The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-04-14

"A
Alive-Thirty Horses and twenty
odd Buildings Burned-LOss
$50. 900, Insurance $4,000
Particulars and Incidents-Fun-
eraI of the Victims-Diagram OF
the Burnt District-ArreSt and
Hearing of the Originators of
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES aud
Incidents, ETC., etc. n
The most disastrous fire ever known in
this city occurred on Monday night and Tues
day morning, resulting in the burning to
death of two persons, the destruction of eigh-
teen stores and dwellings, church and
number of stables, and thirty horses, involy-
Ing direct loss of many thousands of dollars
and indirectly of many thousands OF dollars
more. ...r
The fire originated in Jacob Thompson
livery stables, and the alarm was given at
II. 80 Monday night, after most of the popu-
lation were abed. The stable was frame
structure. 3OxI05 feet, standing back from
Main. lust west of John street, and was stored
with hay, straw, feed, carriages, harness, and
stock. Four persons-Harry and Robert
Thompson, Aaron Shaeffer and Augustus
Oursler-were asleepin the stable at the time
Harry Thompson and Augustus Oursler be-
low and Robert Thompson and Aaron Shaef
fer in the second story. Harry Thompson
was awakened by the cry of fire, and seeing
the building in flames he FASTENED to awake
the others. He quickly assembled to the up
per story to awaken the sleepers above, and
as quickly descended, having his moustache,
hair and eyebrows singed by the flames In his
flight Robert and Aaron must have been
frOp, tba fro smoke
came bewildered in their attempts to escape,
and were burned up with the building. All
during the night friends and relatives were IN
doubt as to their safety. Conflicting reports
concerning them were constantly ahoat, and
not until the flames had done their work of
devastation was their fate actually known.
As the morn approached, and the last embers
had been eXtingushed by the rain that set III
about two hours after the hire had started,
search was made, and the worst fears were
realized. The unrecognlzable remains OF the
unfortunate young men were found by Mr..
William Shaeffer and others, near where the
rear end of the stable stood, the remains be-
ing intermngled with those of the horses and
the debris. They were taken to the Montour
House, and viewed by many persons, whose
Indignation was aroused and threats OF ven
geance on the Orgnators of the fire were
made.
Mr.. Thompson loss approximates 81 900,
and includes % horses, 2 cows, "a sets OF har-
ness. 8 top buggies, jaeger, hacks, II
sleighs, robes, blankets, whips, tons of hay,
lot of corn, &c. Charles V. WantZ and John
Robinson, Mr.. Thompson's tather-in-law,
each lost a valuable horse. MIR. Thompson
was not insured. The stable was not insured
either. and was the property of Mr.. Jeremiah
Rinehard Much sympathy is felt for Mr.;
Thompson especially, whose all was destroyed
in the fire. The sympathy has taken sub
staAtial turn, and about 81 900 has been raised
for his benefit, several citizens giving rs much
as 500 each.
From the stable the flames rapidly spread to
the adjoining buildings, and within an hour
the whole square on the north side OF Main
street from John to Carroll was ablaze, and
several buildings on the hill on Carroll street.
The new brick Ieiber Building, owned by
Israel Ieiber, on the corner OF Main and John
streets. almost in front of the stable, was slow
in taking fire, but it finally succumbed and
became total ruin. The building was occu
pied by Bixer & SENT, boot, shoe, hat, and
trunk dealers, J. NJ. Wells, paper dealer, and
bv Jos. p. Allgire, billiard saloon, while the
rear was cut off into dwelling and occupied
NV Mr.. Zeiber and wife. The building was
insured in the Continental Company of New
York for 81, 500, and the loss was estimated
and paid by the Agents of the Company, w.
S Myer & Bro, on Wednesday. The same
day Mr. Zeiber contracted with Geo. Lease to
rebuild. Mr.. Zeibers loss, including house
hold goods, approximates about Sc, 600, a por-
ton being covered by insurance as above noted.
Bixler & SENT, were insured for 50 $40, in Geo.
w. Matthews insurance agency, but saved the
most of their stock j. NJ. Wells lost 81 900
and was insured in the same agency for 5000
JOS p Allgire lost about 81 900 and was IN
sured for the same amount, also IN Matthews
agency. Bixer & SENT are now located i'll
the Buell. house nearly opposite their former
stand; j. NJ. Wells opposite Derr s store on
Main street, and Mr.. Leiber is stopping with
friends.
Jacob Thompson's residence, built of brick,
owned by Jeremiah Rnehard, stood next to
the Ieiber Building, and in front of his stable.
His household goods were saved, but in the
hurry and excitement were considerably dam
aged, and the building was saved in dam
aged condition by the efforts of James +.
Smith, in whose insurance agency it was IN
sured for $500. Mr.. Smith donated S25 to
the Fire Department for their services in
saving the building. Mr.. Thompson's family
is at the Carroll House.
From Thompson's residence west to Car
roll street, the limit of the fire in that direc-
ton every building was a frame structure,
except one, and the flames leaped from one to
the other in quick succession and all were
afire at once.
The next building west of Thompson res
idence was owned by Mrs. Mary Lester, and
occupied by Main Il Geiselman, furniture,
organ and sewing machine dealers. This
firm lost about Sc, 900 and were insured for
81. 500 in the Mutual Fire Insurance Company
in Baltimore county They are now in Music
Hall. in the rear Of the Montour House.
Il,
ing. and was occupied by herself (dress
maker and VIM. Hollenbery. Furniture Of
both was mostly saved. Mrs. Lester had in
surance in the Mutual Fire Insurance Com
pany in Baltimore county on both buildings.
She is now with Mrs. Weaver, on Belle Grove
Square.
Herr Bros S. building, occupied by NJ. c.
Strasburger's store and Victor Strasburger's
family, was next. Nearly all the store goods
were lost and much of the furniture, involv-
ing loss of about $4,000, upon which there
was an insurance of 50, 900 on the store goods
in Geo. w. Matthews agency. The building
was insured by the same agency tor $1,000.
Strasburger has discontinued business for the
present, and the family is now in the house
next to Central Hotel, on the west, lately oc-
cupied by G. W. Crapster
Adjoining was Herr Bro S. carriage factory.
Except five new carriages, everything IN the
factory, including some finished and unfn-
ished work, tools, stock of paints, oils, warm
ishes, &C., &C., were destroyed: The books,
some carpet, axles, &C., in the office were
saved. Their loss was about $4,000, in
Guiding Strasburger's store, the residence oc-
cupied by Col S. X. Herr, mother and sisters,
adjoining, and stable. They were insured
for 81, 900 on the Strasburger store in Geo.
w. Matthews agency, and for 81, 200 on stock
and 500 on stable in the same agency; $4,000
on stock in the Mutual Fire Insurance Com
pany in Baltimore county, and on factory and
dwelling for SO, 900 in the Montgomery County
Company. Total insurance, S11, 100. The
firm now occupy the old Taylor Works, on
Court street. Col. Herr and family now re-
side in the German Reform parsonage on
Bond street.
Next to the above stood Mrs. Ellen Male
horns dwelling and millinery store, and there
was stable and other outbuidings on the
premises. Personal effects were mostly saved.
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