Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-12-27
MAP OF THE BURNED DISTRICT.

j
lower oil field, and the best oil market IN
the country, has gone the way Of all min
ing townsville greater part Of it is IN
ashes.
II was built Of wood, the wood was old
and dry and once a fire well started in it
with high wind blowing, the people were
helpless
Early last Sunday morning flames were
discovered issuing from the roof of the
Dill building, at the southwest corner of
Railroad and Main SITS, part Of which was
occupied BIZ s. s. Klingensmith as gro
Gerry and part by Mr.. Foster as billiard
room. Nobody was in the Klingensmith
part Of the building at the time, and the
supposition is that some one had robbed the
store and then set fire to il 70 conceal his
crime.
A strong wind was blowing from the
southwest and the building was entirely
enveloped in few minutes then the
flames spread to the right to Chesebro's
store and jumped across the street to one
Of Rosenberg's buildings. 4 rope was
passed around Chesebro's store, q lOcomo-
tive was hitehcd to the rope, and Chese-
bros store was pulled into the creek, and
the Argyle Savings Bank building was sav-
ed by wet blanket. and carpets, but across
the street the flames ievoured building
after building going east until Toronski's
residence was reached. There was va
cant space between it and the Pipe Line
Office, and it also was saved by wet car
pets and blankets, and the progress Of the
flames in that direction stopped. But the
Wild shifted to the east and the flames
started westward, and destroyed every
building on both sides of Main st. to Fair
view and Argyle SIS, which branch of
from the west end Of Main, and also ran up
Argyle and destroyed several residences
there, and Campbell & Byers livery.
In little over an hour, the greater part
of Petrolia was in ashes The flames spread
50 rapidly that people were glad to escape
with their lives, and it was fortunate in
deed that there was no loss Of life. Pat
Doyle's dog probably saved his masters life.
Pat was sound asleep in his building, and
was somewhat stupefed by the smoke and
gases, but the dog bit and pulled at him
till be got him to his senses. a valuable
dog was burned in the hotel. Some anus
ing though sorrowful incidents are told Of
the escaping people. A barber who had
saved sl60. gave it to his wife and she hid
q. .m. IL r. -. 1stvt IN
the hurry and excitement Of escaping she
grabbed the wrong glass and left her mon
ey behind to be burned.
No water Of any account couid be had.
There seemed to be none in the reservoir,
and when the fire pump was started no
pressure could be obtained. This was ac-
counted for Afterwards by the fact that
stop-cock on the line had been unscTcwed
and removed, and that thus the water
forced into the line ran back into the
creek. The town had fire department
but it was not in good shape that night.
Mr. Burnett Of the Central Hotel is said
TO be the heaviest loser. His loss is put at
$1,000, with no insurance. But two trunks
were taken from the mouse.
The loss Of Mr.. Chessbro, the merchant,
is put at sl0, 600. with 5000 insurance; II.
A. Elingensmith's at $1,000, with :2i00 in
surance, Jamison's at 5000, partly insured;
Borchardt's at $1,000, with little insur
ance; Fosters (druggist) at $4,000. with
$1,000 insurance; Campbell d Byers at
$1,000. with 500 insurance; j. II. Camp
bells at $1,000; Kilchenstcin's at $4,000.
500 insurance; Foote's at 5000, partly in
sured; Hawks at $1,000 and no insurance;
Masonic Hall at $1,000 and insured for that
amount; 5. s. Klingcnsmith's at $4,000, no
insurance; Ireland & Hughs' at $4,000, no
insurance; STAIRS at $1,000 no insurance;
Rosenberg $1,000, with 800 insurance;
Burk harts at $1,000, no insurance. The
other losses run from $500 to $1,000, wi tn
but little if any insurance. The rate for
the town was per cent, and few compa-
nies cared 10 take risks there at that. Most
of the insurance there was placed by Mr.
Findlay, of Franklin.
fcirolia has been scorchcd several times,
but this fire exceeds all others ia extent.
Some forty buildings in all were burned,
and as the business OF the town has de-
creased ii Is not probable that all will be
rebuilt. The town had its boom in the
early seventies when the wonderful Fourth
sand cross-belt was discovered, discov-
cry, that made the supply OF oil seem mex
h haustablc, and put the price down to 40
cc.4 Il a barrel. II was a sorry discovery
for some Of our local spectators, who
were bankrupted by it,