The great fire of Jacksonville had just begun.

By 12:30 p.m., the city's firemen were desperately trying to contain the blaze as it spread like a ceiling of flame over their heads. The battle continued for eight hours, leaving the residents of Jacksonville exhausted and the city itself in ashy ruins. This exhibit combines images from Jacksonville in Flames with text from Acres of Ashes to recreate an account of the catastrophe.

The editor of Jacksonville in Flames was himself a victim of the fire and his "Introductory" provides one example of how people reacted to disaster:

"The artist, with his camera, has portrayed, without embellishment of pencil or brush, the story of destruction, devastation and despair in such an effective manner that any elaboration at the hands of the editor is entirely unnecessary.  

The editor and publisher of this booklet, together with his family, are among the unfortunates, and their loss would have been greater had they had anything more to lose. 

It is hoped that the returns from this little booklet will enable the publisher to purchase a cooking stove, flat irons, wash tubs and other ornamental necessities necessary to a family who have never learned to keep house without articles of this kind. Should the sales be sufficiently numerous a new printing outfit might be purchased.  

There will be no objection to purchasers buying more than one copy.  

Should any charitable person feel disposed to pay $50.00 dollars or more for a single copy, a check for the amount will not be looked upon as an insult."