The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-05-26
CITY IIAIl burned.

the burning Of the High School Building more
than year ago, was the blaze on last Monday
evening which destroyed the City Hall building
and Peter Egan's Livery Stable adjoining the
City Hall on the east. It was genuine case OF
beard the lion in his den" for the fire broke
out in the midst of the fire departments appara-
tus aud it was with considerable difficulty thai
all of this machinery was saved.
It was about Z o'clock, IN the cool OF the even
ing, and all the doors of the building down stairs
were open to admit the air. City Marshal Har-
ris had gone to the building to give his night po
lice instructions and, with Ed Moore, was ST.
ting at the front door. Hearing horse making
great deal OF disturbance, he looked around
and saw the flames in the stable, in the stall OF
the Hose Carriage horse. The horse was "rear-
ing and pitching" endeavoring to break loose,
the flames of the burning hay completely envel-
oping him. Giving the alarm and seeing that IL
was impossible to get at the horse, he and others
drew out the engines and set the swift" while
Moore piled the alarm bell vigorously TIL the
ropes burned off, which they did in an instant,
after which the rest of the machinery was taken
out Of the building.
The flames spread through the building with
astonishing rapidly, the whole building being
ablaze in an instant almost, and, via the hose
tower and belfry, up which the fire flew as up
chimney, with terrible draft, soon communi-
Gated with Egans barn, the burning tower fall
ing over on the barn. The rear of Egan's being
frame structure and filled with highly infam-
mable material, the building burned rapidly,
famed as the flames were by strong west wind
The very high wind of the day had, fortunately,
abated somewhat before the fire began, and, con-
tlary to the usual event, gradually went down
during the fire; but for which it may be safely
said acontagration Of no mean dimensions would
have resulted. AS it was, wooden buildings in
the next block east caught fire from great
sparks" flying on the wind, and as far east as
Walthers constant watchfulness alone prevented
wooden structures from being ignited.
1t seemed to take the steamers long time to
begin work, though reliable men say it was but
II minutes after the alarm, hut minutes will
lengthen out wonderfully while one waits for
particular second to come around; however, by
the time work did begin both buildings were in
bad shape; and the men had to work under the
additional disadvantage resulting from want
of ladders so that their work was Of little effect
in saving Egans and still less in saving the City
Hail. the latter being "cleaned out" completely
except in the southwest corner; of the former,
the front is in tolerable condition-if you do
not look at it too closely! There is no need OF
criticising any one, for it is easy to re-fght
battle on paper after one has been defeated and
sees the weakness Of his lines or errors in his
assaults, and though something did seem to be
the matter, the department and managers GER
tainly did work hard.
As soon as the alarm was given and the steam
er set Marshal Harris started for the Council
room for the records. These with the miscellan-
eous papers on file were in a black-walnut case
in the east end and locked. The only way to
get the records was to overturn the case, which
was done, and the back ripped off. In this way
the records, in book form, were all saved; but
the smoke and fire drove the men out before the
papers in the other three divisions Of the case
could be obtained. great mass of these were,
therefore, destroyGd-how valuable they were
can only be determined by future events. AL
most all the furniture Of the room excepting
this case, was saved. Asher, the teamster we
think, deserves credit for rcscuing the city's
grey team entering the stable and bringing out
the horses with the flame of burning hay all
about him, and the horses-the animals indeed,
having their names nearly all burnt OIL, and be-
ing otherwise scorched, though, fortunately, not
injured. The new horse was beyond rescue at
the instant the fire was discovered, being then
completely enveloped in the flames. AS result
the unfortunate beast was burned TO death.
Mr. Egan and friends went to work with equal
earnestness to remove his stock and carriages
which he accomplished successfully. The fur
niture of his dwelling house above was also re-
moved, excepting the contents Of two rooms
nearest the City Hall, which were especially val
liable, containing all his winter clothing bed
ding &c, besides other goods not in daily use.
The loss of the City Hall has been estimated
from 81 600 to $4,000; the opinion of good judg.
es being that since the walls are in good cUndi-
ton las they seem TO be) the rebuilding need
not cost much over $4,000. There was no nsur-
ance, an economical council in 1876 thinking il
unnecessary. Mr.. Egan figures his losses al
about 5000. He has S2l0O insurance; $500 on
the building and 5000 on the household furni.
turc.
The origin Of tle ere IS considered to be
smoking" One of the men abovt the stable
who Is q smoker, must have emptied his pipe
into the hay Observation-Disclosures uncon
sciously, for most details of habit are performed
Iunconsciously. For smoker to knock out the
ashes OF his pipe on his heel or into the palm Of
his hand and then to throw them on the floor
and to rub his foot over them, and to walk of
without further thought is about as much mat
ter Of unconscious action as brcatling-it is
second nature Aud that is doubtless the WY
the building took FIRE. Tlue, these men at tLt
time were at tea and had been gone for quite {
while, but it must have taken some little time
for even the wind then blowing TO fan spart
into a blaze sufficient to ignite the hay; mie
that II burned fast enough. The only blame II
the matter is, thai smoking was allowed abou
the premises. The story that two BOYS ran NJ
Clinton street, saying, now, d them, they'll