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

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S. d. Porter, sssaying outfit, $500.
No insurance.
Mrs S. NJ. Booth. building, $4,000.
No insurance.
G. A. Hassrodt, damage to building,
$4,000. No insurance.
w. 8. Wood, records and papers, 500.
No insurance.
D. w. Webster, damage TO building.
$500. Insured.
Jas. Cochran, damage TO building, $50.
Insured.
Z. r. Taylor. damage TO iewelry stock,
5000. No insurance.
Doug. Greenwood, barber outfit, $50.
No insurance.
A. J. Mills, personal property, $500.
No insurance.
E. B. Tuthili, personal property. $50.
The total destruction of eleven OF
Clusters business houses, ard the par
tial destruction of almost as many stocks
OF goods is necessarily severe blow 10
the town. but IL will not impede her
progress in the slightest degree, and
the evil results Of the great fire will soon
be eradicated. Our business men,
some Of whom have lost heavily are
proving the soiidity Of the foundations
on which they built, by the promptness
with which they are making prepara-
tions to resume their business. Within
week or ten days from the date of the
conhagration each and everyone Of
them will be selling goods as If nothing
had happened. The good effects of the
fire, If we may venture to call them
such at this time, when IL is difficult to
realize that there could be any bene-
fetal results, will be apparen mt from time
to time in the months 10 come. The
burned district includes some of the
most valuable building sites IN the
town, and sooner or later their value
will be enhanced and the appearance of
the Avenue improved by the erection
of new and more substantial buildings.
II the nonresident owners do not feel
like making the improvements, their
property will in all probability pass into
the hands Of others who will build.
Already the erection Of number of
new buildings is talked of, though it is
hardly probable that more than two or
three will be commenced before spring.
Another beneficial result will be the
taking of immediate steps to provide
the city with fire fighting apparatus of
some sort, and thus preclude the posi-
bility Of another fire still more disastrous
than the one through which We have
just passed. If the citizens Of Custer
have been negligent in the past, it is no
reason for concluding that they will
continue 30. Our city has suffered the
experience which Was an inevitable
result of existing conditions. The lesson
that has been learned by others before
us, has been taught to us. and it has not
been in vain. There is no time to be
wasted in regretting the mistakes Of the
past, and We are happy to say that there
seems to be no disposition TO do so. II
is our duty to take care of the future.
Let it be done without delay.
INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE.
1t was difficult matter TO wake peo-
Pile up Sunday morning. Most Of them
had been out late to the entertainments
the evening before, and consequently
were sleeping soundly when the alarm
was sounded. Probably one third ofthe
residents ofth city were not awakened
at all, and knew nothing Of the fire un-
ill il was all over.
If Custer Fire and Hose Co. No. was
disorganized as it purported to be some
time ago, it proved a pretty lively corpse
Sunday morning The laddies were in
the thickest Of the fight from first to
last, and worked with their old time
system and vigor.
Something was the matter with the
fire bell when the first attempt was
made to ring it. and it responded rather
feebly to the vigorous tugs at the rope.
II was then that a certain we'll known
lady of the city, who was among the
FIRST on the scene, mounted TO the roof
of Athens store and with the aid of a
hammer sounded the alarm that awoke
so many from their slumbers. 1t was
one Of the countless heroic deeds for
which the mothers. wives aud daughters
will be remembered as long as memory
last.
ID. w. Webster did effective service
with . couple of Babcock extinguishers
which he always keeps ready for use in
his store. All through the fire he kept
the front of his building and the two
adjoining ones saturated with the
chemical solution. and without doubt
prevented their destruction.
The boys made q royal stand at the
alley between the Red Front and the
Bliss building. Though their hands
and faces were blistering and their
clothing smoking ana scorchine. they
faced and fought the sesthing flames
until tottering walls forced them back
It is safe to say that with the assistance
Of . small chemical engine they could
have prsyentsd the frs crossing the
alley.
No really dangerous casualties occur
Cd during the 6re, but any number o
persons experienced the unpleasant
effects of ovsr-sxsrtions and injuries
more or less serious. Steve Ainsiey wal
overcome by the heat. and had to b,
carried from the roof on the building
whore he was working. w. II. Peter
sons face was severely burned, and b,
| will carry the Icars ~ reminders of hi
nights work for many months. w. 7
Ellison. who had not been feeling YER,
we'll previous TO the Ore, assisted Il
1 Eys-lA -f ~ q -~..~Ls n