Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-05-10
DARLINGTON DESTROYED.
Thirteen Business Houses Wiped out OF Existence
In FEN Hours.

Volume %, No. Is, of the Darlington
Republican comes in the guise of a
small, two column supplement, headed
"The Republican, That is What There
is Left of it." The cause of this reduc-
ton in the size of our esteemed contem-
porary lies in the fact that it had just
passed through baptism of fire in
the destructive conflagration which
visited Darlington last week. The en-
terprising proprietors win not allow
many numbers to slip before they are
once more on deck with new outfit.
We extend sympathy and trust they win
quickly recover from their stroke of i'll
luck. Small as it is the Republican
gives the following vivid account of the
conflagration.
At about $3.50 yesterday morning,
May Sd, our citizens were aroused once
more by that most terrible OF terrible
cries, "FlREr' Aroused at time
when the soundest slumber wrapped all
humanity in our city, the question was,
when appearing on the street, where
is the fire?' This question was soon
settled, upon the appearance of the
people upon Main street. One look
settled the question that the corner
that, in 1861, was the subject of the
devouring element, had again fallen
victim to the fiend, and Hooper's cor
ner was on fire. Before sufficient
number of our citizens had assembled
to do any good, it was evident that all
hope of saving the building had passed,
as fire ragged both up stairs and down.
Appalled, by the extent of the disaster
our citizens began to awaken to re-
alization of the fact that terrible fate
threatened them, and began to pull the
stocks from the adjoining buildings,
and by this means undoubtedly saved
considerable property.
The building occupied by Driver
Bros, was totally destroyed, together
with n large amount of merchandise,
and although a great many goods were
saved from the flames, their loss will
reach into the thousands.
The building owned by T. G. Duncan
and occupied by j. B. harrington &
Co., was next in the path of devastation
and though the goods carried from the
building comprised considerable por-
ton of their stock, their loss will still be
very large.
Over Drivers store I'll. L. Brown 5
job office was located, and he, like
some others, was left without the where
with to make a livelihood.
The losses viii foot up about S75, 900
insurance, $53,7O0.
Over Hooper's building, the Repub-
lican, which has gladdened many homes
in this county, as well as the homes of
many sheep who have strayed from the
fold into other states, for over twenty
two years, had headquarters. At the
time of the alarm, it was impossible to
reach the office to save a single thing;
and for a short time the light of its coun-
tenance will fail to beam with its usual
splendor upon its many patrons, but we
hope, e'er long, to shine in all our res
plendent glory on all our old friends,
and we hope many new ones. At pres
ent we are under many obligations to
Col. j. e.. Knight, of the Democrat,
for kindness in use of material and
press in the issue of this diminutiye
sheet.
So far as we can learn, all the build
ings will be rebuilt upon the present
sites, and the old corner, which has
been twice swept by the destroying ele-
ment, will stand forth in additional
splendor.
To our citizens generally is the great
est mead of praise deserving, not only
for their heroic efforts to stay the de-
stroying element, but for their endeav-
ors to save the effects of others. Moth
ing but the hardest work saved the
remainder of South Main street. 1t is
the hardest stroke of misfortune that
Darlington has ever had, and the only
wonder to those who were present is
that it was no worse.
The estimated loss, as near as can be
learned at present, is as follows: VIM.
Hooper & Co., on stock and building,
$4,000; insurance, $4,000. Republi-
can office, ON stock and material, S.
500; insurance, $4,000. Driver Bros. Il
Co., stock and building, $4,000; insur-
ance. $4,000. F.. Duncan, building,
$4,000; insurance, $4,000. j. b. Far
rington & Co., on stock, $4,000; insur-
ance, $l0,300. ii. L. Brown, stock and
material, $1,000; insurance, 5000. j.
Meehan, on building, $500; insured; by
removal of stock, 1,200 no insurance.
j. H. VanWagenen, damage to stock,
about $500. j. B. Roy, damage to
stock, $500. j. w. Grow, damage to
stock, 5000. Ed. Hugill, damage to
furniture and barn pulled down, $3.50
L. L. Hugill, damage to furniture and
billiard table, $500. o. f. Blakely, on
removal of furniture, about 500.
Nearly every one on the street pre-
pared for the worst, and got their goods
out. As to the origin of the fire, it is
still mystery.