Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-01-09

The residence of Chas. Keotts, in
Taylor & Williamson's addition, We
burned about noon, Saturday. The
fire originated from defective fiue.
The house was erected about a year
ago and cost in the neighborhood Of
$500. The principal part of the
household goods were got out and
saved. The loss on these, we under
stand, will be perhaps $50 The
house was insured.
LATER.
Charles Kectts, informs us that by
the fire on Saturday, he lost nearly
everything. What goods were saved
were badly damaged and the family
were practically turned out Of doors.
Saturday night, at about 10 20, fire
was discovered breaking out of the
barn belonging to Mrs. Honora Shea,
nearly opposite the Union Depot.
When discovered the fire had made
such Roadway that insured the des-
truction, not only of the double barn,
but the wood shed, and very serious
ly threatened the residence occupied
by Mrs. Willis Forbes ard family,
belonging to Thomas Goodall.
The barn and contents, some sgricul.
tural implements, feed &c, and wood
shed and contents was total loss
and it was only by the most hercu-
lean efforts that the residence build
ing occupied by Mrs. Forbes, was
saved and the progress of the flames
stopped.
Mrs. Shea's loss is about 5000; in
surance $500. As it was, the loss was
trifling to what it might have been
had it not been for favorable wind
and hard work of citizens. The fire
company got out their engine, hose
cart &c, and got down to the Balm
gall House before the fire was got
under control, which, considering
the condition of the streets, was a
very creditable performance on their
part. We have heard no cause as.
signed for the fire, and owing to the
location we are led to conclude that
it was the result of an accident or
the work of an incendiary.
The residence of Dennis Decker, in
Majors addition, caught fire about
IL 80 o'clock, Monday. The fire orig
mated from dogs upsetting a clothes
rack, filled with clothes, on to a stove
and setting them on fire. The neigh
bors discovered it and put it out af-
ter all the clothes were ruined. Mrs.
Decker was gone to neighbor's
for moment and was absent when
the fire started.
We learn from S. p. Heacock that
the residence of Samuel Strawn, q
half mile south of Chilicothe burned
on Saturday evening about 4 O'Clock.
1t was good story and half house
that cost $500 to 5000. 1t is supposed
to have caught from a defective flue
in the kitchen. lie lost portion Of
the furniture and bedding that was
up stairs. He had some insurance bnt
we have not learned how much.
ANOTHER FIRE.
Occurred about 6 o'clock p. m. Monday
and this time it was again barn, be-
longing to Daniel Eaton. 1t was dis
covered barely in time to get his horse
and COW out, but he lost fine phae-
ton worth 500 and buggy worth
800 OF over. His total loss is about
500, insurance only 5000. A load Of
hay was put in the barn about half
past 4 O'Clock, and it is supposed that
perhaps the man that moved it away
or unloaded had pipe in his mouth,
though no one saw them while at
work. There is no other plausible
cause for the fire, as no one had been
at the barn since dusk and when there
they had no fire in any shape. Meth
er is it likely that an incendiary
would sets fire so early in the evening.
DR.. Douglass barn south, and Mr..
Eaton's tenement house north, were
somewhat scorched but were saved
by hard work. The fence on the rear
Of w. E. Chambers lot opposite, was
entirely destroyed.