Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-08-27
The Business Part of our
Town Destroyed.
II BUILDINGS IN RUINS.
DESTRUCTION of an ENTIRE
BLOCK.
LOSS $4,000.
INSURANCE ABOUT S5s,000.

Mifflintown has again been the vic
tim of a most destructive fire. Twen-
ty business places and four dwelling
places are in a mass of smouldering
ruins. The late fire did not sweep over
as extended piece of ground as that
swept by the fire on the last night ol
the wear flS7C, but if the wind had
blown as 1t did on that night, MlfiiIn,
doubtless, DOW would lie as does the
ruinous work of last Saturday morning
The alarm of fire was raised on last
Saturday morning about | o'clock, and
among those early at the scene OF dis
aster a number declare that they hrsi
saw the flames issue from the Senfine!
Office. There were a number Of win
dows in the main office, through
winch they should have been able to
see the location Of the fire from both
the alley and the street. There was
also q window i'll the back Office epen-
ing into Mrs Belford's yard. Others
early on the ground declare that nearly
at the same time a FIRE was discovered
progressing in an alley or passage be-
tween stables north of the Sentinel Of
fee. 1t is believed to have been the
work of an incendiary, but whether in :
stigated by malice or love of gain is
known only to the wretch or wretchcs
who planned and executed it. 1t could
not have been an accident if there were
two separate fires.
We were in the office long enough on
Friday evening TO read four columns of
"proof," and LETT and locked the Office
about O'Clock There were only two
keys to our knowledge that would un-
lock the lower door, the only entrance
door 10 the Sentinel office part Of
the building. One of The keys
was in the possession Of Mr.. S. ID.
Batesholtz, foreman Of the Sens'nef,
and the other in our own possess
sion. The lamp used that evening
was one of the lamps that have
been in use IN the office since We pur.
chased the Sentinel we cannot think
that fire could have escaped from 1t
without notice.
The ringing of bells aroused us from
our sleep, and by the time we reached
tn, scene of the confagration the fire
had so far progressed that the Nevin
building and the building next above
the Sentinel building toward Mrs. Bel
ford's we're all on fire. The horrible
wo.k of destruction went on and on,
.snd threatened the devourment Of the
Whole town west of Main street. An
idort was ma ie to save Mrs. Belford's
residence, but II proved futile one,
for in spite of all the work bestowed on
il. il was burned. The course of FIRE
down Bridge street toward the river
was arrested at the "Parker house" at
the corner of Bridge and Water streets
By a desperate struggle. sien and
women worked there. The fire had
burned SO rapidly and with such an ap-
palling effect that no efforts were made
to save the buildings on Main street
excepting at Mrs. BclforG's residence
until it had extended itself nor,hward
to the alley between the property Of
Robert Z. Parker and the Littleheld
hotel property On the latter proper
ty there was a rally, and after long
struggle it was placed out of danger
from the flames on the opposite side OF
the alley. If the fire had got into that
block. in all probability all of the town
west of Main street would have been
burned.
The following is list Of the losses
/. Two-story frame building, with
two-story brick addition in rear, con-
tanning Drug store of B. F. Kepner &
Son, in front, and rear occupied by
Daniel Peck, as a dwelling, owned by
r. Z. Parker
.. Two-story frame store room, run
ming clear back to the alley, occupied
by Franciscus Hardware Company,
and also owned by r. Z. Parker. Loss
on both buildings, $4,000 to $4,000 ;
insured for So, 200 in Home of New
York, Lycoming and Perry.
8. Two-story frame building, owned
by George Wise, Sr., and occupied by
Cheap John" as store room, and by
Jacob Wise as a dwelling. Loss about
s1,5OO to $4,000; insured for 5000 in
Lebanon.
4. Two-story frame building, owned
by John Yeakley, and occupied by
Yeakley & Son, as store room, and
by Mr.. Yeakley as dwelling. Loss
about $4,000; insured in Perry Mutu-
al for $4,000.
5. Two-story frame building, with
brick front, owned by Mrs. j. NJ. Bel
ford, occupied by Banks e. Hamlin,
as a drug store, and by DR.. Banks as
an Office.