The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-11-19

GREAT FIRE AT IRwIN-LOss NOT LESS
THAN S7O,OOO-Irwin Station Westmoreand
county, was visited by a destructive confla-
grafton on Tuesday morning last the partic-
ulars of which we CLEAN from the Grecnsburg
Democrat of the 18th inst
The terrible alarm OF Are fre! rang through
the streets of Irwin. ut about TWO O'Clock on
Tuesday morning. arousinx the citizens TO the
fearful realization of sudden destruction of
property, rendering them houseiess and with
out a home for the coming winter
smoke and tongues of name from the centre OF
what is known Commercial Row. block OF
street, comprising some OF the principal stores
and business houses in the place. and contain
ing also the dwellings or number OF families.
The fire seems to have originated in q billiard
saloon. in what Is known as Geonrln9s ouild-
and no one was therefore. shout the premises
and il Is supposed to have bcen the work OF ar
adjoini"s i huidinss % On the south was Bailey 5
building adjoining, occupied as store room
and dwelling. which was almost im mediateiy
was reached which was occupied by A. Bear,
dealer in boots and shoes. ci.thins store. an
oyster saloon and Rodebaughs shoe shop and
dwelling, all of which succuInbed to the whirl-
pool OF flames. like 80 much straw. The Geoh
drug store o: Copeland & Kimberly, the dem
tai esta biishment of Loughery & Bssinger.-
Adjoining. on the north of this, was the build
ing of Biliheitner & Boyd. who were carrying
on the hardware business. The flames then
reached Peter Longs dwelling, then Sargeant's
dry goods ard grocery store, in Benz. Cope
lands building. next dwelling beiOiiginR TO
Joseph Copeland and occupied by Mrs. NJ. Bow
ers as boarding house, continuing in its march
of RUIN the dwelling of s. G. Reinsberg. Esq.,
was swallowed up, and a tenant house on the
rear of his lot, when in other leaps of the merry
fiend the building of John McWIliiams, on the
corner of Main and Third streets. was reached.
To stop the further progress OF the hre eight
kegs of powder were placed under the building
and blownup II had been occupied by his sons,
Thos. McWiliams. jeweller, Richard New IL
Iiams, timer, and as residence by himself.
and also by the small printing establishment of
the Irtrin SprdU
The fire was also carried across Main street to
the dwelling and meat shop of John Gregg Ia I'd
to the Office of DR.. Sowash. and Jos. McQuiston,
ESQ, which were boi totally consumed.
Here, from this vast pile of combustible ma
terial,' the fire scared upward in one sheet OF
iurid flame, striking terror to the hearts of the
citizens and illuminating the country around
for miles in circumference, with no fire depart
ment engines to control its march. The
Westmoreland Coal Company tortunat, ly
brought on the premises their hooks AMI lad
ders. buckets, etc, and Mr. SballenberRer, the
Superintendent of the Company, deserves great
credit for the timely assistance rendered.
Word had also been sent to Pittsburgh for aid,
but was countermanded when the tre stayed its
progress.
The losses. so FAR we could obtain figures,
amount as total to about $1,000, which in
some cases Is VIII ~lly and in others partly COW
cred with insurance. The calm night alone
we'd the town from total destruction. During
the fire thieves were busy carrying away goods,
many of whom may yet he sorry for it,