The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1876-09-02
FIRE!
The Union Office in Ashes.


As we sit down to detail the particulars
of our late misfortune we find it difficult to
repress the deep feelings which the men,
DRY of our earlier years in connection with
the old Baltimore County american and
the Baltimore County Union causes to
swell within US, as we see the ashes of our
old Office still Smouldering before us.
1t is impossible to arrive at just and
correct theory of the cause of the fire in
Mrs. M. A. Shealey's store on last Satur-
day morning, which resulted in the de-
molition of our Office with its entire con-
tents. The fact of considerable quanti-
ty of powder in the store being known, de-
tered the citizens from going to work
with as much zeal as they otherwise would,
and thereby prevented the saving of much
property which become total wreck. As
soon as the bell of the railway station
sounded the alarm and awakened the slum.
bering citizens to consciousness of some
impending danger, they rushed out, ire
spective of sex and condition, and showed
themselves ready to do all in their power
to save what at one time seemed to be a
total destruction of the western limits of
the town.
The frame dwellings and stores of Mess
j. M. Watkins, August Loose. Louis Held
and j. George Steiber, Immediately adj
joining the burning building, were empti-
ed of their contents by the superhuman eff
forts of our well-wishing townsa.en, and
the goods and furniture carried to places
of security. The same was done with the
goods of Mess. j. W: Lee & Son, occupy
ing the store under the Odd Fellows Hall
on the south of the building AID also
with the furniture of the Odd Fellows and
Masons who occupied the second story of
the hall. Nothing but the fortunate d.
rection of the wind and the slate roof on
the Odd Fellows Hall saved that building
and the dwellings and car stables from to-
tai destruction.
AS we said before our feelings are Of the
deepest and saddest kind while we write.
Although we are partially insured in one
of the safest, most solvent and equitable
companies in the State-the old Baltimore
County Mutual-still there is no amount
of insurance which can restore to us the
files of our paper. In them was the po-
litical and personal record of our lives, and
on them these fingers toiled in the hey-day
Of our youth, and as we sat in our Office
and looked upon them, we regarded them
as part of ourselves and as a kind of
monument left by our fondly loved father
to cherish and endear.
We hardly know how to return thanks
to our numerous friends in the county and
State, as well as out of it, for the kind
letters of sympathy which they have sent
to us in our trouble We sincerely ac-
cept them in the spirit in which they have
been sent and assure our friends that in
the future as in the past we shall endeavor
to make the Union worthy of all the COM
mendatiOns we have received in its behalf.
By this conAagration Mrs M. A. Shea
lev loses her -tore-house and her entire
stock of goods. Also her books and pri-
vate papers. The loss will probably ag-
gregate $12, 900, on which there is an in
surance in the Hartford Mutual Fire In
surance Company for So, 800.
The editors of the Union also lose every
thing, except their books. The'loss will
reach something over $4,000, on which
there is an insurance of S., 900 in,the Bal
timore County Mutual Company.
It is not known how the fire originated.
Some believe that the store was first rob-
bed and then fired, whilst there are others
who think the fire was the result Of acct
dent.
Before the fire had been extinguished
we had made arrangements to issue the
Union this week, and through the kindness
Of our friend, WIN. H. Ruby, Esq, Of the
Journal, we arc enabled to do SO, although,
Of course. in a much reduced form In
the course of month we shall have the
paper up to its old size.
We also desire to return thanks to W.
Frank Mitchell, Esq, of the Herald. for
his kind offers of assistance.
aes-The candidacy of man like Gov.