The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-06-05
SUFFERING SOMERSET.
The Town In Ashes.

Thursday, May the 9th, 1872, wa:
a day of dire disaster to the beautiful
town of Somerset On that day the
demon of fire laid the hand of des
truction upon the place and almost
biotted it out of existence In com.
pany with a number of others we
visited the ruins, several days after
the fire, and beheld sight such as we
never saw before Where once stood
the fair town, with her industrious
and hospitable people, now can be
seen nothing but devastation and ru-
in. Where once hourished the bust
ness, the wealth and prosperity OF the
place, the ghost of the red demon sits
gloating over his work of devastation.
The work of the fire fend is most
thorough and complete. No instance
in the annsls of destructive fires can
compare with that of Somerset. The
fire at Chicago, the most terrible on
record, destroyed not a hall, nor a
third even, it is said, of the property
of that city, while at Somerset, inside
of two hours and u half, more than
two thirds of the value of the place
was reduced to ashes.
1t is pretty well settled that the fire
originated from sparks that few from
the foundry into stable close by in
which there was hay and straw. A
bundle of straw first took FIRE. The
owner of the stable on discovering the
fire in the NOW ran up and attempted
to throw out the bundle, but as the
band had been burned in two, he was
unsuccessful. and the fire was scatter
ed over the NOW, and in moment the
contents Of the stable were ablaze.
When the first fire broke out the wind
was blowing perfect gale, which was
increased in intensity with the FIRE.
In less than FIVE minutes from the
time that the alarm of fire was first
given, dozen of buildings were on
FIRE. With terrible effect the flames
now leaped from building to building,
and seized upon everything ofa COM
bustible nature. House after house
went down with frightfulrapidity, and
the inmates were compelled to fee for
their lives. Whole blocks were swal-
lowed up in an instant in q terrible
whirlpool of flames. All attempts to
arrest the progress Of the devastating
FIRE proved powerless.-COnsternation
and terror reigned supreme. The
heart of the stoutest men grew faint,
and women and children were running
for their lives and screaming in the
agony of their despair. Men would
rush to assist their neighbors in try
ing to save their property, and on
looking back would find their own
dwellings in flames. Homes with all
their attractiveness, their valued con-
tents, the fine shrubbery around, the
product of years of toll and attention,
were consumed like stubble before the
fire. Nothing could be saved.-The
air above and the earth beneath were
filed with the devouring element.
Elegant furniture, and household
goods of every description were carri-
ed out in the streets only to be licked
up by the flames. Instances were
frequent where goods took ere in the
arms Of persons attempting to save
them, before they could be carried
across the street. Persons who were
worth their thousands in the morning
who had elegant homes for themselves
and their families, were houseless and
penniless by night, with not even a
coat to shelter their backs.