Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1870-05-11
The Fire.


About / o'clock on Tuesday morn
ing last, some sneaking and mali
cious villain set fire to the south end
ofthe elong room, known as the "Ball
Alley" or Jones Billiard Saloon, on
Main Street, between the two story
frame dwelling house of Horace
Redd on the west side and the two
story brick dwelling house ofOwen
Dowd on the east side, resulting in
the destruction of all the buildings
between Jackson Street and the AL
lev between Owen Dowd's dwelling
and o. Dowd & Sons Store. The
building in which the fire originated
was owned by Neff, Eogan &Slocum,
Cincinnati, and the first story was
occupied by John Jones, n Billiard
Saloon, and the second story rooms
were occupied by him as n dwelling
honse. Mr.. Jones saved nothing
whatever except small trunk con-
tanning a portion of his wfe's cloth.
ing-all the property in the billiard
saloon and all his household
goods being destroyed. He even
had some difficulty in getting. his
wife and children down stairs and
into the street before the fire reach
ed the rooms where they were sleep
ing. His loss is about 81, 600; loss
to Ncff, Eagan & Slocum Ofbuilding,
and property therein belonging to
f. D. Dodge, about s250o. The
four buildings west of Jones Saloon
belonged to Horace Rcdd the
first being two-story dwelling house, the sec
ond Harness Shop and Broom Manulactory
occupied by Wm. EcklCs and z. Thomas; the
third Butchers Shop; and the fourth ana
largest building, on the corner being occupied
by Nh Redd as q Family Grocery, The three
small buildings could have been saved ry Ia
boring five minutes with hooks and ladders, but
articles ofthat description arc never thought oi
in this village except upon such terrible ocra'
sons MI Redd saved portion of his Grocer
les and household goods, but his loss Is not less
than $4,000 The two story brick dwelling house
and smoke house UfOwen Dowd were destroy
ei-thc brick walls of the dwelling house stlll
standing, but badly damaged. Loss of owen
DOwd and O. Dowd 6 Son, about $4,000. No in
surancc upon any Of the buildings or property
The goods were removed from DowdS' store
room, as it was expected that the flames would
reach the building, as well as the neighboring
buildings upon both sides Of the street, but the
great exertons of the citizens who were CON
Stantly throwing water, spreading wet quilts
salt, etc. over the roofs aud sides OF the houses
prevented the fire from spreading, The goods
were removed from all the dry go IDS stores Oh
the south side Of the street. Iantz & Pcarce
wisely declined making u transfer of their large
assortment of hardware tin ware, etc.
1t was a very Fortunate thing indcol FOR the
village, and especially for those in that vicinity
upoa 10th sides of the street that rain fell sum
cent the evening pcrcviOus to mOistcu the roof:
Of the buildings soas 10 prevent sparks from
setting them on fire, and that the wind did moi
blow very strong while the fire was at its high
est pitch, or tie flames could not have been pre-
vented from spreading to both sides of the
street, and destroying all tae business houses
Court House, aud half the dwelling houses In
the town. While the cilizeuS generally deserve
great credit for the enc gctic and efficient man
per in which they work on such OCCASIONS we
certainly feel it our duty, in behalf OF the wei
fare OF the village to condemn the app aren't
lack Of enterprise on the part OF ourpromiuent
and wealthy men, in not procuring q hlst'
class fire extinXuisher, or ilre engine, or or
ganizing an efficient fire or hook aud ladder
company. On other occasions we have called
their attention TO the necessity OF move o
this kind, but as cur words OF advice and warn
ing were not Needed wc once more urge the Gb'
solutc necessity ofit.