The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1871-12-28

! ago to goods, $1,000. A. Thompson,
damage to furniture Of City Hotel, $500.
Az any time during the fire the east
sS@e Of the street was in great danger,
but when it got along to Beebe & Mar
this it was q question whether or not
that side would not have to 60 with the
rest. About this point the wind veered
to the southeast and the huge volume OF
flames that Ieaped almost af ross the street
was terrific and scorching. Persons on
the top Of the buildings there. engaged
in throwing water, were scorched about
| the face and many protected themselves
by pouring bucketful after bncketfui OF
water on their heads. But by keeping
the buildings well drcnchcd, aided by
about an inch flee and snow covering the
roofs, the east side was saved. Asst was
a question at Gels bank whether the fire
would be stayed, SO here existed the
point for stopping or further progress
Of the fire. With all human exertIons,
had we not been favored with the layer
of snow and ice, the east side must have
gone with the rest. Business men here
lost considerable amounts in the removal
of their stocks and portions Of their
stocks. W. $. Wells, cigar manufactures,
had goods damaged TO the amount OF
about fifty dollars, and Radcliff Broth
crs, hardware and stove merchants, SUIT
tered to the amount of about one hun
bred dollars in goods lost and damaged.
A few others were Sufferers by damages
to goods consequent upon the existing
confusion and by water used as pro-
lection.
An idea of the destructiveness Of the
tire can be gained from the rapidity with
which it progressed. The time occupied
by the fire from its first breaking out till
il might be said to be ended at the bank
was about one hour and quartfr-cer-
tainly not more than ono hour and halt.
II is pretty we'll developed that the
fire was the result Of care,essness upon
the part Of Mr.. P9tricx Cunningham.
We are Informed by creditable parties
that he was in the habit OF depositing
the ashes in wooden box and leaving
it in the back room or out side next to
the livery stable. Not more than fif-
teen minutes previous to the first cry OF
Ere men were in the saloon, when there
was no sign Of FIRE. Cunningham left
for the country, and when the cry was
raised men broke into the room, finding
it dense with smoke. lie had been re-
peatcdly warned against this practice
but he seemed to pay no heed to these
admonitions. We make this statement
not to criminate or censure him but to
place the facts as they are before the
public. We believe he is amenable only
for carelessness. His loss is severe, as
We have. shown, with no insurance on
any thing.
Tho history of the fire has its heroic
spirits, with its quota ofiaggards. While
there were those who labored persist
entity through fire, smoke and water,
numbers stood gaping about, seemingly
having no interest beyond desire to see.
But Salina had its noble men, and wo-
men too, who sought with their best per-
sonal exertions to succor their unfortu-
nate fellow citizens. Tho people OF Sa-
lima are whole-souled to an eminent de-
gree. We hear Of numbers Of kind acts
of offers OF assistance to those burnt out
since the fire that so to warm up the
heart. One of the sufferers said after
the fire, 8" With all my fine appreciation
of Salina, / never thought so much of it
As do now" These kind acts bind the
people together in a common Fellowship
and unity. Our city comes out of the
fire purified, and will profit by the loss.