Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-01-23
saloon, loss s25; Harris r. Bros., Dry

4 = y y
Goods, and Chas. Sax, Clothier, goods
damaged but we are unable to get es.
innate Of loss, probably $1,000 each
insured. These losses were incurred
by removal Of goods. The above con-
stitutes pretty accurate and detailed
account of the chief losses incurred by
this second great confagration in Of
tumwa. On the 30th Of October, 1868,
our city was visited by q confagration
that, in the amount Of property con-
sumed, exceeded the losses Of the fire
Of yesterday; but the character of the
buildings burned was much inferior
to Union Block: besides this fire
comes at q time Of financial embarrass-
ment and the former confagration oc-
cured while we were on the wave OF
financial ease and prosperity.
The seven business houses compris-
ing Union Block were about rs feet
each in width, and all some SO feet in
depth, except one of the Higgins
buildings, which was 90 feet deep, and
all of them three stories high, and the
roof upon one plain. 1t was most
sad and sickening sight 10 look upon
the flames licking up these beautiful
structures, with no power to save them.
1t was by the greatest effort on the
part Of the fire department and citi-
zens that the conflagration was con-
fined to Union Block. The Ballingall
House opposite, across Green street,
was for long time in imminent peril !;
its Mansard roof was spread with
blankets which were kept saturated
with water, but these would have been
of no avail had it not been for favor
able change in the wind at just the OPP
perfume moment. 1t is with pleasure,
that we record the fact that all the
heavy losers are able to stand up easi-
ly under their losses and that
for the most part, they are in good
degree insured. The burning of SO
much and SO fine portion of our city,
together with the great destruction Of
goods, and the embarrassment to the
even tenor of business cannot,
however, but result in serious public
calamity to our city and county, as well
as to the individual losers. Ottumwa
enterprise, however, never falters as
has heretofore been demonstrated. j.
III. Merrill Il Co., wholesale grocers,
whose business has run up to $40O,-
900 yearly, are already set up in the
Free Mason building, on the corner Of
Main and Jefferson streets, with fair
stock, short in some lines, but which
will be filed up in few days; w. A.
Jordan Il Sons, with their immense
clothing and dry goods stocks, have
gone into the Gillaspy building, on
Main street, near the corner of court
street. Egan Il Harper, hardware,
have opened out, plucky as ever, in
Devins building, next door to Jor-
dan & Sons; Eaton 4 Arthur have
gone into Lewis building, on Green
street; S. b. Fuller is flying his sign OF
"cheap dry goods for SALE" on Court
street, next door to S. Smiths gro.
Gerry. We understand that others have
found places to open out, which We
viii be glad to announce gratis. as we
learn where they are.
Our Insurance Agencies report the
following risks in the property burned
and damaged by the fire:
Losses in The Liverpool and London
and Globe, w. A. McGrew, Agent.
Eaton u Arthur. ....5...,. 81 600
Moriarty II Mclaughlin - 2 OOo
Harris e Brother . 5000
J. w. &. A. G. Higgins -. SIS
w. Mitchell's Insurance Agency re-
ports the following risks: