Smyrna times., 1870-09-14
Serious Conhagration.
FIVE BUILDINGS CONSUMED. Loss I
$4,000.


$4,000.
1'be most destructive FIRE ever witnessed in
this town occurred on Sunday morning last,
about IL o'clock, when five buildings, incud
inc a large sash mill and basket factory, form
erly wooden factory an extensive iron fOun-
dery. two dwellings a photograph gallery, &c,
we're entirely consumed. The fire originated
in the factory opposite the Railroad depot. Oc-
cupied by Messrs. Mitchell & Wedde', and
owned by Hofecker & Bro, of Milford. The
alarm was given at the time above stated, when
the sermons were about commencing at the
churches At the Methodist Church, the
large congregation was thrown into most ter
rible excitement, many thinking the church
was in hames while others thought the floor |
was giving way. A rush was made by those
in the rear of the church, but those at the |
front, not understanding the cry, fortunately,
did not join in the crowd at the instant, by
which lite and limb we're doubtless saved. AT
the other churches no sudden alarm was given,
and the Presbyterian, being at some distance,
the congregation was not seriously alarmed
for some time. The services were gone through
with. By the time the people reached the
scene OF the conhagration the factory, brick
building seventy feet in length, was nearly en-
veloped in flames, and the toundery adjoining,
owned by Mr. Thos B. Lockwood, was ignit-
ing, as was also the frame house on the other
side, occupied by MIR. 1hOs. Mccoy as tailor
shop and residence by Hoffecker 4
Bro. Finding that none of these buildings could
be saved the principal effort was made to save
the building next to this, owned by Mr.. j. 5.
Huntingdon, Notary Public, the first floor of
which he occupied as an office, the second hool
being occupied by Mr.. Robert H. Blair, pho
, tOgrapher The effort was futile, however, and
it, together with the small tenement house sd-
/ Joining, owned by Mrs Elizabeth Wright, and
r occupied by MIR. Peter Carpenter, were con-
: sumed. Here the fire was checked BY the
pulling down of the last named house the resi-
dence OF Mr. Alvan Allen was saved from any
damage whatever. But while the greatest
exertlon was being made in this direction, five
: or six other places were in the most imm'nen
peril. Roofs were blazing up at a distance
from the terrible scene that was claiming ever!
J attention, and many feared in their frightened
r imaginatlOns. that incendiarieS were applying
l. the torch TO burn the whole town. The larg
Is frame building next to the foundery occupied
by MessrS. Knighton & Sisco, tnmen-owne,
n by Mrs Wright-was igniting and being pu
out by turns. The roof of Mr.. j. a. Caven
\ ders residence and carpenter shop was ais
- blazing, while bis Office was being kept frOu
i burning by great exerton. In the meantim
the residence Of Mr.. Benz. Brown, near Peal
street-owned by Rev. DR.. IT, j. Thompson
III square from the scene, had caught from tn
sparks, and shortly after, the roof of the res
v dence of MIR. j. u. Brlnton, on Pearl ST., an
a also some timber in Worden & Evans log-yar
to caught from the same cause, but all We're el
tinguished before any material damage Wa
ID done, by parties on the spot. The dwelling
&. MIR. John K. Wilson, opposite the founder!
in was also crlsped considerably, and was kel
flom igniting only by considerable exertiol
"a The dry weather and the high wind rendere
Z tuSE nf IN all tho al
- Gus, and, indeed, many feared the entire chill
- would be burned over The most alarmir
=. =? aspect presented itself st one time, when ii
houses at a distance were catching fire III
citizens worked faithfully, however, or a III
ms lofty of them, and were successful after ha
d exertiOn. When the water was exhausted
en- the pumps, Air. McCOnaughy, engineer on Il
ut town train, after he deemed the depot fir
III from danger, had the hose attached to Il
tank, from which an abundant supply Of wat
was obtained. He steamed-up the lOcomoti
he and started the tank pump as soon as pOssit
7as "a fortunate circumstance The shade tire
on greatly protected, and perhaps saved, sevel
in houses.
re With the exception of the contents of t
he factory, nearly everything was removed frC
by the other buildings destroyed, and thou
ere some damage was done to the goods, genera
they were taken out in good order. Mess
ev. Mitchell 4 Weddell lost all their machinel
or including valuable and complicated machi
nd for making peach basket slaves, said to be t
les only one in use. Their loss is estimated
ay. $4,000. Much sympathy is expressed for the
lad The Messrs Hotfecker had an insurance
sed $500; Mr.. huntington $1,000, and NJ
my Wright, 800. Mr. Lockwood had no inst
old ance. The properties, before the fire, We
de, valued as follows: Lockwood s, $1,000; H
, tecker 4 Brothers., $1,000; HufhngtOn's :
The 600; Mrs. Wright's, $500. MIR. Blair e,
to mates his loss in material at 800. His can
ras, negatives, &C., were all saved !
ng. gallery Was one of the best in the State. 1
aud total loss is estimated at $4,000.
A singular fatality to fire seems to atte
this locality Three conAagrations have
OF CURED on the site Of the factory and founder
ella first in about l845, when blacksmith ST
asst aud small dwelling were burned; second,
ges 1852, when the machine shops, &C., of Clt
md & Co., we're burned, and third, the fire
leo Sunday. In addition to this, the Tempera
ear. Hall, including the TINES office. opposite
ire site, was burned in 1860, and Mrs Wrigl
I. house, adjoining her house burned on Sund
Hiss was destroyed last year. The dummy engil
j. was also fred on the Hall site, making six
bert within a radius of fifty yards
pre- We are requested by the sufferers to tn
Orta the citizens Tor their efforts in saving Il
toni properly.
lies, The origin of the fire is not definitely kno
y. There had been no fire in the engine rC
sion since Wednesday last. Several boys wer,
sday the building about an hour before the
broke out, and it is generally believed
they communicated the flames accidents
sales Mr.. Lockwood is clearing away the de
own, preparatory to rebuilding. As he contem.
ven ted remOdeling be does not estimate his
and very heavy--about $500. Mr.. Hufint
20l. also contemplates rebuilding.
ught --
. ior The wife of man at Milwood, Mo-, Ia
), eloped with Misunderstanding an eigh
'her, months old child to the care of an acqut
ano ance When the bereaved husband learne
es 1 IA his loss he lit his pipe and said he would Il
NeI- NeiI the matter over,
liable rhems lust the kind of men TINT