The Cairo evening bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1868-1870, 1869-08-09

THE AnERICAN HoUsE suaxrp.


a number Of persons whs happened "a
be on the street 1t IL o'cloek last nIsbt.
discovered an unusual light in the di,,inv
room Of the American House, large
three story frame building on Eighth
street with . brick additios In the rear.
10 rush in and burst down the door was
the work Of a moment TWAS then dis.
covered that the fire, which had been
communicated to a pile Of shavines ard
stack Of dry boards piled 40 i'm the cor.
ner Of the room, had extended to the
lath from which the plasteing had been
removed, and was streaming up to the
second story through a hole which had
been broken through the ceiling. The
alarm was sounded, and N due time the
Arabs and Rough and R.adies were ON
the ground. The fire on the first floor
was exunguished. The fremen, assisted
by citizens, then bestowed their stten.
ton TO the second story. and
had very nearly succeeded in sub.
DUNG the flames there, when
It was discovered that the devouring ale.
ment was at work In the room over head
In tile third story. Mr.. Jack Winter.
Charley After and others, tried to effect
an entrance into thu room, hut the door.
which they are inclined to think was
barricaded, resisted their most deter.
mined efforts. Had they gained access
TO this room, 1t Is probable they would
have been able to master the fire. Once
In there 1t was but q few min.
utes until the flames had spread through.
OUT the entire third story, entirely be-
yond the control OF the nremen.
BY this time the four engines OF the two
companies named, including the Arabs
steamer, were pouring good streams upon
the building, keeping the are In such
subsection that adjoining bu ildings were
scarcely scorched. The iremen were
greatly aided In this work by the tin roof,
which remaining entire, covered the |
building rs canopy, descending rs the |
building burned down, and preventing
the immense draught that usually add,
20 greatly TO the intensity Of fires OF Q
similar character. During . period Of
Tour hours the Arabs and Rough and
Readies fought the flames, and finally
leaving q PARTON Of the side
and front walls standing, anda few Of
The first and second floor partitions.
Two or three neighboring dw ellin gs
were smpued oftheir contents, there be
ing reason for the apprehension that the
IRE would involve ell the frame build.
lnRs In the Eeighborhood
Concerning the origin Of the fire there
seems to be but one opinion. 1t was the
work OF an incenciary. A few minutes
before the alarm was sounded, q woman
md two men were seen TO enter the build
ng. The carpenter, who has been at
work there during the past two weeks,
'sys that he walked by the building,
Jaw no traces OF the fire; but heard the
alarm in less than . quarter OF an hour
afterwards. Nothing beyond this is
Inown.
Col. James 8. Rearden, insurance
gent, has kindly furnished US with the
ollowing items Of the insurance ON the
'uilding and the brick addition TO the
anne:
On the House." $4,000, In the follow.
ng offices, located In Cincinnati: Amer.
can, Peoples, Hamilton County, Mer.
hants and Farmers. ~
On the brick addition, 81, 800, In the
anne ofices- making . total Of $500.
" the value Of the building we do not
hooss "a speak. ..iI oiae cli .aH
The residence Of Mr.. Pohle, imme-
lately adjoining, was somewhat dam.
ged, but can be made whole by the e.
enditure Of couple hundred doilars.