The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-10-05
Fire i'm Ridgway
LOSS NEARLY s7o,oOo1NsunANcnsa1, a1,-

1
TOWN IN RUINS.
Friday morning, Sept. 90 1882, will
long be remembered by the citizens of
Ridgway. At about p o'clock q fire
was discovered in the Democrat block,
by ason of G.. T. Wheeler, and at once
the alarm was given, Jno. r. Kline,
night watchman at Hydess store heard
the cry, saw the flames, and at once
ran up Centre and South streets Civ
ing the alarm. The Court house bell,
Grace Church bell,' and some other
bells were rung, and in very short
time the alarm was generally given
throughout the Borough. Soon the
news was received at Grants tannery,
and its whistle aroused the people
there. From all directions crowds of
men, women, and children came run
ming to the scene of disaster. Wm.
McVey and Chas. B. Farley climbed
upon the awning in front of the DEM
ocrat Office and saw flames issiiing
from the.side of the wall next fiue
at the rear of the printing Office. f..
E. Willard looked up the stairs, and
saw flames issue from the Democrat of.
flee, or right hand side Of the hall. Mrs.
Wheeler who occupied rooms opposite
the Democrat Office was awakened
and saw flames issuing from under
the door of the Democrat Office. Mrs.
Wheeler and family escaped by the
rear of the building leaving their
clothes and household effects behind.
SO that it is quite evident that TO a
defective fluc may bc attributed
another great loss Of property. And
another warning that the building of
fiues should be in tho hands of men
who arc competent to do the work in
manner insuring safety to property.
This particular fiue was built after
night by men working on the court
house during It's erection, and by
lanplight, so that is not to be much
wondered at that "dcGectivc fiuc"
should be written as the cause Of Ridg-
ways greatest fire. The work of the
fire was rapid aud in both an easterly
and westerly direction.
The theatre of The fire was on the
north side of Main. street, being
bounded on the east by Broad street,
on west by Mill street, and on the
north by strcetrunning along Hyde's
race by the Hyde e Ross planning
rnill. As building after building
caught and was being dcvoured by
the flames hundreds Of people were
busy carrying goods from stores, house
hold goods, and al manner Of articles
to places Of safety. People WHO had
no interest whaaever in the property
worked like TrOians to save property.
Of course the excitement was great
but there vas not many rash acts to be
recorded, such as throwing the mir
rors from upper windows, and care
fully carrying down the more delicate
feather beds. Where all did we'll it
would not be In good taste TO single
out any particular individual to whom
should be awarded the crown of super
iority. The entire territory from the
starting point Of the fire to Broad
street on the east was burned oTer
An old barn twenty feet at the rear
of Powell & Kime's store being the
solitary exception. Across Broad street
from the fire distance of Il feet, stands
the Hyde House n large three story
building, which was saved by a great
effort. Carpets were thrown over
the exposed end Of the building, and 4
stream from Hyde's store hose was
constantly playing on the building
until the danger was past. Twelve
years ago last June Main street was
burned from the Ridgway Bank to
Broad street, and the Hyde House was
saved that time, although the exposed
end was black and bli7tered by the fire.
This time the paint is scarcely cOlOred
On Mill street, at the western bound
arv of the burned district stands the
house OF Edward Derby, an Old and
estecme citizen of this place s. years
Of age. This house, Il one and one half
superhumau efforts, and Stands ~ the
sole relic Of the great Are. On the
street running along the race one l0t
from Mill street at the rear of Camp
bells buildings was situated q dwell
lug belonging h. L. Campbell and also
one belonging to Mrs. NJ. l.. Ross both
OF which were saved. At the rear Of
the row burned there wasa great many
sheds, lumber piles, etc, And some Of
the lumber piles were in close proX-
unity to the planning mill situated on
the north side of race street. BY put
ting carpets on the planning mill and
keeping q steady supply of water on
the building it WAS with great diff
Guilty saved. The men on the mill
worked like heroes. There was scarcely
a breath OF air string during the pro-
gress of the fire, while the moon shone
brightly down on the scene of desola-
ton. In u few hours, or at six o'clock
the flames subsided, and where was
once row of prosperous business
places, was at That hour q smouldering
mass Of ruins.
TaE LOSSES AND INSURANCE
as near as can be asccrtained are as