The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-06-20
GREAT FIRE IN AKRON,
Arrla d Ne supposed Memdiar.

The greatest eODHagratlon Akron ever expeT-
fenced took place Monday morning and by II the
Academy OF Music and OOmmerCeBlocl we're com
pletely destroyed. About one o'clock atnight the
first story of the Commerce Block, occupied by j.
p. Sebrlng as part of his dry goods store was fred
by an explosion OF some kind and In few min
utes the flames burst out OF the show windows,
It soon burned through into the ladies' furnishing
store of A. G. Lohman, and then burned the
whole insIds out Of the building, number Of
Offices, including the Western Union Telegraph
Office, were on'Ihe second door aud The third
floor was an unoccupled hall.
The FIRE was communicated from the Commerce
Block to The Academy by the roof being impossible
any where else because Of double division wall
The Academy and number OF Offices on the sec.
ond floor were completely destroyed with their
contents but Auble, Brown & Co.. who were on
the frst aOor, saved most Of their goods in good
condition. The Bank OF Akron saved ell Of It's
valuable papers lby having them in the vault.
The Commerce Block was builtin 1870 at a cost Of
$3.50 0, and was insured for 1000, The ACsd.
emy Of Music was built in 1869 at cost of about
$3.50 900, and was insured for $4,000. The latter
is total loss, except Of the walls Of the lower
story.
The fre was irst discovered by policeman Gro.
yer, who head the explosion, which awakened
people for several blocks In every direction, The
policeman first gave the alarm, then hurried up
stairs to assist those who might be there to escape
but he found them already making their escape
through the smoke which filed the halls. Every
effort was made, and for a time II was believed
that the Academy Of Music could be saved and
the first time it caught the fire was extinguished,
but 1t had one Of those deceptive mansard rooves
aud could not be saved, The flames caught In
the COrnlce and in a few minutes the Academy
was hopelessy blazing. When the FIRE was hercest
the crowd gathered about became awGully excited
by the cry there's man in the building, raised
by some one who thought they saw man run by
one Of the brilliantly illuminated windows, but
the flremen could disCOyern no one.
About seven o'clock In the morning the roof
limbers gave way and fell, together with the gal.
lery floor, with u terrific crash. man named
Anderson Philip Ramie and Abe Click were
Caughtin the falling timbers Anderson was the
first 10 free himself aud he immediately ran down
stairs screaming for help, while his two COmpAn-
ions, Ramie and Click, were held fast in the ru.
ins. His appeals were promptly answered, and
Ramie was soon taken out, and with Anderson
removed to a surgeons Office for treatment. Ev.
try effort was made to free Click, and the flames
came so close about him that his neck and face
were badly burned, An enormous weight OF tim
bers were resting upon him and blood was run
ming from his mouth and nose. Those who freed
him worked in great danger, but water was kept
playing about them, and with the assistance of
crowbars he was rescued, and will in all proba.
bliiy get we'll.
The Academy of Music was the finest building
ia Akron and her pride.
Asnearly as 1t is possible to estimate, the losses
and insuranCes are as follows: