Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-07-19
| DESTRUCTIVE FIRE! j!
Seven Buildings De-
6troyed!
loss OVER 25,ooo!.
PARTIALLY INsUREDI

PARTIALLY INSURED
A IRE was discovered at 10 O'Clock on
the evening Of the 10th inst, In the
dry goods store OF T. Haxlett, on the
east side of Main street, near tho race.
The origin of the IRE is not definitely
known, but Is thought to have been oc-
casioned BY the explosion OF lamp
which Mr.. Haslett left upon the
counter. turned down, on leaving the
store, some three-quarten Of an hour
previous TO the IRE, ~ was his usual
custom. ~ ShF ITS ,fsS FflN
The fire when discovered was on and
under the counter where the lamp was
sitting. The flames very quickly
reached the goods which were hanging
overhead, spread very rapidly, filling
the room and destroying the entire
stock and building In = very few mo-
ments. $500 . 1850 ii!. Il
The IRE then communicated to the
adjoining building, and It found
that the only hope for checking its
spread was to tear down one or two
buildings. This was done an rapidly az
possible considering the excitement
and confusion, and this no doubt did
much towards lessening the fiames and
heat, thus preventing the fire from
communicating to the opposite side of
the street and rear. s kFS
Had the wind been high, IL would
have been impossible, with the limited
means, to have saved the buildings on
either side of First street, IL not the
entire block on the west side of Main.
Many Of our citizens worked coolly
and manfully, but many were 80 badly
excited as to render themselves nui-
sance. While many are to be praised,
and others censured, we have, perhaps,
enough to do congratulating ourselves
that the loss was not trippled, or that
no one was killed or seriously injured.
We will not attempt guess as to the
loss of life which might have been oc-
casioned had not q keg and half of
powder, which was In Collman's store,
been discovered by Charles Melendy
and deposited in the race. This was
done after the fire had reached the
building. And here let us remark that
the keeping of powder In our stores
should be immediately prohibited.
Many very interesting incidents and
accounts Of adventures Ind escapes
IL. . 4.
might be given had we space, and we
would be glad to give the names of
those who are worthy of mention, for
their untiring exertionr and daring, but
willonly express the hope that We may
never again receive such sgdrn, visit
from this source, and II we should, that
all will do as well or better than they
did, and that before 1t comes we will be
wise enough to fully prepare ourselves
for future emergency OF this kind.
Since the fire meeting 30 earnestly
talked of on Wednesday, has proved q
fizzle, We will take the liberty Of MAX
ing few suggestions. hoping they
may prove of some little benefit on a
similar occasion In the future. ~
A fire company should be immedi-
ately formed, or IL this Ia not done,
some kindof an organization should be
effected, and officers appointed who
will have authority to assume the con-
troll of affairs-almost any thing to
avoid such provoking confusion and
excitement as we had OH Tuesday oven
ing. ~
Arrangements should be made for
ringing ths bells by quick succession
of taps, so that all would know ut once
what was meant.
Every person on leaving his house,
should take bucket, ladder, axe or
something which he thinks may be
needed. Don't be SO small as to leave
them at home for fear they will be lost.
Let all keep cool, forming lines for
passing buckets as soonas possible, and
when position is taken hold It and
not be running around following, thus
exciting others and effecting nothing.
Fifty men well handled will do more
than three hundred confused and ex-
cited. BUTT Ii hardly necessary to keep
a. cool as . couple Of our citizens who
sat ON tho veranda of the Carter House
smoking their cigars, and others who
stood back unconcerned.
Arrangements should be made 10
prevent such indiscrstion In moving
goods. as was to be seen at the fire.
They should be moved proper dis
lance and placed In charge of police.
men appointed for that purpose, and
not left to be stolen or run over and
destroyed. = 's4
The following is . list of the losses
and insurance:
Il. Hazlett. building and stock, loss
about $i5, 900, Insurance 80 900.
]. Collfnahn, three buildings and
damage to stock, over SO, 0O0pne insur-
ance. ys,5ce
J. w. Plummer, loss not known,
probably 5000, insurance ON building
and stock $1,000.
SEVERN Bros, building and damage
to stock 81, 500, no insurance.
F. A. Tondro, loss 81 800, insurance
$500.
Bird, Pickton 4 CO., loss by removal
ofgoods and thieving $500, partially In
sured. 50
A. Taggart 4 Bro, loss by removal
of stock, $500. No insurance.
A. ]. Allen, shoe shop, building and
stock. Total loss, $500. as
Hawk Eye Club, loss on furniture,
&C., about $3.50, besides number OF
valuable books.