Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-04-19
The Fires of Saturday.
Results Of Fire and Wind.
The Old Court House, Three Dwelling
Houses, One Cooper Shop and about
$4,000 worth of Slaves and
Heading Destroyed.
Total Loss About $4,000.
Sixty-Ave Buildings Destroyed in
Tiffin, Ohio.

assist in giving the alarm. The cause Of
getting under good Roadway in o cooper
shop belonging to Messrs. THOMPSON &
HITcHcocK, situated on the Southwest cor
ner OF the square on which the two stave
factories are located. Our citizens rallied
en- masse, and with their usual celebrity or
ganizcd "the bucket brigade" With thes. |
their favoritc weapons Of defence, and with |
some more modern inventions, thu, Babcock |
Fire Extinguisher, HydroCdlts, &C., tho
work of combating the fend was CON-
mcnccd in good earnest. Ministers did not
stop to pray, bat rolled up their sleeves and
fell into LIE and watched and worked.
The Impending danger was evident to every
one. About two acres of ground, covered
with slaves, heading and bolts, piled up
from six to ten feet high, with the two fac
tories in the midst, aggregating about S70,-
900 worth OF material, and with wind that
amounted to almost a hurricane blowing
in just the direction to sweep the flames
through this vast amount OF combustible
material, and from this into the heart of
the village, was the picture presented to
arouse the energies Of the workmen Burn
in cinders were continually dropping here
and there and setting fire to the piles OF
slaves, but with unceasing vigilance on the
part Of those watching, it would be extin-
guished as coon as signs of life was discov-
cred. By the will of Divine Providence
the wind changed to the west about five
o'clock, and by six the "bucket brigade"
were masters of the situation. An engine
had been telegraphed for to Toledo, and
permission had been given by Mayor JONES
of that city for steamer No. 3 to come to
our assistance. The danger being consid-
c | over, the order WIS count, rmandcd.
The workmen pretty generally dispersed at
breakfast time, leaving no fire except a
pile of listings and shavings about ten
feet deep, which was a burning mass be-
meath, but was we'll smothered on the top
with water, constant stream playing upon
it through hose attached to a force pump
in the factory. At this time the fire had
swept away the cooper shop, two dwellings
AMI about $4,000 worth Of slaves and head
ing.
During the forenoon the burnt district
was visited by many Of our citizens, some
of whom lent helping hand to extin-
guish the last remaining spark. At noon
near all had left the scene, and the wind
was blowing furiously. At half past twelve
o'clock the second alarm was sounded and
the people rushed from their dinner tables
to witness the dwelling of Mrs. FREDERICK
in flames. Her barn had first caught in
two places and while the fire was being ex-
tnguished the house took fire, which was
entirely consumed in about ten minutes.
From this, burning cindcrs were hurled to
the roof OF the Court House. leaving the
dwelling house of LOCKWOOD SCOTT un-
harmed, and within fifteen minutes from
the time the fire was first discovered issuing
from the cornice under the the edge Of the
roof the whole structure was in flames.
THUS persisted THE OLD COURT HOUSE,
Which has withstood the storms OF thirty
five years, its walls bidding defiance to the
falling timbers and the hurricane OF wind,
the back wall only yielding some two hours
after the fire had done its work. Nothing
could be done to save the building after
the fire had got started The air was full
OF burning debris from the Court House,
and within an hour from fifteen to twenty
buildings were set on fire from these mes
sengers of destruction and it was only
through the unceasing vigilance of our cit
liens that the portion Of the town in the
direction the wind was blowing was not de-
stroyed.
1t was at this exciting period-and our
citizens were not unduly e1ercised-that
assistance from Toledo was again telegraph
ed for. The wires were out OF order and
no answer could be received. Ex-Mayor
TYLER was then sent for the desired aid
which, owing to the yexatious delay Of
trains, did not reach here until about five
p NJ, after the danger was over. OuI
thanks are due all the same to First Assis,
tant Engineer WAITE and his full corps oi
Firemen for their generosity in coming
They had not been here an hour before a
dispatch came calling them home, as the
Michigan Southern Elevator B. was burn.
ing, which made the fourth fire in Toledo
that day.
During the day the widest rumors pre-
vailed in Toledo concerning the destruction
of this place, and some OF our citizens who
are doing business in that city walked home
rather than wait for the trains Wild ru-
mors were also aloat here concerning the
burning of the woods and other property
in various directions, many OF them prov
ing true. Large volumes of smoke could
be seen issuing from the woods above Maui
mee City. Mr.. Roach received dispatch
in the afternoon to send the construction
train to Weston, as the track had been de.
stroyed by the burning wood a short dis
tance above that point.
THE LOSSES.
Messrs. THOMPSON & HITcHcocK LOST
about $500. No insurance. Mrs. FRED.
ERrcK's loss is estimated at 81 500. Insured
in the Etna for 500. The loss on the
Court House is estimated at from $4,000
to $4,000. Insured in the Continental and
Hartford for $4,000.
Jiain Partly Destroyed.
sIxTY-FIvE HOUSES CONSUMED by FIRE.
Special dispatches from Tifin on the l4th
furnishes the following particulars concern.
ing the destructive conaagration at that
city on Saturday last:
"The fire that occurred yesterday was the