to buy a pair of stained glass windows? Maybe the whole door?"
The house at 521 S. McNeil St. was built in 1928.
"It was all wood," he said. "There wasn't a creak in those hardwood floors. We had completely redone the outside. Those pillars are new. The inside was full of valuable antiques. I think I might be able to salvage some of the porcelain from the kitchen."
Circle V, Cameron, Eastwood, Seven Lakes, Whispering Pines and Vass firefighters assisted the Carthage Fire Department in the early morning hours Friday. Firefighters said a nearly windless night helped them control the blaze to keep it from spreading to other homes.
Deputy Fire Chief Chad Thomason and Mike Waschen shoveled ashes away where the fire apparently started.
SBI fire dog Bristol, a black Labrador, worked the area as SBI agent Patrick Whatley pointed to suspicious spots.
Whenever he scented a possible accelerant, Bristol sat down. Six places were tagged with yellow cards.
"We'll put him up," Whatley said. "Then we will decipher what he found."
Just because Bristol detected a scent does not mean arson. His response could mean only paint or household chemicals.
Whatley took samples for analysis. Chief Chris McKenzie and Capt. Bart Davis of the Carthage Police Department took them to the SBI crime lab.
John Chappell can be reached at 783-5841 or by e-mail at jchappell@thepilot.com.
