The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-12-25
nestruotion Of the New Court House by Fire.

Destruction Of the New Court House by Fire.
Yesterday morning att q o'clock afire broke
out in the frame buildings on Main street, just
above the new Court House. occupied by Mr.
Robert Fergus as cabinet shop and dwelling,
and by Mr. Rush's confectionery. A fire had
lust been built in the shop, and while the
hands were at breakfast, flames were commune
Gated to shayings on the floor In few mo- (
ments the house, filled with eombustible mat !
ter, was in flames They rapidly spread to
the dwelling and confectionery, and IN bret
time the houses were mass OF fire. Nearly
all Mr. Fergus dwelling furniture was removed,
and good deal OF furniture in the front ware
room was saved But he is heavy loser
Mr.. Rush's stock was saved. The Court
House was situated across the alley from these
buildings, and the caves or cornices soon broke
out into flame. Spectators thought it scarce
ly possible this building could be in any con-
siderable danger, and without knowing the
circumstances, blamed the firemen for the
spread of the flames to the Court House. But
the facts were these. The firemen were
promptly on the spot with the Neptune, Young
America and Washington engines soon followed
by the Union, of Lamasco. But not cistern
any where in the immediate neighborhood Of
| the Court House contained more that COM
paratyely few barrels of water. They were
obliged to obtain supplies from far distant
, cisterns, and then change from them to the
canal. Bringing the water so great distance
it was impossible to reach the high roof and
!, all the hose was exhausted. The flremen
labored with indefatigable energy under the
adverse circumstances and while half frozen
. by their exposure. No complaint was made
of the engines. They worked WE'LL When
J, it was seen the Court House was in real dan
GER citizens commenced removing the public
\ documents, books, &c. from the county offices
: in the Court House The great mass wa
saved, but in of course great confusion. Nearly
all the wood work ofour splendid Court Hous
D. was destroyed, although the walls, front pill
p lars, vaults, &c, are standing.
of The Court House had just been completed
so and has only been in full use d few months
e. 1t cost, with the Jail adjoining (Which is no
ar injured about $4,000 Probably $1oOO
at may put it in its original condition. Tn
to offices of the County Clerk, Auditor, Recorder
o Treasurer and Sheriff were in the Court House
On with the County Library, &c. Their princi
he pal contents were saved, although great con
IS fusion and perplexty must ensue especially i
the Clerks department. The Court HOus
was not insured 1t had been at one time, bu
i, not lately. Mr.. Fergus had no insurance
X, Thus has our city met with another heav
u loss by frc-this time, as a thorough examins
-. ton induces us to believe. not from any notab
80 efficiency Of the Fire Department. but almo:
Il solely from the want of water at one of tn
N most public places in the city, and right whel
90 our public buildings are situated. There wei
-. cisterns but no water. A fire which migl
have been easily subdued, or confined to II
Eat limits of the building in which it Originates
in was permitted to catch and destroy yaluab
me building situated across wide alley from Il
-. fire, covered by slate roof and under ordinar
,er circumstances deemed fire proof How man
sc more empty public cisterns are there in tt
Its city? Let this matter be looked to, and pc
:, sons hereafter forbidden from using the wat
in the public cisterns for any purpose exec
mt to extinguish fires