Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-06-05

smitten than was Chicago in her
memorable disaster. It was but nat
urA thst this terrible catastrophe
should at FIRST fall with stunning of.
feet upon our people. Some were
disposed to take 4 respondent view
of the situation, and torcgard it rs Il
fatal bloweot the prosperity and growth
ofour city. This feeling was but
temporary, however; the first shock
past, it gave place to a hopeful cour-
age and indomitable determination to
conquer an adverse fate, that is
strengthening day by day, as the
work We have to do il revealed to US,
and words of ohecr, and sympathy,
and offers of aid and credit come
from abroad. Our merchants have
picked up the remnants oftheir stocks,
ordered new supplies of goods, and
resumed business in such straitencd
quarters as are available. The peo-
pie of the county are cvincing gcncr-
ally an active sympathy, paying off
old scores and expressing their dete err
minatiOn hereafter to do their trad
ing at home. Preparations are al
ready in progress for rebuilding a
large share of the burnt district and
everything betokens q business sea
son not less active than was anticipa-
ted previous to the fire.
1t is fortunate that amid all the ap-
palling scenes of this great calamity
no loss Of life occurred, though there
were several narrow escapes. A
pair of horses belonging to Tom Cur
tbs had been sent to the west side of
the river to bring over the old Amos
keag engine. Finding this impracti-
cable, on account of the wall of fire
that rendered Main Street this side of
the bridge very avenue to the infer
nal pit; young Clarence Fonda, a son
of the west side dealer, mounted one
of the horses and imprudcntly at
tempted to run the fircry gauntlet.
AS he came opposite the Wilcox
block which was raging and scething
like . furnace seven times heated, the
riders clothes were observed to
smoke, and the noble stecd to cringe
in the internal blast, but he came
through, and when out of the range
it was found that the foolish boy and
the faithful beast were severely burn
cd. A moment more and both would
undoubtedly have succumbcd to the
fiery ordeal. We are glad to record
that both are recovering and will sui.
fer no permanent injury. A number
of minor casualties occurred but no
thing worthy Of special mention.
Our firelnen were at their posts of
duty throughout the fire, and did
everything that was possible to do,
to stay the march of the invading
flames. An attempt was made by
the Hook & Ladder company to r,ze
to the ground the row Of low build
ings between the Burr block and the
corner of Main Street. 1t was part
tally successful, but failed of accom-
plishing the object desired. This
was before Mr.. Gurnsey brought out
the new Clapp & Jones Steamer.
Had the steamer been in operation
at this juncture it is more than prob
able that its two powerful streams
directed upon this particular point,
would have headed off the conhagra-
ton, and saved Main Street from the
devastating scourge. From what
this powerful machine actually &C
complished and the amount of prop
erty actually saved by it alone, we
can safely calculate what it would
have done under more favorable cir
cumstances. 1t is certainly the most
profitable piece of property in the
possession Of the city, even though
its cost had been double what it was. |
6c citizens were most acliyc and en-
aeisR 10 End othcr