Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-09-03
TREMENDOUS COMFLAGRATI1E.
AN ENTIRE BLOCK IN RUINS I!
s $4,000 Worth OF Prop
erty Destroyed.

Early this morning, our city was visited
by the most disastrous conhsgraton ever
known here. sweeping away in few hours
that entire row Of splendid new three story
brick buildings extending from Commercial
alley up Brady street TO Third and along
Third as far as the new block extended
including in its devastation the 'llowing
business places:
No. AZ. owned BY Price & Conno., and
occupied by their extensive Grocery Store,
aud the office Of the Davenport Fire lnsur>
snce Company ON the second floor front.
No. 40, owned by Washburn l. Hender.
and occupied by their extensive Stove, Tin
ware and House furnishing stock, works
shops, etc., and the ofIice OF Martin & PER-
lSns, agents for the North Western Mutual
Life Insurance Of Milwaukee, on the second
| floor front.
No. 81. owned by E. S. BAllord. and oc.
cupea by the large Grocery st0re Of VIM.
McManus AID j. w. Stewart, assignees of
Joshua Burr. aud the Office Of j. l.. Day
nude, General Agen, for the Security Life
Insurance Company of New York, on the
second floor front.
No. 53, owned by Goodwin & Bissell
wholesale and retail Hardware merchants,
and occupied by them, and the Dental Of
flee Of j. j. Severance on the second floor
front
No. 55, owned by Geo. l.. Davenport,
(the same extending around from Brady to
Third street, and comprising No. 2 west
Third and occupied by tho extensive
dry goods firm Of WIN. Bell 4 Son the
second floor, Brady street front,by DR.. E. H.
llazen, and on the Third street front by the
dental offices Of DIR. Gunckel. The third
story, and also the fourth, comprising some
nineteen rooms, occupied BY the extensive
photocraphing establishment OF p. B. Jones.
No. 57-the corner buildng-owned and
occupied by the Davenport National Bank,
and in the basement the Office of DR.. J. w.
II. Baker, and the chair repairing shop Of
i.G. llausman, and the second story by
Temperance Hall.
The fire originated in one Of the upper
rooms Of the Photograph gallery, and was
first discovered by Mr.. Jones, who resided
on the third floor, about four clock this
morning. When first discovered the flames
had but slight headway, but had very ex-
celent chanc, for spreading from the fact
that the room tnen sfane was not yet plas
tered. Mr.. Jones informs us that he has
not the leas. idea in the world as TO where
the fire cansht-no fire having been left in
the rooms, aud the chemicals all very well
secured. At all events, the flames spread
rapidly after once getting started upon and
under the roofs, notwithstanding the falling
rain and the almost perfec. stiffness Of the
hour. Sorry indeed are we 10 say that the
water from the engines was unusually slow
in making its Appearance. The reason for
this tardiness vii! be more fully noticed
further long.
The particulars Of the losses aud insur
ance are as folows--beginning where the
fire left off, corner Of Commercial alley
and Brady street:
PRICE coNNoR.
! Value Of grocery stock, occupying three
floors and cellar, estimated at SIG GOO; In
sured
Philadelphia North American ~, 900
Merchants of Hartford ~ 600
Davenport Fire Insurance Company - 1000
Liverpool and London n........ q 500
Yonkers, OF New York Observation-Disclosures. 1,5oo
10000
TIE building cost full $4,000 to erect less
=, than one year ago, and was insured in the
Hartford for 1900; making the gross loss
to Mcssra. Price & Connor, about $22 900,
Insurance 81, 900. About 90 per cent. or
THEFT goods we're saved in damaged condl>
tion. What their abso.te loss will be is vet to
be determined, bu. it is safe to call it seven
OF eight Thousand dollars, besides the great
trouble and loss of trade. Books and Pc
pers oil saved as far as ye. known-t.e safe
not having been opened at this writing
The office Of the Davenport Fire Insur>
ance Company, on the second floor. front,
sustains loss of some 5000 in furniture
and fixtures The papers Of the office we're
secured. The cash AMI other valuables of
the Office were deposited in the above mems
toned safe, and are presumed Ia be in good
condition. No insurance on Office furu;.
turc.
10 the third story Of this building was
stored a portion os the furniture and a con
siderable portion of io-,. John f. pilun's
library only a portion of The latter now |
found. Library insured in the Pho ak of
Hartford Tor 81, 900
wAsHBUHN uENDEa
had stock Of stoves. tin and copper>wa,e,
and household goods, which, together with !
their shops in the secona story, amounted |
to about $4,000. Irsuied as follows;
Home, of New Haven. ]. 500 |
q 600
Building completed last winter At cost Of
81, 900, and insured as follows
Liverpool London &1, 500 |
Security, OF New York. Observation-Disclosures. / 200 !
Merchants, OF Chicago 1900 |
$4,000
Gross loss $2l ,000-insurance Eli, 200
probably not more than ten or fifteen per
cent of goods saved-thc extensive stock |
Of stoves and other heavy goods for the
fall and winter trade being stored in
the cellar, third story and attic. Their loss
will not probably be less than six or eight |
thousand dollars Their stock is being rev |!
moved to Fulton's block for the present.
Martin & Perkins, Life Insurance agents,
on the second floor. sustain bit . trifling |