Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-11-28
THAT FIRE.

Everyone knows that an EAGLE reporte
cannot get to bed until away into the We
sms' hours Of the night, and that when h
does get there be is wrapped securely in tn
arms of Murphy until the porter fires hin
out of bed TO fish mouthful of coffee from
among the barren precincts of the coffe'
pot and pick his way through the drear,
wastes Of the bread pile or Gil up on recon
structed hash. During the peaceful mo
ments Of his slumbers, he is, as might b,
expected, blissfully oblivious to the doing
Of the outer world, but the first thought thai
occurs to MIN while shaking himself into
his clothes is, what has occurred while he
slept
When the scribe had reached terrs-frms
yesterday morning be was stuffed full Of
wonderful stories Of great fire that had
swept several blocks out Of existence some
where up town. Of course here WAS bo-
nanzs item. On the ruins of that smoldering
pile perhaps column could be written.
Perhaps The sidewalk in the vicinity Of
the ruins might even at that mo-
ment be covered with the black and
charred remains of its victims. The scribe
rushed here and there in search OF pointer
indicating the location where the terrible
confagation had ragged, but all to no pur-
pose Everyone could tell how the hours pro-
ceeding the dawn were made hideous with
the ringing of bells and the screaming of
whistles, but none could tell where
the fire WAS. One said it was a store on
Main street, another was equally positive it
was q residence on Topeka avenue; the next
man had it in a livery stable, another in a
laundry. Then again an old man was met
carrying bag full Of rags on bis back, who
stated that il was ST house in the eI-
treme north end Of Main street and that the
ruin consisted of an old cupboard that had
been scorched and damaged to the amount
Of twenty-eight cents six-seventh Of which
WIS covered by insuradce, SO that the actual
loss was only four cents Finally, after
hours of travel and search, the principal fire,
If there had been more than one, was
brought to bay at the residence of w. S.
Corbett, No. 81, north Topeka svenue.
The origin and discovery of the blaze
savers not a little Of the mysterious and ro-
mantle. Ii occurred in small room near
the rear of the house, used as q bath room
and clothes press. In the room was shelf
oh which family medicines were kept. Mrs.
Corbet entered this room for some medi-
cine shout g. N. She cannot imagine how
she could have set fire to anything in the
room. About g. N. Mr.. Corbet's dog
managed in some way TO open the door
leading into Mr.. Corbet's room, and woke
him Up with barking and other demonstrs-
tons, plainly indicating that something was
wrong. Jumping out Of bed Mr.. Cortet
went into the back room and discovered the
situation just in time TO save two children
from sufiocation. The alarm was given, and
herslded ali over the city. Fortunately the
fire was kept confined to the little room, so
that the flames made but little Roadway. The
damage amounted TO about $500. A feather
bed, two suits Of clothes, a trunk, some bed
clothes and carpets were burned.
That reporter always had vague and in
definite idea that, perhaps one or two in this
city could moi, under certain circumstances, be
relied upon TO tell the truth; but never until
yesterday, did be entertain even a remote
idea that, in this renowned abode of piety,
there existed so healthy and profcien. corps
Of able bodied liars