The Somerset reporter., 1890-02-20

Morrison Block Burned.
Four STORES, ONE LAW OFFICE, AND
LAUNDRY DESTROYED.
PLENTY OF WATER Al HAND.

PLENTY OF WATER Al HAND.
The Old Morrison Block was complete
ly Quilted by fire and the rear portion OF
1t burned to the ground Monday morning
The fire was evidently caused by want Of
care in starting fire In stove in Hill
mans store about $50 in the morning
Mr. Hillman had made arrangement t.
hold an auction in Ilartland Monday
evening and got around earlier than US
ual to get ready to start across the coun-
try to that village with load of goods.
He SAYS he started a fire In his usual
way gathering up some paper, waste ex-
celsior etc. put it In the stove with kindl-
ing wood, pouring little Kerosene on 1t
to ensure its burning, scratched match
and touched it off and then went out of
the room. He was gone about 3 minutes
and when he returned the room was in o
blaze. The stock of goods and the
structure of the store were such that II
spread rapidly and when the fire depart
ment got on the ground the nre was well
distributed through the rear and center of
the building and burning tiercely The
building was old, the partitions light and
many of the goods highly comhustible.
The fire department was on the ground
Ia good season, but there was consider
able delay in getting the hose placed and
getting water on from the hydrants. one
hydrant started little harder than was
expected and the word was given out
that it was frozen, but every hydrant,
when properly handled, responded
promptly with two streams, under splen-
did pressure until the number reached 10
from the hydrants and two from the
steamer The number could have been
increased to 20 easily but for lack of
nozzles. The department is long on hose
but trine short on play-pipes and noz-
zles Those used were not all at hand on
the start, which also caused some delay.
The flremcn worked energetically and
are entitled to much credit for their
prompt response to the call and the
splendid work they put in all the way
through. Fortunately they have had lit
tie experience of late in fighting fires and
when this is taken into consideration it
makes their effective work at this one all
the more to their credit. The Force
pump at the mill was gotten under way,
and used to ill the cistern from which
the steamer played.
The sufferers by the fire are: Nor
rison & Mcclellan, the building, insur-
ance 81 900; L. L. Morrison, stock, in
surance $1,000; E. S. Prescott, stock,
insurance Sl000 K. S. Hilman, stock,
insurance $500; r. 7. Patten, stock,
insurance, 81 600; Danforth & Gould, law
library and furniture, insurance 5000 /;
Sam Lee, Laundry, slight loss, no insur
ance; Mrs. NJ. A. Taylor, who had rooms
in the building, lost furniture, clothing
and a sum of money, had no insurance.
Morrison < McClellan's store house was
also 'smaged somewhat, with the goods
therein by fire and water, insured.
The salvage on the the stocks of goods
in all the stores except r. S. Hillman
and X. T. Patterns will make the insur-
ance cover the damage.
Morrison Block was one of the oldest
buildings on Water Street, and not the
best looking among the old ones. One of
our Oldest residents says it was built in
1928. The site is splendid location for
fine business block, and one will doubt
less be erected there the coming season.