The Dawson journal., 1883-08-23
Tho Fire.

The quiet Of the afternoon of
last Sunday was broken into by
the ringing of the alarm bell and
the noise of many voices, shouting
'fre," which was found to proceed
from the kitchen Of an unoccupied
house on Main street, owned by
DR.. G. W. Farrar, and just vaca-
ted by Mr.. j. B. Mount. Strange
to say, the fire had got well under
way before it was discovered
though the street at that time was
filled with people. The f. 8 de-
partment was soon out, and with
their chemical 6ngine did earnest
work to save the house. but it was
too far gone to be saved. AT one
time the residences and stores
around the burning house were in
eminent danger, but the efforts
of citizens and firemen saved them.
The sparks from the burning
dwelling fell in large quantities
Tor hundreds Of yards around, and
houses a long distance from the
fire were in danger from the fall
ing sparks. The noble work that
some Of our citizens did upon the
top Of buildings in danger, saved,
no doubt, some of the houses from
being burned. Capt. Dillon's resi-
dence, in close proximity to the
burning building, at one time, was
thought to be doomed, buu earnest
work upon the part Of many saved
1t from the flames, and no doubt
the grove of trees between the
burning building and that resi-
dence had much to do with its
preservation, as the trees shielded
it from the flames and the sparks.
To many ladies Of the city much is
due for their unceasing work in re-
moving the furniture from the
house Of Capt. Dillon, and after
the fire, in placing it back in its
place. But as woman's sphere of
usefulness is paramount to every
consideration, 50 we may even ex-
pect her to be found ready for
any OF the emergencies Of life
Had it not been for the bursting
Of the hose of the engine at the
commencement Of the fire effective
work would have been done and
the fire soon subdued. Some
small outhouses near the fire were
pulled down which stayed the raw
ages Of the flames to some extent.
Had the wind been high an extern
sive confagration might have been
the result OF this fire. We want
more water, for the wells of the
city are not adequate for a water
supply in the case OF fire, and it
would be invaluable to the city to
have cist6rns built, especially in
the business and ether populous
parts of the city. Then a hook
and ladder company is of vital me-
cessity, for had company Of that
kind been on the ground, the burn
ing building could have been pull
ed down when twas found that the
fire was beyond control from the
To make the chemical
engine effective it is necessary 70
keep the hose perfectly cleaned of
the chemicals that may be left in
the hose after having been used,
for if it is not done, the engine
will be useless at a fire.
The fire is thought to be the
work Of carelessness on the part
of two negro boys who were seen
during that afternoon to COME out
of the kitchen. The house was
insured for 100000. Property
holders are vitally interested in the
] reservation { their property., and
1t behooyes them to see that prop
er safeguards are thrown round
their property. So a sufficient
water supply and a complete fire
is what is needed in
our city, and steps should at once
be taken to obtain SO desirable an
end.