On May 3, 1901 at 12:30 p.m., a fire began at the Cleaveland Fibre Factory, ten blocks northwest of this site, when chimney embers ignited sun-dried moss to be used as mattress stuffing. Fueled by wind and dry weather, it roared east destroying most structures in its path. By 3:30 p.m., it reached Hemming Park, where the renowned live oaks were devoured by the flames and only the Confederate Monument survived, its base glowing red from heat. The fire continued east to Hogan's Creek, where a citizens' bucket brigade stayed the flames, then turned south to Bay Street's riverfront docks, where extreme heat caused a waterspout in the river as rescue boats trolled for survivors. Black smoke clouds could be seen as far away as South Carolina. As flames moved west on Bay Street, firefighters' gallant stand and dying winds brought the fire under control by 8:30 p.m. In just eight hours, nearly 10,000 people were homeless, 2,368 buildings were lost, 146 city blocks were destroyed, and only seven people perished. Jacksonville's 1901 fire remains the most destructive burning of a Southern city in U.S. history.