The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-12-23
THE FIRE FIEND.
A Single SlX-Days' Record of HIS Work

A Single SIx-Days' Record of HIS Work.
December 10 the month for big fires, and
during the middle week Of the present
month the "fiend" seems to have put in
his work with unwOnted vigor. People
inclined to grumblc at the high rates OF
the insurance companies may gather from
this record of single week some idea OF
the nature of the risks the rates arc intend
ed to cover:
The large distlllery of John Glbson's
Sons & Co., near Belle Vernon, Pa, on the
Monongahela river, was burned on the
18th, the fire being caused by the explosion
Of copper still. The loss included 1000
barrels OF whisky and $4,000 bushels OF
grain. and with building, machinery, DC,
is estimated at 100000.
The Enterprise Cotton Mills at Manyunk,
Pa, were burned on the 18th, involving a
loss of $4,000, and the lite of one girl who
was killed in lesplng from an upper WIN
dow. Some II others were badly injured
Jones's Cotton Mill at Waterbury, Conn,
was burned on the 10Th. Loss, $4,000.
The depot, engine house, Car sheds,
twenty.three Bradley cars, twenty-five cen
tennlal cars, thirteen Woodruff sleeping
cars, and fifteen engines, belonging to the
Manhattan Beach and Coney Island Rail
road, and situated on the Bay Ridge Shore,
Long Island, were destroyed by fire last
Saturday morning. The loss Is put at
100000
The Grasshopper Mill of Arms, Bell &
Co., at youngstown, Ohio, was burned on
the night of the l4th, involving loss OF
$4,000. Several firemcn were badly hurt
in the attempt to extinguish the flames.
The Remington Cabinet Works at lion,
N. Y, were burned on the same night, at
loss of 100000. The fire originated
spontaneously in box of shavings among
some oily waste.
Same night the Canadian Pacific and
the Johnston, the two largest hotels In
Winnepeg, were burned. involving loss
of $4,000. 1t was bitter cold night and
many of the half-clad guests after escap.
ing from the fire nearly iroze to death.
Toledo, o., had q big blaze on Friday
night OF last week. The Hall block, one
of the finest blocks IN the CITY, was burn
ed, entalling not only the entire loss Of the
buildings, but a large amount Of all kinds
of goods, the first and second stories being
occupied by heavy wholesale dealers. The
building, by foreclosure of a mortgage,
had become the property of the Connect
cut Mutual Life Insurance Company, upon
whom the loss, amounting to some $3.50
600, largely falls.
The Round House used by the Chicago
& Rock Island aud Peoria & Rock Island
railroads at Rock Island was burned on
the 18th. Loss $4,000.
The Masonic Hall ut Heyworth, Mclean
Co., Ill.,, was burned on the 10Th. Loss
$1,000.
Digley Il Sons foundry works at Pales
tine, Texas, were burned on the 14th.
Loss $4,000.
A fire at Bcssemer Park, near Pittsburg,
on the 10Th, destroyed four dwellings and
rendered eight families homeless. The fire
started from an oil lamp explosion.
A fire at Winn, Maine, on the 10Th, de-
stroyed six houses and came near taking
the whole town. Loss $4,000.
A fire at Hickman, Ky, on the 18th, de-
stroyed three business blocks in the heart
of the town, involving loss of 100000.
The steamboat Kate Kinney took fire at
Shreveport Landing, La, on the 10th.
Boat and cargo total loss. The fire
spread TO several adjacent buildings, which
were also burned Total loss $4,000.
A. Hollands store In Sandwich, ILL.,, was
burned on the 18th. Most of the goods
were saved Loss about $1,000.
Tiskllwa, on the Rock Island Railroad,
had a blaze on Friday morning Of last
week which swept away seven small bust
ness HOUSES Loss $4,000.
The little town of Newport, Ark. which
was nearly destroyed by fire a year ago and
rebuilt, had another destructive blaze on
Sunday. Sixty buildings were destroyed,
including eight brick stores, the printing
offices OF the Ners and of the Spectator,
and a number of dwellings. The loss is
estimated at Sl50,O00.
Same day the cotton platform of j. b.
Leckhar,. "A, Honey Grove, Texas, was
burned with 5000 bales Of cotton, at loss
OF 100000
At Pi,tsburg, on Sunday morning, Hays
Planning Mill, on the South Side, together
with $1,000 feet ct lumber, was destroyed.
Loss $4,000
Minneapolis had al $4,000 blaze on
Monday morning, by the burning of a
business structure.