The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-05-27
Terrible COnhagratiOn.
Two Hundred Houses Burned. - Twelve
Hundred People Homeless.

OOhAesS AoCAOhs
Two Hundred Houses Burned - Twelve
Hundred People Homeless.
TYRONE, PENN, May 20.-A fire
broke out at IL O'Clock this morning
at the Moshannon Lumber Company's
mill, west of Osceoia. Fifteen million
feet of lumber were burned. The
wind was so strong that firebrands
two feet long were thrown to almost
all parts of the town of Osceola. Fires
broke out in every quarter. All the
public buildings. except the Catholic
and Methodist Churches. were burned.
About two hundred houses are des-
troyed, and twelve hundred people are
homeless. The people were driven to
the race-coursc, where they were sur
rounded by fire from all sides.
The Fire Department here left at
two o'clock with their steamer and
hose carriage, but could not reach Os-
ceola en account of the railroad track
hein. burned. The railroad between
Osceola aud Powellton on either side
is enc blaze of fire. Members of the
Tyrone Company fought their way
through, and rendered all the assist
ancc possible.
About two hundred houses are
standing yet. Some half-dezen were
burned between Osceola and Powell
ton. Poweilton town is not destroyed.
Sheriff Mcpherson left Houtzdale at
4 o'clock p. IN. The reports at that
hour were that fourteen houses were
burned there, and the conflagration
raging terribly. There is no escape
for the town.. every communication
being cut off by fire, though the crowds
at this writing hope.
Hume's, Taylor's, the Washayauore
Lumber Company's, Big Hill, and Ell
liott 81 Caldwell's lumber and saw
mills, Jessee Crawford's new foundry,
and about 30,000,00O feet of lumber,
are destroyed at Osceola. The loss is
about two million dollars; the insur-
ance generally very light. Ne lives
lost up to the last report.
The people are in destitute circum-
stances, they having lost property and
everything else. The miners who
were on a strike are reported as work
ing diligently to save Houtzdale. The
woods between Tyrone and Phillips
burg are on fire.
BELLEFoNTE. PENN, May 20.-An
extra train lett here this evening for
Snow Shoe with a large body of men
lfCtu w OEkS - Alu III
checking the fires in that region. Mine
No. 4, at Snow Shoe is burned. About
seventy five feet of treslework of the
railroad has been destroyed. The
water tanks and several buildings
along the road are on fire, aud great
excitement prevails.
LATER.-About thirteen cars have
been burned at Snow Shoe. and about
h fy hnnI ra6 fnnc nf nnQ1 ond
all the houses about the mines des-
troved also some timber belonging
10 the Bellefonte Car-W orks.
PoTTsvILLE, PENN, May 2O,-This
morning an attempt was made to burn
Shenandoah. At Riles' Hotel il was
discovered that coal oil and lighted
matchas had been thrown in the win
dews. In few minutes after the
above discovery was made second
alarm was sounded in another direc-
ton, and a DIV welling-house and car
penter shop were burned to the ground
While the firsmen were working on
the building adjoining, third alarm
was given up town. A lumber yard
had been fired and partly destroyed.
The citizens are very much alarmed.
A Vigilance Committee and Commit
tees of Safety haYe been organized.
Charles Hays was arrested this after
noon charged with being connected
with the inccndiary fires, and was held
in $1,000 bail to answer at the next
term of Court.
The fires On the mountains continue
and heavy winds have spread them in
all directions. The citizens of Middle
port telegraphed to the Pottsville Fire
Department for assistance to-day. Be-
fore transportation could be had they
again telegraphed that they had the
fires under control.
The people of Gilberton telegraphed
ts the Mahanoy City Fire Department
for help. the large Draper colliery be-
ing in great danger. 1t was finally
saved.
At Donaldson & Fremont colliery
whistles snd alarms were given during
the day. summoning men to protect
the coal beavers.
The fire is advancing Oh Mahanoy
City, Mahanoy Plains and Maiseville,
where the citizens are out in the woods
lighting the flames. Slattown, small
mining village, was entirely burnt.
Fifteen miners dwellings were burnt
at Lanigan's, and eight at Penn c. l.
liery.
at four o'clock this afternoon por-
ton of the Pottsville Fire Department
was called out, and they immediately
left by special train for Gilberton.