Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-09-27
WOOD
WANTED AT THIS OFFICE IMMEDIATELY
ISIRS !

On Wednesday evening last, at about hall
past 9 o'clock, our citizens were alarmed by
the startling cry OF fire. On examination,
CarpenterSbop on the north west corner Of
Summer and Cherry streets, belonging 10 JAS.
ALBERT, Esq, was found 20 be in names.-
The shop together with o considerable amount
of carpenters tools, belonging TO MesS:S. MIT-
CnELL and Coon, in despite OF all efforts to
save them, were speedily reduced, by the en-
raged eleme mis-, 10 a heap OF smouldering Gin
ders. The residence OF Mr.. MoRRIs, Superin-
:endent of the Union Schools, Immediately
west Of said shop, was attacked by the flames,
and abou. one fourth consumed, when they
were arrested by The energetic action of the
Torrent Fire Company, aided by The citizens.
All the chattles' of Mr.. MORRIS were saved,
The loss Of Mr.. ALBERT, is about $500, no in
suIance-Mr. MORRIS loss is about $500
5000 insurance on the whole building. The
fire is believed 10 be the work Of an incendiary.
1t is thought by some, that by proper man
ogement ana energetic conduct on The part Of
lUC lC Company IL lCsluShNS VI Ahi'
need not have been burned, and consequent
. Iy the acts OF the Company have been censur-
ed pretty severely by some Of our citizens.
We were not on the ground %ourSelf, but what
we gather from the stories Of all parties, seems
10 be about this. There is no public cistern
within q square or SO oil the place where the
fire occurred, or at least none that was near
enough to be used directly by the Engine.
When the Company arrived at the fire, Meth
er men nor officers knew where 10 obtain wat
er-there were some private wells and cls;eTns
near by in ba ok yards, &c. but their l%ocaIilie"
had first to be ascertained by the company
which as q matter Of necessity caused the fire
men 10 leave The engine and when the wat
er was found, il was entirely inaccessible
10 the suction hose. Lines were then ioIm
ed as speedily as possible and the engine sup
piled by hand when The flames were quickly
arrested, during the interval spent in searching
for water The position OF The engine was sever
al times changed, which circumstance we
think has given rise 10 The %censure, the reason
for this was that no body, neither members OF
the Company nor citizens, during this time
knew where the b~est,place 10 obtain wafer
was, and consequently could not tell where
the Engine should be located. Another thing
perhaps, that tended 10 Illustrate The Efforts Of
the Company was, loo much interference with
the hose and machinery by the citizens- W
nro to1J ;nJoaJ Chat ,In,;nr flo avciiepo.n, tho |
lead hose were absolutely torn from the hands
of the chief engineer, and transported TO quite
another position, in spite of oil his efforts and
commands. The citizens, no doubt, believing
that they were doing for the best, and being
excited may have in this matter, unintention-
ely committed an error. The Firemen, We
believe, worked manfully, considering the very
difficult and embarrassing circumstances under
which they were placed, and should in our
opinion, be applauded rather than censured.
The sad circumstances OF this fire shows with
much force .he necessity Of our Town Coun.
Gil constructing proper ~cisteIns at every Cos
sing OF the streets, so that The Company may
know where 10 obtain water in an instant, aud
without being compelled 10 witness the disas.
trous results OF such search as they had a,
the present fire. Will our "City Fathers
look to this matter? Lei us have The ~cistefnS
and hold up and encourage the Company rath-
er Than censure them Too harshIy, and perhaps
they will do their best 10 lender their organi
cation mo:e efficient in the future. The men
composing the Company, we know are such
that can and will work equal to any in the
State, iftbey have The proper materials 10 work
with. Again we say, let us have the ~cis,erns.
|