, 1889-12-21
10 HORSES BURNED.
Fierce Fire in the Barn of the John
L. Murray Transfer Line.
Horses. Hay, Grain and Other Prop.
erty Destroyed.
Loss of Property Fully 81, 500, but
Some Insurance Carried.

All the horses, a large amount of haA
and much other property used in j. L.
murray's extensive transfer business,
together with the big frame stable. corner
Bent and Seventeenth, wers destroyed by
fire last night. The building was the
property of Ellis and Dyer.
Flames were discovered a short time
after 10 o'clock and a general alarm
quickly brought the hose and hook and
ladder companies and an immense throng
of people to the scene.
Fire seemed to be in progress in all
parts of the building and water had no
apparent effect until portions of the walls
were torn down by the hooks.
Desperate efforts were made to save the
thirteen splendid horses in the barn, but
nearly every one of the grand animals
persisted in their stalls. John Chenery,
of THE LEADER, led one of the horses to
the door. when it became panic-stricken
and with a wild snort, wheeled and disap-
peared il the flames and smoke.
The dense smoke soon overcame the
horses. but several of the animals were
heard to WINNER piteously until they be-
came exhausted.
Firemen fought the sparks and smoke
for two hours. A high wind prevailed
and there was at one time considerable
danger to a number of frame structures
to the South and East, as the breeze was
in that direction.
The property loss is quite heavy. Mr..
Murray is poorer by at least $1,000 this
morning than he was twenty four hours
ago. The thirteen horses were perhaps
the best draft animals in the territory.
One big gray cost $500 and his sorrel
mate 1925, while &C. Charlton reluctantly
accepted $500 for the team of dapple
grays that draw the s~prinkling cart. All
the other horses were good ones.
A car load of hay was placed in the
barn only a few days since and 1000
pounns of grain were received a sort time
ago. All this was destroyed, together
with all the horses, a grading outfit of
wheel scrapers, plows and shovels and the
sprinkling cart, which was built here.re-
Gently at a cost of $3.50. Besides, there
were picks and shovels and other tools
and odds and ends, with complete ap-
paratus for house and safe moving.
A portion of Mr.. Murray's property
was insured, 50. 900 being carried on the
horses and harness.
The building was a substantial two
story frame. about 100 feet long and thirty
wide. 1t was built for an ice house about
thirteen years ago. Ellis & Dyer carried
certainly 5000 and 1t is thought 81, 200
insurance on the structure. 1t was worth
81, 800.
There will be an investigation as to the
origin of the fire of which positively moth
ing is known. Mr.. Murray left the stable
at $50 and Mike Seegar. his foreman,
was there two hour later. The place was
lighted with candles in safety holders. 1t
may be that sparks came from some Of
the chimneys to the direct north. There
Is a large bunch OF small houses in that
locality.
The fire incidents were accidental wet,
ting of spectators by the hose companies
and stories about rescue of gray horses.
but these latter were only speculations.
Mr.. Murray sain last night hat the fire
would not interrupt the business, that as
all the wagons we're saved he would get
another barn and hire and buy horses
until he again had a complete transfer
line.