The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-08-03

After Having been Mercifo1ly Passed
By for Ten Years, Our Turn Comes
at Last, and Half Block in
Laid In Ashes.

- About one O'Clock last Monda
- night, one Of the young ladies of Il
Pennsylvania house, on awaking
attend to the wants Of her father WI
was sick, discovered the house to |
full of smoke. She Immediately b
gan an Investigation and found til,
y J. w. McClure's building on the CO.
:, ner 1.-THE old Colborn store) was on fir,
: The alarm was given at onc'
and soon the streets were full Of pee
pie anxious to do what they could [
check the flames. The fire was a
: ready so far advanced that 1t was 500
seen to be impossible to save either tn
building where IL originated or tn
other two frame buildings between i
I and eattyB Bros. store, 80 the effort
[ of all present were exerted to eonfinin,
it to those limits and to saving Al
many goods as possible for Richards
Lakin 4 Ireland and for Messrs
Young & Clark. A hundred hand.
worked willingly, rapidly and careful
ly, and in short time most of the
goods stored in both buildings were
piled up in the street. While this was
being done, others were hard at work
trying to save the buildings in the rear
and prevent damage to Bestty's build
ing. The small building used as a
dress making shop by Miss Chadwick,
was dragged into the street, while a
plentiful use Of salt and water saved
the barber shopend thus checked the
progress in that direction. A large
force of men in front and on top of
Beatty's building protected it also from
damage and the fire was then under
control. The buildings burned rapid
ly and in less than two hours after the
first alarm was given, all three were
in ashes.
THE OCCUPANTS.
The ground floor of McCIure's build
ing was occupied by J. Clark's confec-
tionery and ice cream parlors, and by
Brock Reeds barber shop, while the
upper floor was used as a store room by
Messrs. Richard Lakin l. Ireland.
Mr.. Clark saved nothing whatever.
Mr.. Reed saved one chair, while most
Of the goods stored above were saved in
fair condition. Between this building
and the next, w. J. Conley had shoe
shop, from which nothing was saved.
AS already stated, most ofthe movable
goods in Richards, Lakin & Ireland's
grocery store were saved, their loss
being mainly shelf goods and broken
packages. The upper floor of the
building was occupied by Miss Thorn
Der as a millinery store. Miss T. was
not in town, but it was thought that
all Of her goods had been saved until |
she returned, when it was found that
a box that had been left behind as
worthless, contained large quantity
Of valuable goods. Her loss will be
severe one. The next building was
below by Messers. Young &
Clark with a general merchandise
stock, and above by Mr. J. Clark
as q residence. Most Of the
contents of the building were
saved but with considerable
damage, especially to fine shoes in
stock. and to household furniture.
Between this building and Beatty's
was cigar stand also owned by Mr..
]. Clark, from which nothing was
saved.
LOSSES.
1t is of course impossible at this
writing to estimate the losses with any
accuracy. Mr.. J. Clark did not save
whatever, and had no insur-
snce. His loss will not be less than
400. Mr.. Reed estimates his loss at
$50. with 500 insurance. Richards,
Lakin & Ireland had an insurance of
i 800 on their stock and 500 on the
which will probably cover
about one-haif their loss. Miss Thorn
oer's loss will be about $50. No in
Young & Clark can place no
SIS yet upon their loss but it
will reach at least twice the amount of
heir insurance.
Richards, Lakin & Ireland's goods
Ire stored for the present in Hender-
on & Amrine's old building, and
Young & Clark's are stored in Chol-
ett's building. These accommoda-
ions are Of course temporary, and nei-
her firm can say as yet what arrange
nents will be made for carrying on
heir business. Brock Reed expects
o be at work again within a week.
Hiss Thornber has engaged the front
ooms over the post Office for the pres
Mt where she is again ready to re-
Give her many friends.
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
There is no doubt but that the con-
Iagration was the work OF an incendia- Z
y as there has not been q spark of fire
sed in either building for months.
further than this nothing ia known,
S suspicion can attach to no particu-
Ar individual. The lesson of the fire '
) plain enough, and there is no need q
o expatiate on it now. If we can !.
earn it and profit by it, it will be well. r
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Mr.. H. D. Dickson, of Neosho Falls,