The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-01-02
FL fri!
LOSS OF TIE OPERA HOUSE AND OTHER
VALUABLE PROPERTY,
, Hundred Thousand Dollar Blaze.

n
On Tuesday morning last at about four
O'Clock, our citizens were aroused from warm
beds 10 enter the outside air, winch the Their
momcter marked at two degrees below zero
to witness a fire, one Of the most unweicomc
that has visited Ottawa for many day
Ed. Thompson and Mr.. Hayward, who oc'
cupy sleeping rooms In Hollickers DITCH
building on La Sale street, near ,ae opera
house, were aroused by an explosion, SO louu
and sharp that they both sprang out OF pea
and went to the front window, ON looking
out they saw what appeared TO DC "le III
one of the buildings over the way but on
reaching the street they discovered II 10 nc
al optical illusion-a reflection OF IRE ID
Russell g. Sons furniture store. The entire
interior of the furniture store was in full
and brilliant blaze ind ono Of these gentle
men proceeded tc arouse the family, yet I'M
conscious Of the danger that threatened them,
while the Other ran to the engine house 10
sound the FIRE Rcl and arouse the Waterman
in cbarre Of the steamer; and thence he
( fpICltg INC I"-llthAN w WI Il"ll tHN NY
enprnecr. NJ Russell and family had bl2rly
time TO escape with their lives, loosIng all of
their personal effects, some money anT jew
elry. The building occupied by the Russells
rjcs Of wooden structures one built and con
ncc;ed with another 20 the alley in the rear.
| In surprisingly short space OF time the
flames were leaping skyward and the strong
northwest wind was hurting burning frag-
ments all over the wooden shantics, barns and
other cOmbustblo nuisances that fiji the
block TO the south and east.
MI @'Crowley'S store and tin store adjoin-
ing Russel's, went down with the remainder
of that rookery, AMI as 1t fell it was painfully
evident that :heDpera House was on fire in
thereof, and flames soon beginning to burst out
it became evident that the Opera House was
doomed, and perhaps with 1t the entire
block, including The Clifton Hotel beyond,
and what else was matter ofconJccture. II
might be asked, what, during all this time,
was the fire department doing?
The steamer was promptly on the ground,
ana, not being kept heated as 1t should be,
was unfit for service. Water was thrown too
soon on low pressure, and it frozc in the
| pipes ana never a stream was thrown. There
was culpable negligence somewhere that
should be investigated and whoever is to be
blamed should be held to a strict accounta.
bility, and we don't care who it is whether
jhe maker OF the engine or the fireman, whose
business il was 20 keep il ready for instant
call.
IIoIlioler's building saved the southern
property Of the block, and Deans livery sta
ble the eastern. 1t was through hurculean
efforts that the hre was stayed at Deanes.
| lIollicker building is damaged to what eX.
tent is not as yet determined The losses are
as follows:
Russell d. Son, 100000. Insurance $1,000
O'Crowley, stoves and tiaware, $1,000.
Colwell, Clark Il Co, so 900 Insurance,
$4,000
American Express Co, $3.50.
Mrs. O'Mcara, 800. Insurance, $1,000
Bodwell billiards and saloon, $500
Miss ate Skuse, dressmakcr, 500
Mrs. baldwin, music teacher, $50
Audubon club, billiard table, $500.
Through the eXcrtions Of Jerry Wood, the
cloth of the table was sayol-in strips four
inches wide They will dc as commence
ment of fish net
Masonic hall loss of f. ',rn. (.r az 600