The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1864-01-07
DESTRUCTIVE CONFEDERATION.
Over One.haIf of the Bust
ness portion Of DOwagiac
i'm Ruins
From $4,000 to $4,000 aoorth OF
Property Destroyed.


1t is with deep regret that we record
this week one of the sadest calamitiei
that has ever befallen our village. We
have been visited with adeep affliction
in the shape Of devastating fire,
which has destroyed over one half Of
the business portion of our village. On
Saturday morning last, during one oil
the severest snow storms ever known
in this section, flames were discovered
issuing from the building owned by
Welles II. Atwood, and occupied by
Andrews & Cooper for a grocery
store. The upper story, where the fire
was first discovered, was occupied by
T. j. Martin, as barber shop. The
wind at the time was blowing almost q
perfect gale, and the flames soon com
municated to the adjoining buildings.
The engine was quickly on the
ground, but owing to the exceeding
cold weather it was frozen up, and j,
was some time before it could be got
into working order. In the meantime
the fire had spread rapidly, and VIM.
Griswold's building on the one side.
Larzeler's and Sturgis' on the other,
were euveloped in the devouring ele
ment, and were soon mass of ruins.
= Below We give list ofthe buildings
destroy cd, and the losses SO far as we
have been abs to obtain them.
Andrews q Cooper saved thelargest
portion of their goods. A large
amount of heavy goods, however
stored in the cellar, were destroyed
Loss about $500; no insurance.
Larzelere q Co., saved nearly the
whole of their stock. Loss in building
and goods, $4,000. No insurance.
Mr.. Sturgis had but short time pre-
viously disposed of his building and
goods to gentleman from New York.
Goods saved. Loss not reported. No
insurance.
5 Next door to Mr.. Sturgis was q
small building owned and occupied by
Henry Michael, as gun shop. Build
ing pulled down. Tools, &C., saved.
No insurance.
To the north of this was a small
building used as tobacco factory.
This was also pulled down. The pull
ing down of these two small buildings,
and the active exertions of our citi
zens, aided by wet blankets, stopped
the fire from extending any further in
this direction.
The building Immediately south Of
where the fire first broke out, was
owned and occupied by VIM. Griswold,
as grocery store, about one-third
only of Mr.. Griswold's goods were
saved. His loss is therefore greater
than any other one of the sufferers.
No insurance.
The next building was owiied by
John Deniston, and occupied by A.
G. Townsend & Bro, as a grocery
and bakery. Goods saved. No in.
surance.
& The next building was occupied by
D. Pond, as confectionery establish.
ment. ]. Deniston owner. No insur-
ance.
The adjoining building was occu.
pied by A. N. Award and T. ii.
Campbell as a bookstore and jewelry
store. Goods saved, somewhat dam
aged. No insurance.
The next building was occupied by
J. q. Howard, as a drug store and
bookstore. below. The second story
was occupied by E. Pattison as a sa.
loon. Goods mostly saved bnt
damaged. No insurance on building
or goods. Here it was hoped and con-
fidently expected that the fire would be
stopped, it being confined 10 this build