Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-03-06
u Fire.

On Thursday night last, February %,
at about half past ten o'clock, a fire broke
out in the west end of the furniture finish
ing shop of Truesdell & Townsend, on
Main Street, q few doors North of the
Mahoning R. r. Depot. The alarm was
given at a time when most persons had
either retired for the night, or were pre-
pairing Sc to do, hence several minutes
elapsed before much assistance arrived on
the spot, while those who happened to be
near the scene, do not appear to have
made any successful efforts to arrest the
flames, when a few pals of water,
jadiciously applied, might have been of
great assistance in at least checking the
spread Of the fire until the engines were
put in readiness. Owing to the very in
hamable character of the contents of the
furniture shop, consisting of paints, var
nishes, oils, benzine, ETC., the fire spread
very rapidly, especially after the doors
and windows had been opened, admitting
the air. A portion of the building con-
tanned a large amount Of furniture, some
finished, but the most of it only partially
finished. Besides this there were a num-
Der of wooden and metallic collins and
burial cases, fine gilt holdings, &c, most
of which were destroyed. Large quanti-
ties of stuff were dragged out and carried
across the street, but of course was materi-
ally damaged. The insurance or the
stock was $1,000; no insurance on the
building, which was the property Of Mr..
Truesdell. The cabinet shop was hope
lessly enveloped in flames before the
engines began to throw water. This de-
lay, however, should not be wholly
charged to the account of the fire eomps-
MES, although there were probably in
dividual members who were not as prompt
as the rules require. The fremen COM
plain, and no doubt very justly, that while
a few of them were exerting all their
strength to drag their machines through
the almost impossible mud Of the streets,
able-bodied, robust citizens, stood on the
sidewalks calmly contemplating the strug-
giles of the frsmen, but evidently afraid to
soil their boots by venturing to assist them.
Such indifference, at such a time, is dis
graceful, and men who can be guilty of it,
had better remain in their beds, which
would at least keep them out Of the way of
others.
Blythe time the engines had commenced
to throw water, the flames had communi-
Gated to the grocery store of Daniel Bishop
on the South, and the wind blowing from
the South, although very moderately,
caused the dwelling house Of Mrs. Walter
King to take fire. AT this juncture mat
tiers looked alarming, the danger of a gen.
eral c~onlagration, that would sweep Main
Street, as in April, 1860, seemed immi-
nent. A dozen or more families in thst
vicinity took up their beds and run, caus-
ing Main and Franklin Streets to be piled
up with an inextricable medley of house
hold furniture and kitchen utensils too
numerous to mention.
All around the sky was lighted up with
flying sparks and flakes of fire, that we're
borne far Northward, threatening to ig-
mite roofs in the upper part of town.
Disaster from this source was averted by
the vigilance ofpersons, stationed on roofs
The three story brick block, known as
the King property, was only saved by the
greatest exertlons. The roof was On fire
time and again, but wa as often extin-
guished by the liberal use of water, fur
nished in pals. To the exertions of A.
D. Webb, Esq, the owners of this block,
are very much indebted FOR its safety
The fire being thus arrested or the North,
had in the mean time spread South, des-
troying the grocery building and also the
large frame on the corner Of Main and
South streets, owned by Mrs. Stone
This building was occupied by the fami-
lies of E. H. Ensign, Esq, and Mrs.
Adair. Most of their furniture, we I'M
derstand, wa saved. They had no insu-
rance. The residence of Daniel Bishop,
on South Street, Immediately west of the
corner building, was saved by the greatest
exertions, while his barn, a few feet
North of the dwelling, was about half
burned down. There was insurance on
the burned property, as follows:
F. N. Stone, insured on dwelling, $1,000
in the Norwich Insurance Company
Whittlesey Adams, Agent.
Daniel Bishop, insured $1,000 on gro
Gerry building, in the North American of
Hartford. Whittlesey Adams, Agent.
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