Daily Republican., 1884-02-23
LAST NIGHTS FIRE
JOSEPH PYLE'S = Es 1 D = n Q =
BURNED TO THE GROUND
"A DIRECTIVE ELGE.

JOSEPH PYLE'S REs DENC
BURMED TO TINE GROUND
"A DIRECTIVE FLUE.
-~-s-s------
A few minutes after q O'Clock las
night an alarm Of fre was soundet
from signal box Is, Second and Jack
son streets, caused by bright light II
the heavens, which appeared to be OF
the edge of town. The fire department
Immediately responded and the Weoca
coe was soon on the ground, followed
soon after by the Washington steamer
and Fame Hose carriage, the latter's
steamer having come TO stand still at
Front and Adams streets.
Tue run was long one, and very try
Ing on the men and horses pulling the
apparatus.
The fire was discovered te be the
handsome residence of Joseph Pyie, Of
the hrm Of G. 81. Pyle, leather manu-
facturers, situated on West Front street,
just beyond the city limits, and known
as " Cedar Grove" ..,,I
| The fire originated from defective
aue in the dining reom, under which
was large heater, and when the same
was discovered shortly before 6 o'clock,
1t was found that the first floor joists
were ablaze and that the IRE was max
ing rapid strides, despite the efforts Of
those in the vicinity to check the
flames. Samuel Nicholson, . oolored
employee, discovered the fire In the eel.
lar and vainly endeavored to extinguish
1t with buckets of water, ut was unable
to check its wild career. I
Mr.. Harris, Mrs. Pyle's father, dis
covered the fire soon after the colored
man, and lent his assistance, but after
throwing some water upon the burning
timbers they desisted, being unable to
reach the fire, then burning fercely un.
der the floor, while the smoke was
very dense and drove all from the i'm
mediate vicinity. .a.ta.-r-
At the time the fire broke out Mr..
Pyle and his youngest son were away
from home, and the remainder Of the
family, seeing that the old hom estead
was doomed, left the house and sought
shelter at the residence of Mr.. Coley, .
son.in law of Mr.. Pyle, q short distance
below the doomed house.
In their hurry to escape from the burn
ing building they forgot to take any
thing with them. Clement and Lorenzo
Eckman, Charles H. Foulk, Matthew
Dickson and William Gawthrop, car
penters employed on the new house of
William H. Connell, Mr.. Pyle's son.in-
law, left their work, rushed into the
burning building at the risk Of their
lives. and saved all the goods that es-
n Nod h. Aoyvn xnh tnh frs nm
compared with what the house con-
tanned. Some of the kitchen and par
lor furniture were saved, among the
items being the piano, chairs,
sofa, carpet, a few books, the silver
ware in daily use, a large old fas hioned
eight day clock, some carpet, dishes,
and a few other articles.
The remainder of the furniture, all
the clothing belonging to various mem
bers of the family, and all the fami-
ly jewelry, fine silverware. ETC., we're
lost: Among the ejewelry we're three valu-
able gold watches, a silver watch. which
had been in the family for over one
hundred years, valuable pearl, gold
chains, and numerous other articles.
Among the wearing apparel burnt was q
handsome seal skin coat, valuable
dresses. etc. Beds and bed clothing,
together with all the contents of the up-
per floors were entirely consumed.
As soon as it was found that the tire
could not be subdued, the colored man
was dispatched for Mr.. Pyle and to give
the alarm. Mr.. Pyle was driven home
as rapidly as possible, but arrived only
in time to see his once beautiful home
surrounded with lurid sheets of flame,
with no possible chance Of staying the
progress of the devouring element. Mr..
Pyle, however, showed considerable |
nerve under the trying circumstance
and remained exceedingly cool, and
issued orders to his men, who we're en-
deavoring to save the surrounding
from destruction.
In the meantime the fire department,
together with large crowds from the
city. had arrived, and the Weccacoe
steamer having taken possession of the
had stream on the burning building.
The Washington steamer was stationed
1t ditch just below, and succeeded in
forcing stream to the fire, which was
distance away. Tho Vice.
,acoe did effective service from the only
AVAILABLE plug, and kept a constant ]
stream of water on the fire for over two ,
hours, which enabled them to confine
he flames to the one building. The
arge frame stable, situated about 80
eet from the fire, was put to a severe test,
md was only saved by few brave
men, who assembled to the roof, fastened
arpets on the side of the building
earest the fire, ,and kept them saturated
With water secured from tank house r
ear by. n
The burned house was large three
tory frame structure, 39x59 feet, and
ontained seventeen rooms. The third
tory was only completed last fall, at an
xpense of about $4,000. The loss on
ne building was about $12, 900, and on
1e furniture. jewelry, ETC., about
I, 200 more. The insurance is between
900 and $4,000, divided between the 1
.oyal, Queen and Phoenix Insurance
for which L. P. Buck &
ompany, Of this city, are agents.
Mr.. Pyle received many offers of R
'sistance, bat as his three sons. lin law -
we'd close by, he kindly refused the q
fers and took up his residence with -
Is children. Mr.. Pyle will have tho
lins cleared away at once preparatory
rebuilding his residence as soon as
,ssible. The new house will probably
, of brick.
While the building was in flames the A
savens we're illuminated, and crowds
citizens assembled In the vicinity.
In conversation with Mr.. Pyle this
orning in reference to how the Hre
iginated, he did not believe it caught
ON q defective flue, as they were =
oroughly examined last fall and found I
be In an excellent condi dition, while y
due precaution was taken against
9 by leaving the heater properly n
vered and the building protected BY =.
eets of tin around the heater. Il n Dl