The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-12-10
TIoNEsTA's BIGGEST BLAZE
Three Of her Main Business Blocks
Licked up by the Fiery
Elements.


fire was heard in our borough, and of
course in a very few moments almost
the entire populace was on the rnu.
The fire, which proved the most de.
structive that has ever occurred in our
town, originated in the J. M. Kepler
building, occupied by David Barnett
as a general merchandising establish.
ment, aud dwelling; also by Mr.. Ralle,
the matchmaker, and by Sires' photo.
graph gallery up stairs. When dis
covered it had gained too much head
way to be controlled, and it was very
evident that all the adjacent buildings
must 60 with it. The whole inside of
the building was literally packed with
smoke before any flame was visible,
and 10 get in to save anything or even
to discover where the blaze was, would
have been physical impossibility.
The work of saving other property
was then begun, and the first efforts
we're directed toward saving the house.
hold goods of Joseph Clark, who oc.
cupied the dwelling portion of the
Acomb building, all of which was
accomplished in very short time.
Next came q. w. Bovard's grocery,
drug, and feed store, which was riddled
of its contents as fast as willing work.
ers could do it. Also Mrs. Bovard's
fine stock Of millinery goods, occupy.
ing the second story of the building.
During all this time the flames were
spreading very rapidly, and the work
of fighting them with oil the persist.
ency Of determined men was bravely
carried on. At one time it looked as
though the Lawrence House, opposite
Barnett's store, must surely succumb
to the flames, but trifliDg shifting of
the little breeze that was stirring saved
it, with no further damage than a Sc
we're blistering of the front. 1t was
evident to all that when the FIRE should
reach Bovard's building it would take
extraordinary efforts to save the Law
renee q Smearbaugh store building
directly opposite, and bot for the fore
thought and prompt action in getting
the entire front curtained with carpets
and the organization of a good water
brigade to keep the carpets thorough.
ly saturated it would have gone with
the rest. AS it was, it was not so
much as scorched.
The NJ. Z. Church, just south Of
Bovard's, had very narrow escape.
The snow on the roof and the brick
wall helped to protect the edfice, al.
though the cornice and bell tower were
somewhat scorched.
During all the commotion the fire
extiDguisher was kept in play with
very little delay in reflling, while the
three small ones did good service.
The stiffness of the morning was one
of the lucky features, for it wouldn't
have taken much wind in almost any
direction to have carried the flames
to other buildings and caused much
greater loss.
The origin of the fire is unknown,
but that it started in the rear of Mr..
Barnett's store, in what he used as a
sort of wareroom there is scarcely any
doubt. Those who arrived at the
scene first found almost the entire
building filled with sitting smoke but
could see no fame; so sitting was the
smoke that one could not endure il
long enough to go 10 and investigate,
and the first sign of blaze was
through the crack over the door in the
rear of the building leading from the
wareroom mentioned. Mr.. Barnett is
unable to account for the fire, and says
his first intimation Of anything wrong
was on being wakened by bis brother
in.law, young man who clerks for
him, and who was sleeping in the same
bed with him. AT that time the room
was filled with smoke, and all be could
do was to grab his trousers and vest
and make his escape. He had return,
ed on Sunday evening from TitusvilIe,
where bis wife aud children are visit.
ing.
Mr.. Ralle, who occupied the room
adjoining the store on the north side
and sleeps in the rear end of it, says
he was awakened by hearing some.
thing drop, and raised his head to
listen for the cause, when he noticed
his lamp, which he had left burning
was almost invisible, and at that mo.
ment he discovered the smoke in his
room. Without waiting to dress he