Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-03-10
Loss $z5,OOO!!
PARTLY INSuRED!!
The Greatest Destruction
Of Property Ever Wit
messed i'm Cedar
Falls.
From our Extra OF the OH instant


In Cedar Falls. Overman Block
and the two adjoining buildings, &C.
cupied by Warren Pierce and J. II.
Stanley, were entirely consumed
The fire originated i'm the basement
of the building occupied by G.. L,
Mills, (crockery storel about one
o'clock. The alarm of fire, and the
ringing of the bells aroused cur reo-
pie from their slumbers, and hun
dreds were soon on the spot. To get
at the fire was impossible. The Gel
lar door leading to the fire was brC-
ken in. but so thick was the smoke
that entrance could not be made
The fire had evidently been smoul>
derine for some time, aud wanted
only ventilation to proceed with its
work of destruction. The village
engine was placed in position as soon
as possible, and began to play upon
the blaze which logan to come
through the store-room above, but
it proved una5ating, and 1t was seen
that the whole block must go.
The goods in the stores of Miller,
Wilson & Co., and Wilson Bros.
were mostly saved, but the entire
stock of G.. l.. Mills and Thompson
Il Co. were consumed. The music
store of Cecil Keeler, aud the Howe
sewing machine headquarters were
also i'm with G. l.. Mills, from the
stocks of which nothing was saved
except Keeler's organs and melode-
ons. The city records were in the
safe with the books of q. l.. Mills
The Public Library, in DR.. PierCc's
office, directly over G. l.. Mills, was
entirely destroyed. DR.. Gross occu-
pied the office directly over Miller,
Wilson & CO., and Lanfear Knapp
the office over Wilson Bros. Phil
harmonic. Overman and Odd Fellow
Halls were i'm the third story. The
Odd Fellows had just fitted up their
hall at Il cost of about s. 600, and the
loss viii be heavy for them.
J. III. Stanley was living in the
back part of his store, but saved the
most of his furniture and goods
Warren Pierce, occupying the build.
ing adj Dining, owned by Mrs. Cros-
by, also saved most of his stock.
BY vigilance on the part of many
of our citizens, the SEVERN and Sar-
tori block was saved. 1t vas detach-
ed from the other buildings. The
warehouse, rear of Overman block
was torn down 10 keep the fire from
spreading. Their agricultural inn
plements were all removed with but
slight damage.
Fortunately. for the west side of
Main street, the wind was favorable,
coming from the south west, and
driving the flames in an opposite d.
rection. AS soon as it was seen that
the fire could not be checked, L. l..
French and others of our citizens,
applied to the b., C.. II. & M. R.y for
an engine to go to Waterloo, but not
having authority, n dispatch was
sent from the Central depot for the
Water Witch No. 2, of east Waterloo.
They rang their fire. bell, arousing
their people as well as the fire COM
pany, and i'm just forty-five minutes
from the time the dispatch was re-
ceived, the company were in Cedar
Falls. They succeeded in stopping
the fire from spreading, but the main
destruction had already been made.
Could they have reached here half
hour sooner the south part of Over
man block, owned by Henry Miller,
might have been saved. We have
not the time now to thank the fire
company OF Waterloo for the prompt
and generous maDner in whieh they
responded 10 the call for assistance.
The total loss will probably reach
So 600. Wilson Bros. had an insu.
rance of $4,000 on their stock. Mil.
Ter, Wilson & Co, $4,000. G.. l..
Mills was insured for So, 800. His
loss will be 81 500 above Insurance.
Thompson & Co. had an Insurance
on their building and stock of S14,.
500. Henry Miller, on his portion Of
the block, $4,000. The part owned
by Miller, Wilson & Co. was ins ured
for $500. ]. Ii. Stanley had an in
surance of $500 on his building, and
81 900 on his stock. Mrs. Crosby'i
building was insured for $1,000
Warren Pierce, on Stock, 81 ,000.-.
Hunt g. Rowland, on Machinery
81 200. The Cabinet Makers Uniof
removed all their stock, but sustain
considerable damage.
1t is severe blow TO our city. A
usual, OH such occasions, many stoo,
around with no special interest. bu
the large majority of our peopl
worked hcroieally. and are entitie,
to great praise.
| The cause of the fire il unknown.
THURSDAY EVENING.
We are enabled 10 report more def
nitely OF the result OF the morning