The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-05-28
OsceoLu in Ashes.
THE TOWN SWEPT OUT OF EXIsTENCE-fIF-
TEEN HUNDRED PEOPLE HOMELESS
DWELLINGS. MILLS AND LUMBER
DESTROYED-L0Ss EsTlMAikD
AT NEARLY $4,000, OOo.

TYRONE, May 20, 1s75.-A fire broke
ont at II O'clock Yesterday morning at the
Noshannon lumber companys miils west
of Osceola. and IS. 600. 900 feet OF lumoer
burned The wind was so strong thaO IRE
brands two feet long were thrown to most
all parts OF the town OF Osceola. rlres are
breaking out every place. All the ruoiic
buildings except tue Catholic ana Metno-
dist churches are burned, and nine-tenths
of all the houses, about 200, are total
ruin.
Twelve hundred people are houseless and
the people driven TO the race course, where
they were surrounded by fire from All sioes,
communication being cut off 10y hre. ne
fire department left here With their steam
er and hose carriage. but could not Ieach
Osceola IN accuont of the railroad track
being burned. The railroad between Os-
ceoia and Powelton, on either side. Is one
blaze of fire. Members of TIE Tyrone COM
pany fought their way through and rem
dercd all the assistance possible.
There are about 90 houses standing yet.
Some half dozen houses were burned be-
tween Osceola and Powel:on. Powelton
is not destroyed. Sheriff MPheIson leit
Houtzdale 1T four o'clock p. IN. lie re-
ports at that hour that fourteen houses
were burned and the confiagration raging
terribly. There is no hope for the town,
every communication being cut of by fire
through the woods. At this writing nine
saw mills. Hopes, Humes Il Co.. Taylor's,
Noshannon lumber company's, Helms,
BIgs'. Bells and Elliott & Caldwelfs lnm-
Der were bnrned. also Jesse Crawford'S
new foundry and about thirty million feet
Of lumber were destroyed.
The total loss is about 50, 900, 200. Cen
orally light insurance. No lives lost up TO
latest report. The people are in destitute
circumstances. They have lost their pro-
perty and everything else. Tie miners
who were on q strike are reported as work
ing diligently to save Houtzdale. The
woods between Tyrone and PhilipNburg
are on fire. The burned district is fearful
to behold. The fires originated from the
fires in the woods. Twenty car loads of
men. women and children. were saved
through the promptness Of s. S. Blair. SILL
peritendeIt and ID. d. Wood, trainmaster.
REVIEW OF THE CALAMITY.
TYRONE. Pa. May 23.-The following
has been received from the Superintendent
of the Moshannon Land and Lumber Co.,
at Osceola, Pa.
| arrived at Osceola yesterday morning
and found the destruction and deSolation
very much create: than it has been report
ed Ii can be said with Truth that there
has never been such fire in this country.
Chicago was nothing compared with this,
taking tie size OF the place INTO consldera-
tion.
II is enough to melt the stoutest hearts
Nine tcnths of the town is burned, leaving
scarcely enough ashes 10 mark the spot
where houses stood. Men who had by in
dustly and economy secured for themselves
a comfortable home, in .he short splce of
two and one half hours are left with their
little all upon their backs, and light bnr-
dens at that, without money. food OF CLOTH
- H., hatn m
however, is supplied.
The unfortunate are heaping volumes Of
praise upon the citizens of Tyrone, Philips
burg and Clcarfield and just while | was
there | heard that Belefonte had seut
large lot Of substantials. They do not
forget the officers and train bands of the
Tyrone and Clearfield railroad. The lives
of many women and children were saved
by their action and energy in getting them
i'll and on cars of every description, and at
lightning speed carrying them to Philips
burg, where plying, scTrowing, sympathiz-
ing friends, for such they must be called,
stood ready to receive and minister to their
wants and comfort.
The fire first broke out at or near Taylor's
sawmil, on Coal run, two and three fourth
miles above Osceola, and burned his mill,
lumber and lou es, swept down the run
to Moshannon creek. taking i'll its course
to T. G. Hines IL Co.; thence down the
Moshaunon 10 the big mill of the Moshan-
non land aud lumber company, three quar-
tcrs OF mile above the town of Osceola,
burning mill, house and about 1000, 600
feet of manufactured lumber. besides a
large quantity of logs, thence down both
sides of the creek, on the east side, to the
rear of Osceoia, taking first that part called
FTeuchville, sweeping over the centre of
the a alsip,r tS th. DraS Nv
tcrian church and public school, and all the
best dwellings in the place, with dll the ho-
tells and stores.
On the west side of the creek, at the
same time, first attacking the Philadelphia
colliery, owned by the kittanning coal COM
panv, burning, the chute and all the miners
houses and twelve railroad cars belonging
to the same company, then the large guage
saw mill owned by the Moshannon land
and lumber company was between two fires,
the lumber first took fire and was fought
vigorously but TO no avail.
The big mill, as it is called, was about
the last to take fire. All is consumed
around ahd about it. Fifteen million feet
of lumber and the finest saw mill $50 sad)
on the continent. not the largest but most
complete in all its parts; besides this the
large planning mill belonging TO the Walker
Bios, the mill of Samuel Miligan and
q large steam tannery Of John White
! In the midst of the confiagration thieves
and robbers we're plying their trade, break
ing into trunks and approprating to them
selves sundry articles of value. The town
is being viewed daily by persons from a
distance, and all say they have seen and
re:d of fire. but this exceeds all, and indeed
we fail to find language to give even faint
description of the fire, it's fury aud des-
truction, and picture the wants of the un-
fortunate. Men have not money enough
to take their families to their friends and
relatives, and some have none to take them
TO.
Money and clothing is needed and the
supply of food will have to be kept up for
time. a committee Of the very best men
OF the town are now in charge of the SUD
plies coming forward, which are being dis
pensed with great care and economy. A
special police force is on duty and woe to
thieves and robbers who come this way
d