The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-05-16
GREAT FIRE Z



q row of small frame horses. There are
different reports oil the manner Of which the
FIRE caught, but the most prevelant seem to !
set il down as the work of an incendiary.-l
In few minutes the house was in flames,
and the adjoining frames were soon. on FIRE.
The engines were quickly on the spot, but
they worke badly, the hose was very imper.
feet, and Il was soon discovered they could
lend but small lid in srresting the fames.-
There were even no hooks and ladde rs of
any account. With their aid one or two
buildings might have been torn down, and
the MOTE valuable houses saved. OF these
deficiencies alusion is made in another ar
tiele. The citizens went manfuIly to work
saving goods, and labored industriousy long
as the flames would permit. Thus the con-
tents Of many stores were principally saved,
and with less than the usual damage IN spch
cases. The fire worked on DIP street till it
was arrested by the three story brick occu.
pied by Bacon & Co.'s Grocery. 1t was soon
discovered that the three story brick on the
corner Of Water, occupied in its lower story
BY Messrs. Loewenthal & Co. and its upper
departments as the residence of the late John
Mitchell's family, must be consumed. The
goods, furniture, &c. were removed. and
placed on the wharf, with but comparatively
small loss. This building was soon in
blaze, and the adjoining three story bricks on
Water street. up to Robt. Barnes store,
were consumed. The contents were gene
rally saved.
Citizens and firemen worked faithfully
and theoretically, but with such apparatus
as that upon which they had to rely, their
labors were OF no avail in preventing the
spread of the fire. This is the most destruc-
tive fire which has ever occurred in our city,
and entails much private and business UNI
!, convenience to the sufferers, although but
comparatively small losses Individually
The destruction of the frame houses was no
loss to the city, and there the FIRE could have
been readily stopped with the proper fire
apparatus. The aggregate loss by this FIRE
has been estimated at from $4,000 to $780,
!. 900. Below we give details, commencing
e at the house highest up Main street:
; Miss Barker's mlenery establishment was
e next to Mr.. Bacon's store. Her goods were
> principally saved. in a confused state. He.
:. loss will probably amount to $500.
Next door was Mr.. Nelm's Tailor shop
g a large portion OF his goods, &C., were saved
:, but he lost his books. Total loss probably
:, $500.
The barber shop next door, in the rear oil
= which the FIRE origiuated, was a small frame
;. All these houses belonged to the estate ol
:, the late Dr.. Wilcox, and were not insured
n On the corner Of the alley was frame build.
II ing occupied by NJ. A. Lawrence az mar.
70 shops to a rear alley. He had large
n. quantity Of marble on hand, much of which
=. was already worked up, and some boxed Up
i. in front ready for delivery, to the extent o.
probably $1,000 in value. He estimates hi
loss at $1,000. upon which he had an insu
i reance Of $4,000 in the Granite Ins. Co., N
81 Y. He is actually one ofthe heaviest loser
r. by the fire. The house was owned by Mr.
At VIM. Marten and Dr.. Stockwell.
y. Across the alley was a small shoe stor
lie occupied by the successors Of Mr.. Bush
he Loss trifing.
n. Just fbelow was McManaman's Clothin
Id Store. A large portion Of his stock wa
saved. He was insured in the Hartford Fir
Dr.. Company for $1,000.
m, Messrs. SummersdI Tileston's Daguerrea
re. Gallery and PAIN. shop, above the Marbl
it Depot, were destroyed with every article i
no them. No insurance. Loss probably $500
I'll The lowest frame on the street, was oc
n. cupied by H. J. Hart as Boot and Sho
il. Store. He had just received part of hi
W. new stock Of goods. He valued bis stock o
mt hand at $4,000. 1t was nearly all saved
ir- He was insured $500 in the Granite c.
ON N. Y. and $4,000 in the State Mutual, Hal
or rodsburg, Pa.
slf, All the buildings below the alley belong
he ed to the estate of the late John Mitchell
er. and were not insured.
The famesthe communicated to the re
ey idence Of Mr.. Mitchell's family. This WI
cir large three story brick, occupied as befol
lay mentioned. Insured for $4,000 in Indian
the State Mutual Ins. Co.
ac- Loewenthal g. Co. occupied the corn,
VIII room, and the room in the second story abov
70 with store room adjoining the ground 20
''fi' room. They had large holesale and r.
tail Dry Goods and Clothing store. The
h,, goods were principally saved in a damage