The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-04-06
4 FIRE THATWAS A FIRE!
Tie Commercial Interests OF Monroe.
vile, Huron County, ParaIized by an
SS0,000 COnaagratiOn-A Full Ae-
count From our Special Reporter.

1t is no uncommon thing for Us to
read of excessive fires in New York,
Philadelphia, Chicago and other large
cities, but instances of the ''devouring
element" enveloping half the CONNER
cial houses in a rural town, as in the
present case, are happily few aud far
between. On Sunday evening, about
IL o'clock. while most of the inhabit-
ants of Monroeville were unconscious
ly reposing in peaceful slumber, Mr..
E. j. Huston, city solicitor. and a
couple of friends, were proceeding
home along Monroe street, when they
observed flames suddenly leap from
the front of a block, known as Buffers
block, and Immediately gave the alarm.
The tenants were Mr. James Fitzpat-
rick's, BLACKSMITH, residence; Messrs.
Burns 4 Co. 'sgrocery, and Mrs Parsons
millinery. A strong north west wind
was blowing, and the buildings pro
dueed an enormous flame that not
only carried with is the adjoining
stores of Mr.. G. Sem, barber, Mr.. J.
ID. Weist, shoe maker, G. Schnerr,
saloon (owner of the block) and F.
Miner, meat market. but leapt across
the street, go feet, wide, and also igni.
ted the residence of DIR. Lane. The
town having no provision whatever, in
the way of fire department, only
buckets were brought into play to
combat the flames, which only seemed
to laugh at SO simple an agency as they
ragged on their mad career. Fire En-
gines were telegraphed for from Nor
walk, Bellevue and Sandusky, which
places fortunately responded prompt
ly, though before their arrival the
Town Hail, Mrs. Aves's mil inc y,
Messrs J. and f. Tyler's meat marx et,
one branch of Merrill & Carreys gro
Gerry, A. Hipps grocery, including Fl.
Ehler's music roon-, S. StigIilier's
point room aud the Masonic Hall, had
all succumbel, and turning the
were taking all before them. A Sc
ond department of Messrs. Merrill &
Carey's store, Mr.. A. L. Lanes drug
store, the Odd Fellows Hall, Mr.. r.
e. Martins hardware, and Mr.. James
Carabih's grocery, all came to tDtal
grief in rapid succession, but the com
bined efforts of the fire departments
here began, fortunately, TO arrest the
flames as they were about to clear out
the Exchange Bank, which, nevertI,--
less, suffered damage, as did also lie
show rooms of Messrs. Drake & Son
sud the fine dry goods store of Mr.
SQuires-probabiy the two latter chi-.f-
ly suffering from the removal of goods
and the precautionary N. :1sure of
drluging them with water. The scene
as will naturally be conj-etur.d. was
ipdiscribable, the streets being fill-d
18th goods, furniture and store fix ure.
while the reflection of the flames
on the hundreds OF panic stricken men
andNwomen, as they wildly ran to and
fro, added grestly TO intensity the ex
.itement of tie scene One thing is
certain, had it not been for the two
steam fire engines arriving when they
did and the praiseworthy manner in
which the several departments worked,
the entire business portion of the city
must certainly have been reduced 10
ashes. m 81 a+.slt
Mayor Zipfei and City Solicitor Hus
ton, with Marshal Hilfz were univers
ally commended for their indefaligatle
exertions, as also host Eckhart of the
Hotel. for his consideration and libe.
aiity in behalf of the sufferers and |
strangers to the city. Mr.. Peter
B.adey, Mayor of Bellevue, and Mr. !