Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-01-23
TERRIBLE FIRE !
UNION BLOCK IN ASHES i
Loss on Buildings, $4,000 |
Loss ON GOODS AND DAMAGE TO
STOCKS, $4,000!
$4,000 swept Away I,

i $4,000 swept Away,
1 Yesterday about o'clock the cry OF
OF fire was raised and the bells rang
out the terrible alarm in tho widest
manner We speedily arrived at the
scene Of the fire, which was located in
the third story ofthe store occupied by
| w. A Jordan & Sons, in Union block,
as clothing store and mcr-
chant tailoring establishments. When
we arrived the flames were bursting
from the third story front windows.
The Hook and Ladder company and
the Fire company were out and were
making every effort to get at work to
stop what then seemed terrible con-
Migration. But everything seemed to
work for the destruction of this fine
block of buildings. A hole had to be
cut through the ice, some two feet
thick, and the flames had communicate
ed to the buildings on each side before
the engine could be got to running
| and force water sufficient to even
reach the second story windows. The
| fircmen worked brayely, but the whole
block being under one solid roof, with
no fire walls running above the root,
1t soon became evident that the entire
block must be consumed. In the mean
time our citizens labored nobly to car
ry out and save the stocks of goods,
and succeeded in pretty much clearing
the first stories, but nearly all that was
in the second and third stories and
cellars became prey to the flames.
In two hours from the time of the
first alarm, Union Block, the pride of
our city, lay smouldering heap OF
ruins.
The losses, as far as we have been
able to get them, from the parties them
selves, are as follows:
D. Eaton, corner building, loss 5000 !;
Insured for $500.
Eaton s. Arthur, furniture 5000;
fully insured.
J.H. Merrill, building $1,000; insur-
ed for 5000.
]. II. Merrill & Co., Groceries, loss
$25, 1000; fully insured.
w. A. Jordan s. Sons, building, loss
$1,000; sinsured for 5000. Loss on
dry goods stock, $4,000; insured for
10000.
A Simpson, building, loss 81, 900 mo
insurance.
Egan & Harper, Hardware, occupy
ing Simpsons building, loss on stock
and fixtures $1,000; insured for &c.,
$50.
Mr.. r.. N. Harlan's loss on building,
$1,000; insured for $4,000.
s. b. Fuller, dry goods, occupying
Harlan's building, loss on stock, $4,000;
insured for $4,000.
The next two buildings belonged to
j. w. N A. q. Huggins, loss on same,
$l5, 900; insurance $4,000.
w. A. Jordan, occupying the Hug
gins building, next to Harlan's, with
Wholesale clothing and merchant tail
oring; loss $1,000; insured for $l5,-
coo.
The other Huggin's building former
ly occupied by A. Burns. had just been
vacated and the goods sold to Harris &
Bros on the opposite side of thcstreet.
There was however, stored in this
building $500 worth of household
furniture; 81 600 of which belonged to
A. G. Higgins, and the balance to a
widow lady, Mrs. Walker; this furn'-
turc was all consumed and was total
loss, there being no insurance upon it,
The second story front of the Har-
Ian building, was occupied by Mrs.
Francis Williams, and Miss Mary
King, with millinery and dress
making establishment, Their loss is
$4,000; no insurance, The back part
of the second story, of same building,
was occupied by Mr.. Friedlander, as a
residence,-all his furniture was burn
ed; estimated loss s40O. The third
story of same building, was occupied
by John M. Wallace, as q photograph
gallery; loss $1,000 no insurance.
DR.. II. B. Sisson, occupied the second
story front of Jordan's building, as
dental rooms. His loss is $500; no
| insurance.
John w. Davy, had in Jortan's
building, second story, his clothing and
a lot of sample goods, all of which
were burned. Loss 500 no insurance.
In the cellar of the Simpson build
ing, s.. II. Worcester, dealer in glass,
paints, &c, had $4,000 worth of large
glass stored; total loss and no insur-
ance.
In the second story front OF d.
Eaton's building, Miss s. X. Benson
had millinery store; loss $loo: no
insurance. The room in the rear of
Miss Benson's millinery establishment,
was occupied by DIR. Fcsler, as an
office; loss $4,000; no insurance.
A part Of the first floor of same
| building was occupied by e. r.. Oil
yer, Jeweler; loss 1900; fully insured.
The two story building in rear of
Eaton Il Arthur's furniture store and
fronting ON Green street, was occupied
on the first floor by w. b. Ketcham &c
Co, groccrs and flour dealers, and the
second story of same by Ii. l.. Shaug,
Photographer. This building was saved,
but the goods were removed. ketch-
am s. Co.'s loss, damaged goods, about