Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-10-03
FIRE I!
DESTRUCTIVE CONFLAGRACION At
INTERCOURSE.
Eaby's store ksurned-lOsS $4,000

| Eaby's store Hurned-lOss $4,000.
| On Saturday morning between Q and 1C
O'Clock, the large brick store room and
dwelling house, belonging to Moses Eaby,
and situated near the west end of the vii
lage of Intercourse was di scovered to be
| fire and within a short time was envelOpcd
in flames, rendering it impossible to save
| it. The fire originated in the garret, and
before it reached the lower part Of the
building great part Of the dry goods and
! some other va!uables in the store were got
| ten out. The store is conducted by Jason
X. Eaby, son of Moses Eaby, and the en-
| tire loss will not fall short Of $40, 900 or
81, 900, on which there is an insurance in
the Lancaster County Mutual company. Of
| IS, ,OOO-of which 81 500 is on the building,
which was worth fully 1000.
There weie several kegs OfpoWder in the
garret which exploded during the progress
of the fire.. 1t is said that Jacob ID. War
fel ran up to the garret to remove the
powder and that key exploded while he
was on the stairway, knockin. him down
and injuring him somewhat. In the base
ment were stored fifteen barrels of coal oil
and eleven tons of coal which burned fierce
ly all Saturday and Sunday. and continued
to burn rs late rs this morning.
The burned building was i two, story
and attic brick building, with brick back
building attached, erected half u century
ago by Moses Eaby anu occupied by him
for many years as general country store.
For some years past his son Jason has
carried on the business, and the dwelling
part of the building has been occupied by
another son, Harry, who was formerly in
business in this city. Harry loses almost
everything he had including the clothing
Of himself and family.
1t is singular fact that notwithstand-
ing the explosion of tho gunpowtler and
the intensity of tho heat, caused by the
burning of the coal oil and coal. the brick
back building attached to the main build
ing escaped destruction. The adjoining
frame building was destroyed, but all
other adjacent buildings escaped. n
frame dwelling to the west, Jason Eaby's
residence and Warfels hotel nearly oppo.
site, 4 frame building occupied by John
Doyle, tailor, short distance to the east,
and barn short distance southeast,
were all in imminent danger and were
more than once on lire, but were fortu-
nately saved.
The building burned was one of the old
est and best appointed country store stands
in Lancaster county and transacted i very
arrangements will Dc Immediately made
for rebuilding it on Il larger and improved
plan, and that meantime :, Hcw stock Of
goods will be purchased and store room
now opened in Jason II. Ea6y's bniltling
nearly opposite the ruins.
The cause of the iia. il; not known with
any certainty, bat is supposed to have
been caused accidentally by Mr. Eaby's
children, who were playing in the garret.
ATTEMPTED INCENDIAHIsM.
Parties Put Waste Under :, y:,acksInith Shop
mnd Set 1t ON Fire.
Between l2 and o'clock yesterday
morning All attempt was made to fire the
frame blacksmith shop OIL East King street
next to the old Indian Queen, which is
owned by DR.. Carpenter and until recently
was occupied by James ReardOn. Alder
man n. +. Donnelly was on his way home
from his Office, and when he reached
the corner OF East King and Mid
die streets hc heard the cry
of fire. He ran down to the saloon of
Christian lIa.c!yans. The blacksmith shop
is next door to the saloon, and it was soon
found that the fire was in the southeastern
corner of it. n piece Of cotton waste had
been saturated with coal oil and stuffed
under the boards which were burned
somewhat. The men got sew ,ral buckets
Of water and eXtinSushca the fire. The
building was lighted by some parties who
came from the American engine house, as
tracks leading from the rear door Of the
engine house directly to the spot where
the fire was started and back again, were
found on the earth. At the place of the
fire piece of wrapping paper was found
saturated with Oil. This piece was taken
to the engine house and another found from
which it had been torn as the two fitted
together exactly. Coal oil is always kept
in the eng inc house and SO is waste. The
cans containing the former were found to
be empty and there was considerable spill
cd upon the floor. The fire was undOubt-
edly started by parties who came from the
engine house where they made their AZ
raDgements. 1t is believed that there
were more than one and that one did
the work while the other raised the alarm
to allow him to escape. The engine and
hose carriage were run out Of the building
shortly after the fire was discovered, but
did not go into service. The engine was
fired, but it has not been learned who
started it,
The members OF this fire company
should make 4 thorough investigation of
this matter in order to ascertain whether
it was members of their company who
committed this deed or outside persons
who endcavOrcd to put the blame upon
them.