Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-01-30
REDUCED TO ASHES.

Tuesday morning last, about half
an hour after leaving my residence for
the NEWS Office, Mr.. Ira g. Perkins,
while on his way up town, discovered
that the eastern portion Of my house
was on fire near the top. He at once
gave the alarm and with the help Of q
few men who were yet about home
worked manfully to save my personal
effects. When discovered, few men
with q ladder, al axe or two and q
small quantity of water could doubt
less have saved the main part Of the
building, hut all these being lacking
just at the right time there was uoth-
ing to do but stand aside as the flames
advanced. When I learned of the
disaster the main building was mass
of fire and my friends had long since
been forbidden TO enter by the advanc-
ing flames. The principal part Of our
household goods were saved, but many
articles of value and dearly beloved
keepsakes lie buried among the ashes.
As Ihad just purchased The property
aud moved into it only twenty days
before, the loss Is severe one and felt
most keenly. 1t was the first roof l
had slept under In all my life which l
could with pride and happiness call
lpy own, aud after paying an average
q abolht one hundred dollars per year
rea a,duh'ing the past ten years in Bax-
ter Spr..ngs believe my friends will
join ine IN the thought that l had good
cause to feel happy.
But it is gone. A defective fue at
the east end of the ell addition, used
for dining room and kitchen, was the
cause of the fire, without doubt, and
the more we grieve the more we may.
Such accidents or incidents cannot he
foreseen or successfully warded of,
and without some great aud we may
say desperate effort upon our part our
home is gone never 10 return. We
have sustained q loss of fully five
hundred dollars, probably more, but
this, though 1t makes us feel about as
jay Gould would should he have one
hundred and fifty millions of his hard
earned dollars suddenly swept away,
docs not wholly daunt US, and through
the help of our friends we hope to re-
gain ere long at least q good part OF
what has been lost.
With many of our friends and pat.
rons OF the News we have been lenlent
(perhaps too much so for our own
good) aud the result is that we have
several hundred dollars Of outstand.
ing accounts, none of them singly large
enough 10 make any ordinary man
poor 10 pay or rich to receive. For
the payment of these accounts we
shall now make an emphatic demand
because we feel that we need them
more than ever before, and we must
have them paid if possible, and we
know that In most cases 1t Is not only
possible but the amounts can be more
easily paid BY the individuals than l
eau afford TO lose one hundred dollars
much less five times that amount.
Therefore, ask now that each and
every person indebted TO me IN any
manner or in any amount make an eff
fort TO pay the same at the earliest
possible time. If you have not the
money bring me something which l
-may use or turn into money. / am
not particular what it is, but of course
money is what will do me the most
good. -.
n number of the friends of myself
aud family IN Baxter have come nObly
to our rescue and about made good the
loss we sustained in the way of cloth
ing, household goods and edibles, for
which we feel exceedingly grateful
and to all of whom we hereby extend
our sincere thanks coupled with the
wish that their lives may ever be free
from the pangs and bitter experiences
connected with the devastation of an
uncomfortable fire.
With thanks TO all for past favors
remain, Truly yours,
NJ. ii. GARDNER.