Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-09-06
THE FIRE AT HARRISON.
HARRISON, o., Sept. 3, /


Dear american, Some months since l
concluded as the Rev s. d. Malone, then
Of Indiana, butsince Of the old true.blue
Democratic State Of Kentucky, was ad-
dressing letters to you from our town, and
DR.. Clark was furnishing notes of his trip
West, ii would be-little less than imposi-
ton to infict my communications on your
readers. Some weeks have, however, now
elapsed without word from either of the
gentlemen above referred to, and resume
my pen to write to you again as an item
iEer in our pleasant village.
And this, by the way, leads me to men
ton that our town was the scene Of q
frightfnl as we'll as deporable confagra.
ton on Saturday morning last. between
the hours Of and 5 o'clock. The Gre
originated, as is generally supposed, in
the department used for bleaching hats
and bonuels, connected with the fancy
store and millinery establishment Of Mrs
o. Williams, on Mfrket Street, and owing
TO the inflammable character Of the mate.
rails, spread with destructive rapidity tc
the east aud west, wrapping in rapid and
certain destruction the stove and tin SHOP
Of j. Il. Taylor g. Co.. the carriage, drill
aud agricultural implements shops of w
& j. Campbell. together with the dwelling
house and millinery shop of Mrs. George
Penny, involving total loss Of six OF
eight thousand dollars.
A.. 49, N ,.or.
nice improvement in her property. having
added second story to the building, anc
other material improvements, thus making
it very pretty and desirable property
Her loss will amount to some three thou
sand dollars, besides the interruption t.
her business, with an insurance, | am told
Of one thousand dollars on the building
Mrs. Williams is one Of our estimable la
dies, and has the sympathy of all he
neighbors, but the hope is generally en-
tcriained that her brothers, who arc abund
antly able. will give her such assistance a
will enable her to rebuild and re- establish
her business, equal or superior to that &c
stroyed.
j. Il. Taylor & Co.'s loss was in stool
and tools, but TO what amount nm no
informed. A few hundred dollars woul,
doubtless cover their loss, on which Their
was no Insurance.
Mcssrs. w. x j. Campbell were tn
greatest sufferers, who, besides the inter
rpption to their extensive business, viii
lose in material, stock aud buildings near
ly fanr thousand dollurs, on which, how
ever, they have an insurance of fItce
hundred dollars in the Cincinnati Hon
Co.
Mrs Peuny's loss was considerable
the more so. as many articles lost or &c
s,royed were priced far above their intrin
sic value, from the associations ccnnecte
with them. The house she occupied be
longcd to Dir. llutehnsoa, near Chew
OF, but was not Of great value
And now. a few words by way Of i'm
proyemcnt, as tie preachers sometime
say, and wo close for the prescnt. Thi
6le, it seems to me, should teach us th
great necessity for some organization os
security against like Occurrences. Whe
first discovered, little effort properly OF
gan:zed aud directed would have extin
guished the flames and saved all the prop
erty. Nothing could be done, however
IN that direction, because the fire bucket
belonging to the corporation were out c
reach, and but little water was TO be OBJ
tained, as We have no wells or cisiei n
prepared for such visi.atons; and Of th
hundreds collected to witness the seen,
about seven of every ten stood gazing wit
their hands in their pockets, or were work
ing without concert and to very little pur
pose Let our City Fathers see to it tba
we are speedily better prepared for lik
contingency, should one arise. And I
our friends, the more Immediate sufferer
in this visitation, we would say, ITO enio
life and be happy, is the aim Of ali huma
existence. And this presupposes tn
ability of man, with Heavens blessing, I
remove the difficulties in the way. Wer
this not The case, ne had been alioge,hc
otherwise endowed. Even in the nigh
of disappointment aud trial, the earnest
self-assured soul may raise its sublim
philosophy in the beautiful words Of th
blind Miltou:-
"Yet argue rot
Against he aven's hand or will, nor bate jot
OF heart or hope; but stil bear up and steer
Right onward"
PERRY MoNTRosE.