Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-09-05

FIRE.-An alarm of fire of fearful por-
tent. was sounded on Saturday just before
noon. When the alarm was first given tie
smoke rolled up from the rear of Morrison's
store enveloping the three old wooden
buildings between Willard's and Fisk's
brick blocks. The store in which the fire
broke out was the middle one The fire
took unaceOuntably in the loft. or second
story, in the extreme rear Of the store, and
when the cry was made, it was from with
out, and before the occupants of the store
themselves we're conscious of its exisience.a
The dense volumes of smoke that then
poured out from that locality gave strong
evidence that the extremely combustible
character of the three buildings and the
advanced state of the flames, their fate
was sealed. As the people gathered how
ever, and began to throw on the water,
both with pals and by protection engine,
an explosion like the sound Of piece OF
ordnance sounded about the village, and
the sides and roof of the building were
blown out. and two of the fremen-Frank
Moore and George Eastman-who were
working upon a ladder standing against
the building were blown of, but without
injury. This was from the catching Of
some two or three pounds of powder kept
in a sheetiron can near whore the fire took.
The flames caught the Ashtabula store and
also the little store on the other side OF the
alley. from the Morrison store occupied by
bankrupt stock Of clothing, 50 that the
whole three we're on FIRE at one time. No
sooner was the stream from Protection
started than the flames were gotten under
at once, without much injury to either of
the stores adjoining that in which the fire
began. The goods from the Morrison store
were pretty much all removed except the
crockery and glassware. The upper rooms
in both the Ashtabula store and the Morri-
son store were occupied by families, and
most Of their effects we're removed. The
goods in neither of the other stores, We be-
lieEe, weEs removed except from one
side to the other to avoid the water. The
flames in the Morrison store were not al
lowed to get below the story in which they
began. The damage, therefore, beside the
destruction in the loft, where sundry goods
were stored, was confined to tie water and
in handling.
The fremen were on hand promptly and
they worked to advantage, and effectively.
The short work made by Protection rem
dered the service of the steamer on Park
street unnecessary.
Mr.. Morrison's goods were removed to
the store vacated by Mr.. Topky in the Ash
tabula House block, which Will be occu-
pied until repairs are made by Mr.. Morri
son en- his own store. The damage sus-
tanned is amply covered by insurance, but
at this writing no estimate has been made
Of the amount.
In the place where the fire began was
small bin Of rags but whether they in any
way produced spontaneous combustion it is
not easy to say. Something of this kind
must account for the fire If anything. Mr..
Fred Morrison was in the loft not more
than fifteen or twenty minutes before the
alarm when all appeared right
Messrs. L. W. Smith & Son presented
Protection Co. No. l, with a check for $25
for their promptness and success in saving
their building.
Mr.. MorrisOn's building was insured
for $1,000 and stock for $1,000; the stock
is estimated to have been injured to the
amount of $1,000 and the building about
$500.