The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-07-07
The Great Fire in Keokuk,
WI -..--.I July 18th.

Inc nre originated as the account
in the Gate City statcs--trom fire.
crackers which some little boys were
firing off at the barn where the fire
started. Part of the firemen of the
city were attending a celebration at
Warsaw, Ill. Now, we remember
that our fire company with their en-
CINE were a whilo away from the
heart of the city on Monday. We
suggest that it never ought to be re-
peated again. We clip from the Con-
stitution portion of its account of
the FIRE:
The stable in which tho fire origi-
mated was licked up by the devour-
ing element in an incredible short
space of time, and soon the flames
communicated to the Barrett House,
situated at the corner of Blondeau
and Fourth streets. So quickly
was the destruction Of this building
wrought that time was not given tor
the removal of all the goods. The
flames next lesped to tho two-story
double frame tenement house Of q.
l.. Huiskamp, on Fourth street, oocu.
pied by Mrs. Burr and Mr.. Ball,
spreading to the two-story frame ten
ement house belonging to the Cope
estate, and occupied by Marshall Rob.
erts, Mr.. Motherhood and Mrs. Fol
som, and finally reaching tie cottage
frame of Mrs. Anderson's, adjoining
hor residence and occupied BY Mr..
Arthur Williams. Barely time was
allowed for the removal Of the house.
hold goods from these buildings before
they were reduced to ruins. The
one-story frame house adjoining the
Barrett House on the west, and be-
longing to Major J. F. Cox, was also
destroyed, and Neuse 4 Sons lumber
yard was only saved from destruc-
ton by the tearing down Of an old,
unoccupied fame building still far
Their to the west.
BY this fire at least one third OF
the buildings in block 80 were dos
troyed, and it was only by the great
est energy and daring of such
firemen as were present and citizens
generally that the balance OF not
only that block, but the adjoining
blocks were saved. The cinders
flew to Q great distance, many ol
them alighting upon the aw nings Gu
Main street, and setting them on fire.
A large muslin sign in front Of Lesson
4 Co.'s store took FIRE and burnt up
In o jify.
THE FIRE IN BLOCK Is.
The excitement at the fire at
Blon lesu and Fourth streets had not
abated before an alarm came up from
block %, and the crowd rushed in
that direction. DR.. Hughes fine
residence, on Second street, between
johnson and Exchange, had taken
fire from flying cinder, and it was
evident that it was doomed to des-
truction. The furniture and other
household goods were Immediately re
moved and deposited in the street.
The varying winds set FIRE to the
houses in the west, east and north,
and in an hour and q half thirteen
buildings were smouldcring mass OF
ruins, viz: DR.. Hughes residence; G.
u. Aliens residence; Cuba Saloon,
belonging to Mrs. Anderson; small
frame building owned by William
Ruddick; Samuel Browns tenement
house; three one story houses, owned
by Mr.. Connable, of Ohio; Guns
livery stable and two tenement
houses belonging to M. S. Hagoun;
two story frame house belonging to
the Worthington estate, and a cottage
dwelling occupied by Mr.. Pete John.
son. A frame building, owned by
Mr.. Hugh Robertson, at the corner
of Third and Johnson streets was
pulled down to prevent the spreading
of tho flames.
LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
Squire Barrett's loss is fully $4,000
upon which there is no insurance.
James +. Cox's loss is 5000; no in
surance. q. l.. Huiskamp's house
was valued at $4,000 insured for
s1,10O. Mrs. George c. Anderson,
by the burning of the Cuba Saloon,
and frame building adjoining her
residence, loses $4,000; insured for
1890. NJ. S. Magoun's loss is about
5000; insurance about $4,000. Dir.
Hughes loss is about $4,000; insur-
ance about $4,000. The combined
loss Of Samuel Brown, Mr.. Conuable
ID. z. Smith, ST., Worthington estate,
G. L. Allen, Cope estate, and tho
owner of tho property occupied by
Mr.. Pete johnson, will reach about
$4,000.
The total loss by both fires will
reach s35, 700 or $4,000.
Two Quaker girls wers ironing on
tho same table. Ono asked tho
other what side she would take, the
right or tho left. She answered