Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-09-29
From the Ft. Smith Herald, Sept. p, l56o.
 Fire!-Loss 1l3, ,0OOl!

+ On Thursday morning, at about 4 o'clock, fm citizens were aroused by the alarm ot te. The fire originated in the post-oalcf | |aock--nrobably in the room occupied asf Billiard saloon. When first entered, the oom was so completely hiirrt with smoke .s to render it utterly impossible to relnaaIn lint a moment. The floor was fired near Inc door and immediately behind thecoln er. Our city being destitute of hre en- Isine, or any organized fire departmeft, Hong time elapsed after the alarm oi ire was given before sufficient numbef oI per sons reached the ground to eflectualF sup press the further progress ot the lisnrs ah., Ibv the time the citizens were aoEed all efforts to save the block in which Ahe flfe originated were useless. The entn block occupied by A. H. Cline, druggist ithe post office; J. P. Springs law office; tndiey,s billiard saloon; Sutton & Sprhg, mer- chants the Fort Smith Times otfce; Wal ton & Bourne, merchants; Bennes & foss, merchants; G. W. Sisson. hynerotype gallery; and A. NJ. Callahan q Co.,, boot and shoe dealers, was entirely sonsumed- as was also the City -Hotd. Very ioftu- natcy, it was a still, calm monlnS ana to this is ,luc the preservation oithe opposite Iblock. For long time it wa m imminent danger, but well directed ani perseNefinS Iefforts saved 1t.
 The losses, as far as weliaye been able to ascertain, are as follows
 John Rogers, $l0,00O; ;Fnsured 50, QUO.
 J.K. MKenzie, S2,C0Uno insurance.
 w. Nj. Bennett, $l00W insured s9Ooo-
 Walton & Bourne, SlSJ0O; insured So'- 900.
 Bennett < Floss, $.0F0; no insurance
 J. B. Gridlev, S20W; insurcl Sl, 200.
 Wheeler & spa,ls, 1'imes office, S3,- 000 no insurance.
 j. r. Spring. S39Oe; no insprance
 N. Spring, $12, tJE no insurance
 e,,ttd,, {, c,r;n. { fa5T ., ,o0e; ne insurance.
 e, W SiSdon; sllo; no insurance.
 X II. Cline. Sh0b0; no insurance.
 Post office told lpss, Memphis mail to sesifornia inclu'eE
 A.>A Mayors 500; no insurance.
 These afesthe lesses of those who were actually burnt , and amount to S96,- S00,. above the Assurance. Other parties lost by movln4 heir goods in such hor- ried manner, aNoagh their places of busi- ,ssss were not eclsumed The list we pub- fish shows total less. s..i;sFe t,e,,, tba nost office, of $l13f00, on which there W was 1s,,, v, insurance of Si6,200.
 Some nontl since an effort was made te purchase oneer two fire engines. Had thi. been done, this great destruction of proper
 ty could hare been avoided. One engine
 with a proPr supply of water could hay,
 extingushei the fire without it's spreading
 beyond tn room in which it originated -
 Experiene is dear teacher, and we trus
 our citzns may be able to profit by th'
 severe lfson given them on this occasion
 Thafnc fire was the work ofsan incen
 diary Ii the prevalent opinion; and circum stancedhat have since transpired, go far {, estabIih the assertion.
 MipEN BURNT TO AsHEs-We hay { heafdit rumored fora few days past, an, now have it confirmed by a gentleman jusfeturned from New Orleans, that tn
 ten of Minden, La, was entirely destroy ely fire a few nights ago. It undoubt
 ey was the work of an incendiary-o Erhcr number of incendiarics, as th lace was fired, 1t is said, in some fifteel Ni' twenty places at the same time. makin; tI impossible for he citizens to arrest tn fprogrcss of the flames until every hous was consumed. We learn that there wa a large lot of goods burnt after being re moved into the street. Surely these ar dangerous times, when man dare not leav his own door--in q civilized country, too without coming in contact with fire, anl nine times out of ten falling victim to tn knife of the assassin. Our citizens shoul, keep sharp lookout at all times, for i IS drawing nearer and nearer to us, ant our turn may come next. Let us arres and hang all stragglers who may. com into our midst and cannot give strictly correct accotnt of themselves A few ex anplcs might do some good. Ham5urs
 Ark. Reporter.
 ' por rs> >ho~ .I.