Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-10-31
GREAT rFRRIN CHARLES CITY!
Total Loss, $5o.Ooo!! ..
From the Charles City Insellisepeer Of the Esd ms

From the Charles CITY lnSeSeDeeI o. 'ne 20" ihs''
Nearly all the business portion Of our beau
tiful town is in ashes! At about q o'clock
P. NJ, on Thursday, Oct 23d, fire was dis
covered issuing from the roof Of the Kelly
Hotel in this village, and, the wind beng
very high, the devouring clement did not
cease its ravages until twelve valuable build
ings ON the main business street were IN ru-
ms. From our Office to McNabb's store, and
from the Public Square to Gilbert's Stone
Building, an both sides of the street, not
vestige Of the buildings remain, except the
stone foundations. So rapidly did the fames
spread, that merely two hours sufticed to
cause all this destruction Of property.
After the household goods from the Kelly
Hotel and the Magnolia House were saved,
as much as possible, and it was found that
the latter building must be burned, then the
cry was" The Printing Office! the Print
ing Office Save the Printing Object" and
it was saved. -..r- -.--- .-..
To Mr.. Carver, Mr.. feeling, Charles Kelly,
and the many others who assisted them,
are we indebted for kindly and. successful
efforts IN saving the Ltelligencer building
and that being saved, our dwelling house was
saved also. Much Of our printing materials,
and goods in the store beneath, were taken
out, and from our dwelling house nearly ev-
erything was removed, in momentary expec-
tation that the flames would sieze upon and
consume the buildings. To the many kind
ladies and gentlemen who assisted us we ten
der our most grateful thanks.
While we were thus engaged, the fire
spread across the street, and the watch and
jewelry shops of Mr.. Smile and Mr.. Bennett
the law office Of G. G. & r. G. Rcinigcr, the
tailor shop of d. Davidson, the cid hardware
store, the grocery store of j. Stole, the shoe
and harness shop of Ferguson & Sampson
the stove and tin shop of Charles Melkel, and
the general variety store of j. w. Lehmkuh
& Co., were all at nearly one, and the same
time enveloped in flames.
The burning wood and cinders were car.
ried by the wind to remote parts of the town
where they would ignite, sometimes on the
roofs Of the buildings, sometimes in hay
stacks, and among dry leaves, grass &C.
which kept the inhabitants constantly al
work extinguishing the fire.
All the people, men, women and children
labored with all their might in efforts to SAVE
goods and property. A large proportion o.
the goods was saved, though much was lost
and many of the articles saved are in dam
aged state.
But small portion Of any of the property
was insured. The loss to the Kelly family
cannot be less than $4,000. Mr.. Lehmkuh
is probably the next heaviest looser his loss
being some $4,000. Mr.. Merkel has los
about 81 900, and Mr.. Stole about $500
Mr.. Reiniger's loss, in Office, books. paper:
&C., is probably from $1,000 to $4,000
Some Of the buildings were owned BY non
residents, and the owners names We do no
know. The entire loss by the fire is estima
ted at $4,000.
All night the people were kept CONSTANT.
on the watch, lest the fire should break GU
in some new place. At about midnight tn
wind changed from the southwest to tn
northeast blowing almost gale and excl
ting considerable alarm. The weather sud
denly grew cold, snow began to fall, and whel
daylight appeared the earth was clad in
robe Of white Cheerlessncss and desolatiol
reigned around Backencd RUNS and vast
ed property had taken the place Of handsom
ediices and busy trade