The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1872-02-29

The Ereyoort House and two Other
Buildings Burned.
Dilapidation Dismally Dismantled.
Coal Oil ana Cottonwood as Conbusti'
bles.

Last Wednesday evening was chosen
as the proper time by some experienced
incendiaryto burn up the classic pie OF pine
and plaster known as the Brevoort House,
southwest conner of Seneca and Main streets.
4 ten gallon can of some combustible liquid,
probably coal OIL, with sharings in inviting
proximity, was pl5 ced near the old cooking
range, On the we5l side Of the building, and
soon the flames shot up, the bells sounded the
alarm and thousands of people rushed to the
scene. At first there seemed little danger
that the flames would attain sufficient head
way 20 resist the efforts Of the Fire Depart
ment, as there was no wind. 4 few buckets
Of water would have put ont the fire, i've
minutes after it started; but before water
could be goI, the whole west side of the house
was wrapped in flames, and dense smoke
enveloped nearly the whole building, bursting
from the win dows in such clouds as 10
make it evideE that nothing efectual could
he accomplished in the interior. The build
ing being being all OF wood, except the south
wall-which was Of brick-:he flames spread
rapidly, and the attention of the Gremen was
directed 10 to airing down the building next
south, WHICH, however, Wa only partly &C.
cOmplifihei when the brick wall fell, and
The fue marched OYER the line
as steadily IS the soul O: John Brown is
aid to progress. The second building south
Of the hotel, onestpIy frame, was then pull
cd down by TIE Hook and Ladder Compa-
ny, an d the flames 50 checked that only the
north side Of the building adjoining on the
south vas bu rned out and the coniagration
was ended.
The Brew port House was no; occupied rs
a hot,sl, but several persons occupied rooms
in it who very hastily decamped. The build
ing vras ore of the oldest in the,ci;y, and was
condo mned by the Fire Marshal some
mont rs ago Ii belonged 10 the Robinson
estate, and there was no insurance on it.
Th { buiL4ing next south. three story
franz e,.was owned by the sane party, AMI oc-
curi ed 10y Mrs. King IA 4 restaurant. The
cont ents were nearly all saved. No iasur-
ance On this building OF furniture
II lie one story frame was owned By Z. f..
Britt Oh, and not insured.
The building damaged is owned b. Mr..
WhitneY, and not insured.
The an cunt Of loss is difficult 10 arrive al.
The baild ings were considered far past use
FUN ess, nd hence the estimate comes down
to a mere question Of second hand lumber.
Had there been strong wind from the
nor IN it is difficult to say where the catastro-
phe would have ended The water gave out,
the hose burst several times and the iircmen
had bad luck generally.
among those outside of the Fine Depart
ment who distinguished themselves, were
Tom. Delhi and Capt. J. J. Murphy, who
were well soaked and roasted by turns.
Nobody was injured seriously by falling
fragments, though Fire Marshal McCiraw
received whole window sash and the glass
upon his bark, from the third story, as he
leaned over a second story balcony TO give
an order.
On the whole, the fire ia not generally re-
GREETED, considering tina; it turned without
loss to any cry desirable property.