Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-12-31

| little that might feed the names ana
lead them to the immense structure q
few feet away. Once more the course Of
the flames was successfully obstructed.
and Custer was saved from . calamity
infinitely greater than that which did
befall her.
1t was thus that our people passed the
first hours of their Christmas morning.
The morning Of that day which should
bring peace and good will to all man
kind. Good will there was without
limit, and good works as we'll. but the
scene was any thing but peaceful one.
Such scene was never before witness.
ed within the confines of our city. and
God grant that similar one may never
be again. The memory of those three
long hours will remain with the, f5@st
majority through life. Called from the
quiet Of their homes in the dead Of
night to battle with the ruthless flames
hundreds Of men and women, handi-
capped by lack of means Of defence,
watched the bowling, twisting tongues
Of fire lick up and devour with insati-
able appetite, the sources of their livsli-
hood, and that which they had spent
many year in accumulatlng.
1t was nearly five o'clock in the morn
ing when the walls Of the last burning
building fell in, and the tired citizens
realized that their efforts had saved the
rest Of the town from the destructive
hames. A few remained TO watch the
smouldering ruins, and the others re-
turned to their homes to secure the brief
rest 80 much needed.
There will probably always be a
doubt In the minds Of the great majority
of the people of Custer, as to where and
how the fire originated A number Of
those who were first on the scene are
positive that the Wells building was
the only one on fire when they arrived
while others assert with equal conf
dence that the Red Front was the only
one b..rning. One thing is certain. the
flames had gained great headway when
discovered, and there is no way OF tell
ing whether the fire was the work OF an
incendiary. or the result Of an accident.
BUSINESS RESUMED.
As soon az morning had fairly dawn
ed, those whose places of business had
been destroyed were looking up other
locations, moving what remained Of
their stocks, and with genuine western
pluck getting ready to go to work again
and regain that of which they had been
80 suddenly deprived.
S. N. Fitch opened up the fre-proof
Monday morning, and found the goods
stored there i'm good shape, sithough the
fire had eaten its way under the struct-
ure and up through the floor. The air
i'm the room was too close for it to 60
any further and it died out witb5it
doing any damage there. Mr.. Fitch re.
moved this part of his stock, together
with what was saved from the main
building, into the Reynolds building
cas-, of the postoffice, and .hough keenly
feeling his heavy loss, he is right on deck
and ready to supply the needs Of his
customers.
w. F. Wells has opened up his barber
shop and bakery in the rooms adjoining
! Webster's.
H.F. Lake, Kimble, Carr & Co. and
toe Telephone Co. are permanently
located in the Haserodt building. one
door west of Hiedepriem's.
w. A. Smith has moved his stock into
rooms in the lower story Of the Vienna
block, and just as soon as the adjuster
has looked over the damaged goods
and figured up the loss, Mr.. Smith will
be ready for business again.
Koppelkom & Blaine have moved into
their old quarters, east of the CHRoSIcLs
Office.
Bailey & Co.'S immense stock or what
was left oft has been stored In the Van
Devort building one door east Of the
postoffice. The frm will not attempt TO
do any business until their loss has been
adjusted, and then will probably secure
more commodious quarters.
Mrs. ii. A. Athens stock of dry goods
has all been removed from the brick
store back to the Annex.
Doug. Greenwood, the barber is doing
business in the building west Of Gar.
locks.
| THE LOSS ESTIMATED.
The morning after the fire it was
roughly estimated that the total loss
would be covered by $4,000 but close
figuring has increased rather than de-
creased the amount, and it will be
$4,000 in round numbers. with less than
half that amount Of insurance. The fol.
lowing figures are given by the differ.
ent individuals who suffered Losses
heavy and light;
s. N. Fitch, building and stock $4,000
No insurance.
Bailey & Co.. stock destroyed and
damaged, 81, 10000. 100000 insurance
| Mrs. M. X. Gardner, NONRESIDENT
building occunied BY Bailey 4 Co.
$l,5OO.OO. Insurance $4,000.
! Mrs. w. Ward. building occupied t.!
Kimble, Carr & Co., H. F. Lake ant
telephone exchange, 100000. No In
surancc.
H. r. Lake, stock damaged and dc
stroysd. $4,000. Insurance $4,000.
w. F. Wells. household goods AM
stock, $4,000. No insurance.
} Bliss estate, two buildings. 81 1000
No insurance.
}, w. Smith. stock damaged and d.
stroyed 100000. Fully insured.
Denis Carrigan, vacant building, t50(
} No insurance.
! Oscar Silver. building. occupied BY "
> A. Smith, $4,000. Insured.
. G. NJ. Henderson & Co., NONRESIDENT
building, vacant, $4,000. No INSURANCE
Koppelkom 4 BlaiLe, stock $S00s)
. No insurance.
= Kimbls, Carr 4 Co.. stock damags
Z and destroyed. sSoO0O. Insured.
Mrs. II. A. Albien. damage 70 stcc
}. 10000. Insured.