The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-02-05
BURNING OF THE COURTHOUSE,
Later and Puller Particulars Of the Destruction
Of tho Building by Pho Early Yesterday
hOrnng-RosOrds Hsyod-
Etc., Etc., Rto,

which tho 0onilagTAllOn NJ tho County court
house occurred yesterday morning, II wal
impossible ~ give ~ our readers full d0ialll
Of tho calamity.
"A published tho fro was discovered al
1850 p, M, bong confined nj thal time 10 The
0npalO, which WAS soon enwrapped IN ilnn0a
The alarm was promptly sounded and Tho
bremen arrived on tho scene In tolernbl
good time aud, within u low minutes, Htna
Hose company No, I was throwing
Ia Rlr0nm OF water, but Ow-
Ing 10 the height Of tho fro II did but
little execution, there being n marked want
OF ladders 10 which tho destruction of the
building u mostly attributable. Had there
been ladders on the ground, the llomon could
have mounted TO tho roof and oyllngul6hOd
tho flames easily, yot they were wanting, aud
by tho time tho engine, "iast
Dallas" got up steam, tho llnmcs
had gained considerable headway,
tho cupalo having fallen, which spread tho
Tire over tho roofing, which WIS soon on0
mass Of llaWos.
The fro soon communicated 10 the rooms
on tho second floor, and the fra llcnd royoIod
In delight nj the ruin wrought, All this
tImo number ofpOraons were busy In tho
rooma below removing tho records
and papers from the various offices,
ThOy worked like TroOns aud succeeded IN
saving most of tho books and papers,
While tho roof was In flames Mr. Henry
Jones, tho efficient Deputy District clerk,
who was ono Of the first upon tho scene, fol-
lowed by Mr., jerome Marshall, rushed up
tho stairway to the District court room
through tho donso smoke, and nj tho
imminent danger of their lives, saved
the books Of tho court MI the indictments
mud all the papers of that court save
n few civil papers. They had hardly de-
seconded before the roofing fell In with
terrible. crash, when tho flames loOpod as
though with Joy to II grcOt height.
Tho offices on tho first floor
were still free from fire, and
for want Of moro material tho fire partially
subsidized, The engine, "llast Dallas" and
AGtna Hose had been throwing four steady
streams nj this time, and Mt last the fire was
cotton under control.
Tho ilrcmen fought tho flames
brayoly and rsked thor lives in
many instances. Charlie Kahn, the
foreman of Engine company number /,
followed by number of Ilremon, went into
almost the very midst of the fro at tho risk
Of being killed by tho falling timbors or
being burned to DEATH Chief Common
managed his men we'll.
The records in the County court room,
together with all the papers, were burned,
yet a great many of the records, such Ms Pro-
bate Book, Probate Docket Index TO
Judgments and several others were
gotten out Of tho ruins yesterday
morning in n partially preserved condition,
they all being badly charrcd and mutilated
yet tho writing on the inside pages, which |
were remarkably we'll kept, is perfectly |
clear and with tho aid of an expert they can
be transcribed.
A fow indictments, pretty well preserved, |
were found in tho County court room. All |
the records and papers in tho lower offices, |
consisting of the District and County Clerks |
offices, tho Assessors and Treasurers, County |
Collectors County Attorneys and Sherih's |
offices wore saved.
The building was stately, two-story stone
structure and was erected at cost to the |
county, including interest on bonds given, of
100000, which was great deal moro than
It was really worth. 1t was erected in 1871, |
and the stone hauled at considerable expense
from three to nine miles.
The walls are but slightly injured, and the
work of rebuilding will begin Mt once.
Judge Burk, tho County Judge and
County Commissioners Keller and Adams
leld an informal consultation yesterday, and
Commissioner Keller will place force Mt
work to-day removing tire debris, and 80 soon
Is It is removed the rebuilding will
,ogin.
The building, as it stood before being de-
troyed, can be replaced, ms estimated by
builders for from Sl5,0 to $4,000.
Judge Burke secured office rooms tor all
he county officers, except the District Clerk,
,ver Robinson's livery stable, layers II Gas
on's old stand), for 500 a month.
Captain w. A. HARDWOOD. District Clerk,
las moved his Office over Bell & Davenports
rocery store, on the west side of the SO uare.
10 went there because he had more room.
The County Commissioners court meets
londay, when some definite action will be
AIKEN to restore the building
The fire is believed to be the work of an
as none of the ilues were near tho
upola, in which it caught. 1t is generally
elieved that some one fired 1t to order to
estroy the indictments.
During the fire piece of the cornice fell
.riking John Nicely in the head and inhict-
,g n severe scalp wound.
Tho City Council and the County
court are severely censured, 7
10 first officials for there persisting in work. a
lg the horses of the Skinner truck on the
reefs, which has caused the company to take
mirage and disband. Their ladders would
ave served in saving the building. The
ounty Commissioners are blamed for not i
nploying n Waterman, as was once done, 4
nd for not having the building insured i,
Commissioner Keller, it is Just to state, "
d want to take out $4,000 policy, but ~
sver got it through.
1t isrumored that an effort will be made to
It the United States government to aid in
e rebuilding and make II three stories, civ q
& the ground floor to tho Federal court. 1t
Another proposition is spoken of in the ~
building, which is to make the first floor
e jail, aud locate tho courts and offices of
q county officials on the second and third
ors.