Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-03-01
!, DIs.STROUS FIRE.
six RuIIdIngs Burned-The Northea &
corner OF Main and Center streets In
AShes-LOs~ from SIS, 900 TO 81 5 900


occurred in Ashrabula took place last
Tuesday morning at the corner of Main
and Center streets, consuming SIX build
ings, five Of which wers business houses,
aud the other was.used as residence.
THE FIRE ALARM.
The FIRE was first discovered by James
Feeney, lamp lighter at 10 minutes be-
fore five o'clock, as he was making his
morning rounds to extinguish the street
lights. lie was in front Of Porter's cloth
ing store at the time, the rear of which
was in flames, but had not at that time
broken out Of the building. He immedi-
ately gave the alarm. but it must have
been twenty or thirty minutes before the
fire department was on the ground and
ready TO work. In the meantime the fire
had about consumed Porter's frame build
ing and was extending with fearful rspidi
ty to the wooden buildings sdjoining-the
Ashtabula Loan Association bank build
| ing being on the north side of it, two
story building in the rear of it, which was
occupied 10y Porter and his family as res
idencs, and to DR.. E. L. Kings large two
story building on the south, occupied by
J. II. Wilcox and Chas. T. McClanning as
clothing stores Part of the secona floor
Of this building was occupied as an Office
by Dr. King, the balance of the rooms be-,
ing unoccupied.
Engine Co. No 1 was first on the ground
and was located at the large double eistsrn
in front of the Ashtabula House, but it
was some time before it could be made to
take water, owing to a piece of cotton
waste which was found under one of the
valves.
By Ibis time the streets were crowded
with men, women and children, aud the
flames were fiercsly raging, and threaten
ing the Fisk House, next north Of the
Loan Association building, the windows
and blinds of which we're already in flames.
Steamer No. now came up with 3 full
head of steam and was stationed at the
cistern with No. One, and soon three pow
srful streams were playing on the fire and
the buildings adjoining.
Newbsrry's drug store on the corner was
soon in flames, and burned, only few
chared sticks being left standing, and the
rear of Martins liquor store was burned
out
When the fire broke out the wind was
blowing from the southwest and carried
large sparks and shingles down and across
Main street, and over the largest and finest
building on this street. Within half an
hour the wind changed carrying the sparks
to the east. which saved a general con-
fagrstion.
TIE FISK HOUSE
was saved by the citizens dashing water on
the burning windows, assisted by an occa-
sional stream from the firemen outside.
DUCRo's FURNITURE STORE
on the opposite corner of Main and Centre
streets had narrow escape. Large sparks
were showered upon the roof of this build
ing, and the north side burned and black
ened. Mrs. G. c. Hubbard's residence on
the Opposite side of Main street took fire
several times from sparks, but each time
was quickly sxtinguished. Redhoad's
grocery and Hastings shoe store were con-
siderable heated on the front. and paint
blistered.
WHAT WAS SAVED.
To Porter's clothing store everything
was consumed, but in the rear building
used as dwelling by him, most of the
household goods were saved.
The contents of the Ashtabula Loan As
sociation building were mostly saved, in
cluding books, all the drawers and contents,
Office furniture, etc.
From DIR. Kings building were saved
the stocks of clothing of C. 7. McClsnning
and J. NJ. Wilcox, which were on the
ground floor. All that was saved from the
second floor, only part of which was used
by DR.. King as an Office, was the Doctors
account books, which were rescued by R.
NJ Dewey, after the building was in flames.
From Newbsrry's drug store about the
entire stock was removed, but the glass
ware was considerably broken by hasty
and careless handling
A live coon-one Of the proprietor's
pets-was rescued from back room of
the second floor and chained TO fence on
the opposite side of the street. His coon
ship mounted gate post and eyed the ex-
citing scenes with considerable interest.
Part of this store was occupied by Miss
Rose Clifford as news room; her stock in
Guiding school books and stationery was
saved but considerably injured.
The second floor of this building was
occupied by R. NJ. Dewey as q job printing
Office, and DR.. Il. P. Fricker as an Office.
Mr.. Dewey, who slept in his Office, saved |
himself, and six cases of type. A small |
printing press was afterwards taken |
through window on the shoulder of
fireman, which was all that was saved from
this establishment.
The building known as Martins liquor
store, located on Centre street in the rear
of the drug store and owned by Mr.. New
berry, was considerably burned in the rear,
but the entire stock of liquors was gallant
ly saved.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT,
Though rather slow in getting to work
did some hard and very effsctual work, and
sustained the good record it has always
borne. There were many disadvantages
nndsr which the department laborsd, the
principal one being the want Of water; five
large cisterns were exhausted, requiring the
engines to make as many different 'fsets."
Lake Erie and hose company No. 2, 10
Gated at the L. S & NJ. s. R'y depot, with
its characteristic promptness arrived when
the fire was under control, and was not
put to work. 1t remained however upon
the scene until all danger was passed.
THE INSURANCE.
All the insurance was held in companies
of which Green Sherwood are agents,
and is as follows:
Fisk House, in Rhode ISL Assurance.
Association.
On building ........$ 81 800,
On contents. ........ 1000,