The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1876-05-04
From HERALD Extra, April Goth.
Disastrous Fire at New SharOn-Nearly
One Whole Block Destroyed.
Special dispatch to the HERALD.

New SHARON, April 80, 1876,
| Last night, just after midnight fire
broke out in the oil-room of j. c. Picket
drug store, and spread with fearful rapid
tY, enveloping the whole block in ruins
except the hotel building, in which is 10
Gated the store-room of J. r. Nichols
Co. Cd. W. Loring of this city being tht
co., The buildings were all large, wei
built, two-story frames, and formed the
best business part of the town. The fire
spread both ways from the drug store, anG
scarcely less than miracle saved the
hotel building. There was vacant
space between it and the first building OF
the north and by hard work, and pushing
over the walls of the burning buildings
the flames were turned away.
The houses burned were occupied by
Geo. Carson, drugs, ]. G. Pickett, drugs,
Mr. Wallace, restaurant, Chedister &
Bates, harness, and Warren & Collins,
furniture. Except the drug store, the
stocks were mostly removed, but in a
damaged and demeralized condition.
The stock of j. r. Nichol & Co., was all
removed and afterward replaced, damaged
to amount of $500.
d. R. Hopes, of this city, owned the
corner building
This is a severe blow to our sister town,
but with the energy and snap it has al
will Of l.
recover. This is the second big fire for it..
The first being H. T. Wright's brick build
ing and stock of hardware, three years
ago.
The good citizens of New Sharon have
the sympathy of our entire city, as they
would have been convinced, could they
have seen the excitement on our streets
Saturday morning, every one seeking in
formation as eagerly as if it was the town
of their own residence, and no one able to
give it. We have not seen them so excl
ted since our own last big fire.
After issuing the above extra we visited
the city of Sharon, and found things in
much the condition described above. The
fire broke out in the rear of Picket's
drugstore, and is supposed to be the work
of an incendiary, as no fire had been used
in the building during the day. The store
was closed about 8 o'clock, and after /.
and NJ. 2. Myers, who sleep over the store
retired to their room, the former some
time before the other. The latter when
ne passed the store, saw light there, but
it was Immediately extinguished, and at
tracted his attention. He watched awhile,
but seeing nothing, went to bed, and some
time after went to sleep, and the next he
knew, the alarm of fire was given, and
the whole building was mass of flames.
A few moments more and their retreat
would have been cut off; as it was they
lost everything, barely escaping with
pants and boots. One OF the boys lost a
valuable gold watch. The fire spread
from here north enveloping the building
of d. r. Hopes, occupied by Kramer &
Quaintance. The loss on building is $4,000,
no insurance. Loss on sock, burned OF
damaged, is over $4,000. Cannot now be
ascertalned. Insured for $500 in Phoenix
of Brooklyn, I. N. Penland, agent. The
next was the unoccupied building of A.
II. Vickers, valued at $500, insured for
$500 in Etna, Phillips & Phillips, agents.
Then the millinery and restaurant of G.
W. Bump, who loses $4,000. No insur-
ance. Then HI. Chedister & Co., $500.
on building. no insurance stock saved.
The furniture store of Warren & Collins,
building and stock $4,000; insured fol-
$500 with j. M. Loughridge, agent. Fl.
Wallace, bakery and restaurant, build,
ing and stock, $500, Ne insurance
These were all two-story buildings. From
Picket's the fire also spread south, burn,
ing the law-otfice of J. f. Cook, loss S1OO
the shoe-shop of Charles Anderson, $500;
crossed the alley and burned the two-story
frame of Geo. Carson, occupied as drug.
store, loss $4,000 on building and contents
insured for $1,000 IN North American, j
M. Loughridge, agent, and $1,000 in Cont
mental, Geo. L. Shinnick, agent. Next
came the Sharon House and store-room OF
J :R. Nichol & Co., all under one roof, tn {
latter next the fire. The desperate nature
of the fight may be imagined when we say
that the burning seething mass of dozeI
buildings was but 40 feet away, and the
building was time and again on fire, under
the caves, in the siding, at the windows
| everywhere, but indomitable and indcfa
tiguable energy prevailed, and after des
perate conflict conquered the fiery demon
The goods from store and hotel were al
moved out, and the loss to the store il
heavy, being not less than $500, being
fully covered by insurance in good com
panies represented byJ. NJ. Loughridge
and Phillips & Phillips; and the Sharon
House is insured in the Pheni,
of Brooklyn, /. n. Penland, agent
Besides the above, Vickers g. Crawford
have loss of $500 damaged goods. In
sured. MAYORS bank $500; D. r. Moore
brick 5000, ID. Stanton $500, &. A. Robert
owning the building occupied by Pickett
PcVOV. ANo lCktIb, 6tUUU
insurned for $4,000; G. w. Hill, $500; Dr
Shomo 500, ID. McChesney $500,
Myers $500, & NJ. Myers $500, l. 0. G. I
$500. Brass and string band $500, am
other smaller losses amounting to $500
The buildings on opposite sides of TIN
street were badly scorched and with lit
! tie wind would have burned Sura Mucl
stealing was done. Mr. Pickett was i
Marshalltown, and did not get back unit
Saturday afternoon.
The city council this morning establish
ed fire limits including four blocks.
We are indebted to Bro. Vail of tn
Star for much valuable aid in gatherin
up these facts.
EnIINATT0NhT, DEpA QWMEkT