The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-01-11
a Modest Fire.

On Wednesday evening last one Of the incest,
quietest, best behaved little conhagrations hap
peued here that have any record OF. 1t
broke out in somewhat mysterious manner be-
hind the stove in Kagy g. Co.'s bitters manu-.
factory. The time was about p. NJ, when peo.
pie generally were at supper. A man passing
along :he street discovered it, the proprietor of
the factory being out. The man had presence
OF miud. Instead OF running up Columbus
street and yelling "f-i.ier," and frightening
every denzen OF that thoroughfare, as he might
have done. and as most men are apt to do under
similar circumsta nces, he wiped his eyes three
times; once with his coat tail, then with his coat
sleeve, and finally, after rummaging in his over
coat pockets, under-coat pockets, vest pockets,
and when about to swear out where that drafted
handkerchief, found 1t in his pants pocket, and
proceeded to mop out his visi4l organs. Then
he calmly surveyed the scene and concluded that
s-reak of yellow and red running from the floor
to ceiling was fire. This conclusion was
strengthened by the oder Of something ourn.
ing, plainly visible to his nsked.ncstrils through
the key hole of the door Mitchells restaurant
is next door west from the bitters-mill Mitch.
ellis boarders we're engaged in the interesting z
and satisf ctory employment of packing h.ph,
or, 50 to speak pu!verizng grub George was
bo-sing the job. The man with the secret about
the FIRE came in on tip.toe, wunked sly.wirk
at Mitchell, and taking him by he collar, yelled,
Come by me und you find some dings funny
| owet." George being fond OF Jokes followed the
| IL IAN hence. In d few moments say 7. by tin
watch, George came back and taking off his hat
and brushing his auburn locks from his alabaster
brow, made speech. He said L ,dles and
gentlemen. do not disturb yourselves or be an.
uoyed by idle rumors. Eat your suppers in con.
| tent. There is d fire in the neighborhood. II
may get here and it may not" He finished with
a graceful bow. The audience did not applaud
| They were too full--of hash for utterance. At
length one man, with spoonful of that article
OF dist known as mystery midway between
| his plate and the cavern in his face comm onl v
| distin suished as " mouth replied, "Mr Mitch.
| ell, them sentiments is agreeable and soothing
! Mr Mitchell then ntimated 10 his family tina,
it mi ght be neeessary--thnt a contingency
might arise, so TO speak, when i. would be more
agreeable for them, as it were, to seek anothe
donicil, as it is hinted that "suthin is burnin'
withiu-the city limits. George th,n srusheC
his teeth, polished his shoes, put lard on hi
hair, and as, s,umed all that degree OF dignity du.
the occasion, and went forth to see the q" fire
feGd,' who was gnawing up things in the mex
room. We hold that, under these circu instances
the wooden building, the fire, and only tive
inches of pine boards between it and his bed
room, and the fact that the fire iah. fool
arUuud aud burn dissGreeable hole in the par
tition aid let the bracing air of 25e below zerc
right into Georges room, were things O.
sufficient Importance to perfectly justify him
in trying to dissuade the fire from behaving in
such a wayward manner. In = few minutes the
fire went out in . most mysterious way
Whether it was extinguishsd by pail or two
of water Or a bottle Of bitters exploded and
frightened it out, or whether it died of sheer
neglect, Will never bs known. At al! events i
and the rat hole behind the stove are NO wher,
to be found.