The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-10
FIRE IN DAYTON, ky.
The Rope Factory of BOnte & Sons and
Other Buildings Destroyed.
FUN Particulars OF tac Loss and
Insurance.

A very disastrous fire occurred i'll Dayton.
KY, this morning, commencing aboa; S
O'clock i'll the rope and cordage faetory
of John Bonte & Sons, situated at tise
southeast corner of Clay and Fourth streets
The fire was first discovered in the hemp
department on the third floor, where hemp
and other very inhammable material was
stored. The blaze shot up with lightning
speed, carrying along everything in it's
course, sending burning wood all over the
different houses in the vicinity. Shortly
after the fire started the place was crowded
with people eager to lend helping hands to
quench the fire.
All available means we're used to save thc
building, but the strong northwest wind.
Which helped the fire along, prevented
much from being done except to save the
adjacent property. Word was Immediately
dispatched to Newport for their engine,
which got to the fire about o'clock, and
soon got to work throwing streams of wafer
on the already doomed building, but thu
flames became so fierce and hot that they
directed their efforts to other property
which had already taken fire, and it looked
as if all that part of Dayton must suffer tho
same fate
The Captain and members of the No. IL
Fire Company of Fulton came across the
river in skiffs and rendered very valuable
service in helping their Newport brethren.
During the night it had raincd very hard.
which caused small creek close by to run
quite freely with water, which was one Of
the things the Dayton people have to be
thankful for, because if it had not raincd
very little water could have been got to
throw upon the fire A crowd OF men soon
| I ~, boln Ia Hrn
got to work.
As it was seen the factory could not be
, saved, everybody took the necessary pre-
caution to guard the houses on each side.
but before doing so it had already gos start
ed in the blacksmith shop of Peter Kline.
which was burned to the ground AZ was
also the wagon shop of Frederick Bodc.
Marshal Newt. Stamper arrived shortly
after the fire and found the City Clerks
office Oh fire. He burst the door and got
: all the records of the town out through the
back door. Streams of water were imnedt-
atcv thrown on the door where the lire
started, and the buildings on that side of the
street were saved without much damage.
e though little scorched.
:, There arc various theories as to the origin
v of the fire. 1t commenced i'll part OF the
n building where very inhalnlnable materlas
is stored, and spontaneous combustion
seems the most natural conclusion. some,
IL however, believe the building was struck
is by lightning, and the hemp set on fire ~
the electric fluid.
C About one hundred persons are tenPor
e arily thrown out of work, but the firm an
nounce that the work of rebuilding will ot
:. commenced at once and that the factoE1
~ will he restArted in the -,,ortest rnssitl
dine.
. The establishment was a manufactory o
- all kinds of ropes, ssal, manila, hemp and
> tarrcd cordage and was the largest one i,
the Western country and one of the larges
IS in the whole country.
y The total loss of the Bonte CordageC om
pany is $4,000 The loss on Kline
4 blacksmith shop is $500; on Fred Bude'
!. wagon shop $500. Mr. Heidrick, forclna,
\ of the establishment loses 81 800 on mu
:, chinery, which was stored in the building
l. and on which he had no insurance.
Al The loss is made the heavier to the Con,
pany as they sent up to the factory Larry
amount of stock last evening from thei
le warehouse, No. Main street, on this sid
III Of the river
il They have the following insurance OIL
their property and stock: