The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1881-03-04
BURLiNGTON'S BIG BLAZE.
The Most Destructive Confagration in
the History of the Town Visits 1t
on Sunday Morning.
ne,truetive Fire az Burlington.

BURLINGTON, Kas., Feb. 27.-The most
disastrous confiagration in the history of
Burlington occurred this morning about
Z o'clock. The west side of Third street
is burned out from Miami to Hudson
street, with the exception of four brick
and one frame business house. The fire
started in Freeman's shoeshop, which
stood on the rear end of the lot with the
Cottage restaurant, and the strong wind
that was coming from the north seemed
to sweep everything before it. For
time it promised 10 be q grand holocaust,
as four-fifths of the business part
by rapid work the progress of the
fire f1end was checked, when it
reached the massive masonry wall of the
Scott Allison building after seven bust
ness were completely destroyed. 1t
should be placed IN record before the
world as a scandalous fact, that the city
of Burlington, with 5000 population,
has provided no manner of IRE protec-
ton whatever. There is not even a hook
and ladder truck, or u bucket brigade,
and with these facts taken into consider
alton, it is a wonder that the whole city
was not destroyed.
All winter the local newspapers have
been shouting about this condition of
things but nothing has been done. In
view of the conhagration this morning,
the following, clipped from the Burling-
ton Independent of q few weeks ago, Is
especially worthy of reproduction:
1t perhaps would do no good to urge
the common council to make some prep
aration for tuSsel with fires this winter.
We have no engine, no water, and If a
respectable blaze should start in the
night, all we could do would be to climb
out of harms way and hallOo. Ali
towns have to pay for their experience
dearly by burning out few times, be-
fore they provide any means of fire pro-
lection, and we presume Burlington is
no exception to the rule. Mark the pre-
diction. This is the horoscope and when
the half of Burlington is IN ashes, then
we will feel like uttering that abomina-
BILE 1--WE told you SO"
A reporter aftel the fire was subdued,
mingled with the multitude in search
after the first man who saw the fire.
Second men were plenty, they always
are at country fires, but the first men
were not so numerous. However, after
q dilligent search, he was found in the
person of Mr.. Carlyle, a teamster, who
discovered the fire while he was going to
feed his horses. AT that time the flames
were no larger than his hands. He climb
ed on top the shoe shop and kicked the
fame out with his feet, then ran after
water. While he was gone the wind
famed the flame up again, and upon his
return the one pail of water would have
done no good. He jumped down, kick
ing in the door, and found the old shoe
maker, Freeman, in bed. He had only
time to jerk him out before the whole
building was enveloped in flames In
half an hour the fire had licked up
everything within the immediate reach
on that side of the street. Il stovepipe
running through shingled roof on the
shoe shop started the ire.
The Extra Session OF the Senate.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Eli is learned
on truthWorthy authority that the presi-
dent has decided to issxlS.a Droclamafion