Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-15
FIVE TIMES BURNED.
Chicora Experiences a Confagration
That Disheartens Citizens.
TWENTY-FOUR HOUSES DESTROYED
An Inflated Town in the. Center Of the
Oil Producing District
CLEARING AWAY DEBRIS AT TITUSvILLE
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE prsPArcH.l

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE pIsPArcH.1
CHIcoRA, PA, June 14-This place, for
the fifth time in its history, had the busi-
ness portion of the town swept out by fire
last night Each time, Pheni1-like, it has
risen from the ashes, but the blow it re-
ceived last night will be one from which it
will not recover. 1t is hardly probable that
any of the "a buildings that went up in
smoke last night will be replaced, owing to
the depression in the oil industry and
several recent financial disasters in the
town. The people were already reduced to
Strengthened circumstances, and last nights
disaster can be regarded as knockout blow,
for the fire-swept district at least
The fire started at midnight in Miss Nc
Ginley's restaurant on West Slippery Rock
street and spread with alarming rapidIty.
The volunteer hose company responded to
the call, but the water pressure was SO light
that little progress was made in staying
the fire. The buildings were old and of
the typical oil country kind and burnt like
tinder Those residing in the vicinity of
the point at which the fire broke out saw
that their houses and stores were doomed
and turned their attention to saving their
effects; The fire communicated to Mrs;
Harris millinery store on the east and
crossed over to the north side of the street,
igniting Aldinger's shoe shop. Both sides of
the street were now ablaze and the deyour-
Ing flames were starting on mad race
toward Main street.
Buildings That Added to the Flames
On the south side the boss grocery build
ing, H. C. Litzinger's grocery store and resi-
dence, Charles Amy's billiard rooms, Pu-
rucker'S meat market and residence, A. B.
Sutton's dwelling, Phillip Schroebel's bar
Der shop and residence, j. B. Bowen's gro
cery and dwelling. S. Frinkles drygoods; E.
+. Hayes. oil well supply and furniture store;
ID. A. Beach, bakery and restaurant. The
postoffice building, H. L. Tavlor's barber
shop the National Transit office and the
Butler County Bank building were de-
stroyed. By most determined effort on the
part OF the citizens the fire was prevented
from crossing over to Main street.
On the opposite side of the street from
rant and residence followed the Aldinger
shoe store then Mrs. Rosch's millinery store
and residence, George Glass grocery store
aad residence, Richard F. Westerman's
Frazier's book and stationery store. The
ForQuer Hotel and contents are almosta a total
loss. DR.. DeWolrs Office and new drug store
were damaged to the extent of s., 500. Smiths
meat market was also badly damaged. At
this point the fire was gotten under control,
the National Transit pump station having
the lines. Had they not resorted to this
measure nothing could have prevented the
town from total destruction.
The Loss and Insurance.
The loss to buildings and contents will
reach nearly $4,000, upon which there was
an insurance of less than $1,000 E. Fl. Hayes
had 5000 on a $4,000 stock, DR.. De Wolf
50. 500 on S., 600 stock, s. Frankie 81, 500 on
So 900 stock, George Glass $500 on 81, 500
stock. On the buildings there was no in
surance. The heaviest losers are D. Aid
niger, G. F. Fetzer and H. Frederick. The
origin of the fire is a mystery, but it is sup
posed to have been caused by a lamp e1-
ploding in the Mckinley restaurant. Owing
TO the high rite OF insurance-8 per cent
and the great depression, but few were pro-
tected against fire. Millerstown, or recently
Chicora. as it has been named, came into
prominence as the center OF the oil develop
n.ent in Butler county early in the '70's.
1t had n phenomenal growth, and at one
time it had population OF more than 5000.
With the disappearance OF the oil excite
ment it has now dwindled down to little
more than 600 inhabitants.
1t received its first baptism of fire on the
morning of April l. 1874. It started in the book
house and seven lives were lostand the whole
business part of the town was laid in ashes.
A year later another conflagration broke
out and swept awayS30, 900 worth OF property.
On December 6. 1871, it was again visited
and this disaster wiped out $500 900 worth of
property in less than three hours. Again
IN 1854 it was visited, entailing q loss of $780,
oo0. The fire last night, while less in magni-
tude than some of the former disasters. will
be more deeply felt on account of the re-
duced circumstances of the sufferers. A
subscription was started last last night and
$500 was raised for the most needy.