The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-05-19

Frun the 81 Joseph Daily Gazette
/ Grea4 Fire ut Nebraska Cityl
i TMNBNsE DES1nrufIoy OF PRoRKRTX
Zsss 0sss eloe,oee!
EDrfoRs GAxxr1: Saturday, May II
1860, abeut 2 o'cleck in the aftsrnoeu
while the wind vas blowing almost hurfi
cane from the south east, and while on
eitIsps were totally uDpferarsd for such
visitation, ere broke ont in . frame butch
er shop, owned By Mr.. Alsman, caused p
rendering tallow, and the flames immedi
ately developed that building, and IN spit
Of every exsrtion, caught the adjoining sdi
fees, and was soon drifting to the business
| part Of the town. In an incredible sbor
space Of time, building after building fel
before the der ouring element, until black
ened ruin is all that is left Of those magnih
cent establishments occupied BY the Bank
Law OEces, Banking Ofhcss, Drug Stores
Insurance Offices, District Clerks Once
County Clerks Office. Probate Judge,
0fsce, oEice Of the Ners, Office Of the Press
the Nuckolls House with ats 6ne stabling
the Land Office, Post Office, Recorders Of
flee, and nearly all the business ofhces in thi
town. 1t 10 hard to estimate 20 soon thu
entire loss. but it must have been immense
Fortunately, however, most OF the buildingt
and stocks were insured, and the loss will
fall principally on the different Insurance.
companies-the Ktna suffering the most
The total loss by this, the first FIRE in the
city, will not be less than $l0O, 900. The
following particulars are obtained: Cole
mans meat house, where the ERE originated,
loss 5000; two-story frame building, I'M
occupied, owner unknown, 5000; ball alley
saloon, two-story frame, owner unknown,
500 Mullis' frame, occupied Tor an Ex-
change" $500; Aliens carpenter shop,
loss in building and lumber, $500; the bank
buildings, three-story brick, owned BY the
Platte Valley Bank and s. F. Nuckolls, oc-
cupied BY the bank, Mason l. Casen's Law
Office, County Clerks ONCE, City Marshal'a
Office, Hawke 4 Nuckolls' store, Humphrey
& Co.'S store, Nescs printing Office, Odd
Fellows and Mssons' Hall, Court Room,
and Nebraska Insurance Company. Value
Of buildings, $4,000; insured for $1,000,
in the Etna Insurance Company. Platts
Valley Bank suffered NO loss in money,
books, or vaiuables-all saved; Hawke 4
Nuckolls' stock Of merchandise, worth
SO, 700; $1,000 worth saved insured for
ST., 700; loss only $1,000; Humphreys &
Co.'s stock, valued at $40, 900, insured for
$2o, 800 in different Offices; very little saved.
Their warehouse, worth $1,000, fully in
sured. Mason & Casey, loss in books,
s., 900; Neus Office, total loss, worth 81, 1000;
insured for 81, 500.
The Masons and Odd Fellows lost in
furniture and fixtures $4,000. Newcomb,
County Clerk, saved all the records and
papers.
The next building, a two-story brick,
owned by George Nuckolls, occupied by the
Press Office, and McCann & Metcalf, bank
ers, total loss; building $1,000; Press Office
saved few cases Of type, loss $4,000.
McCann 4 Metcalf, bankees, saved all
their valuables, funds, books, 60. Loss
not over $500, in furniture insurrd.
The next, a two-story brick, owned by
G. Stiles, of New York, occupied in past as
DR.. Whittenger's residence, and in part as
drug store by Whistenger 4 Warren; value
of building $4,000; supposed to be fully
insured. The stock Of drugs was worth
81 500; no insurance. Most Of the furni-
ture and some Of the drugs were saved.
Goodlet & Greeg's two-story frame build.
ing, occupied by them as tin-shop. worth
81, 900, insured for $500; most of their
stock saved.
The next, several one. story frame build
ings owned and occupied by Ware, banker,
Broadhead, lawyer, Pardee, Mayor, Bell,
Probate Judge, Calhoun, lawyer. Loss
shout 81 900; no insurance. Probate
records and most Of the books and yaluablss
saved.
The adjoining frame building, owned and
occupied by Mr.. Mason, was destroyed; loss
$500; no insurance. The County Treasurer
who had his Office in this building, saved
the books. Across Main Street the first
buildings were several small frame, owned
by s. Z. Nuckolls, loss some $500. A shoe
maker, bakery and saloon was here burnt
out, loss triaing.
Crater's two-story frame, occupied by
him as Recorder, worth 81 900, insured for
800, total loss probably not less than
$1,000: County Records and all papers
saved. The next building, owned by Kin
ney Il Holley, and occupied as law office,
valued Mt 5000, no insurance. Their VAL
liable library, safe and books, all saved.
The Circuit Clerks Office was also kept in
this building, but all the Court papers were
saved. Cheever & Sweet owned the next
two-story frame, and occupied 1t as bank
ers; total loss S 200; insured for nearly the
amount. Books and valuables all saved.
Justice McCann was burnt out in this build
ing, but no loss.
Next, frame, occupied by Daniels, a
banker; loss about $3.50 books all saved.
A two-story frame adjoining. owned by
Rally, next fell, occupied by Judge Brad
ford, Law Office, Hening's drug store, and a
barber shop. Loss Of building 81 900 no
insurance. Bradford's loss, $500; BARRIERS
loss, about 800. The Everett Institute
lost their valuable library, worth $1,000,
which was kept in this building; no insur-
ance.
Boyston & Carter's law Office, one story
frame, value $500, part Of library saved |;
no Insurance; entire loss 81 900. A frame
beer saloon, by Snyder, loss $500.
That magnificent structure, four story
brick, built at a cost of $4,000, "Ths
Nuckolls House," with its fine brick stables
and ice house, il totally destroyed; insured
for $1,000; loss about ST 900; no insurance
on stable, loss 1000; owned by j. I. Arm
strong and II. Z. Hills.
Blackman & Hardin's brick law Office,
valued at $500; no insurance part of the
library saved loss about 81, 900.
DR.. Matthew's frame dwelling house,
value 81 900; no insurance, furniture mostly
saved.
Two blacksmith shops then followed, ono
owned by Lecherbery and the other BY II.
Nuckolls; loss Of each $500.
Pisrce's stable burnt, loss 5000; also
stable owned BY Nuckolls L Hawke; loss
$500.
The two-story brick on the south side of
Main street burnt, owned BY II. E. Hills,
occupied by the Post Office, News Depot,
Land Q{iee and Indian Anancr IT, Ill 4