The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-10-05
CONSUMED BY FIRE.
Valuable Stock Burned at
the Fair Grounds.
A Bad Fire Breaks Out in the
Cattle Stalls
And Number of Fine Animals
Perish in the Flames.

Marrow Escape Of Mr.. John Downes, of
Minerva, Who Attempts to Save His
Stock and ia Himself Burned-The Fair
Management Acts Promptly.
A disastrous and what would have been
o most discouraginR fire, had not tue
directory OF the Stark County Agrtcul-
tursl Society been men who act quickly
and decisively, occurred az the fair
grounds last night. Az about7 o'clock all
was quiet and there was no sign OF
trouble. Al 7:20 o'clock q slight blaze
was noticed In one of the stalls at the
south east end of the grounds. Five
minutes later 200 feet of stock barns and
fence was blazing briskly. The fire sped
with amazing rspidity and In an incred-
IDLY short space Of time the buildings and
fence were in ruins. Nor was the loss
confined to the buildings.
Officers Of the grounds male every
effort TO save the stock but at
best all of them could not
have been saved. Ia the sheds tnat were
not on FIRE we're large number of cattle
and these were turned loose aud started
pell nell over the grounds. Those IN the
burning stalls could yet be saved but
some of them broke loose and saved them.
selves. A few others were turned loose
and others burned.
John Downes, of Minerva, was in one
OF the stalls where he had some fine stock.
He bad marrow escape from being
burned TO death himself. He rushed out
and aaw that all was ablage and then
tried to save his cattle aud horses. He
succeeded ia measure, but in saving
one of his valuable horses was terribly
burned about the arms. His clothing was
also burned.
Six valuable cattle belonging to Mr..
Downes made an awful outcry as the
flames reached them but there was no
haln M thann and TDpFiahQn- Hhav
were very tlne ones and the loss
20 Mr.. Burns In great. A flne team Of
horses was being ex xhibitsd by Mr. Downes,
aud II Is stated that they were among the
very finest on the grounds. One OF them
was saved but the mate perished.
The Stark county infrmary had on ex-
hibition number OF cattle that were pre-
MUM takers. Five of them were burned,
entailinR big loss.
Ed. Tressler, of Waynesburg, exhibited
the finest Holstein heifer at tue fair, but
all effort to get the animal out OF the
burning stalls was unavailng, and It's
chArred remains were among the debris
after all was over. A splendid bull, one
of Mr.. Downeb's herd, was found outside
OF the fire ii mes, badly burned. II was
killed 20 put is out Of misery.
The large dehorned Jersey bull owned
by Carroll county man and in charge OF
Mr. Downes OF that county, was killed
early Thuraday morning. Nix. Charles II.
Fcazer, of the Humane Society, decided
InAt this should be done az he was SO
badly burned and suffering terribly. DR..
McQuait and others we're of the same
opinion az Mr.. Frazer. Another Jersey
owned by Mr.. Alex Wise, badly burned,
was ordered put into box stall. DR.. Nc
Quait said he was not suffering to any
great extent and thought he could bring
him through.
Henry Martin, OF Mapleton, lost two
sets Of harness and there were other
losses. A. horse, whose owner had not
claimed him this morning, was found In
the ruins. All told there were about six
teen cattle and two horses burned. The
sheds we're total loss, an was the fence.
The entire fire department OF the city
responded to an alarm and did splendid
work In keeping the flames from spreads
ing. The cattle and horses In all parts OF
the grounds made terrible noises and
there was general pandemonium. Race
horses which were in stalls about 300
yards from the western extent OF the ter
ritory burned were either taken out OF the
stalls or kept In readiness for such action
should the fire have spread further.
The fire was not out before Secretary
John Hay and Superintendent ShAub had
decided upon immediate action. Fire.
men played streams OF water upon the
burning embers and soon the last spark
was extinguished. Work of clearing up
the burned district commenced at once.
A fence with wire and Stats was soon In
place, and by q, m. all was In readi-
ness for the exhibition of today. The |
prompt action on the part fair manager
ment received general commendation.
The origin of the fire 10 q mystery. Many |
opinions are offered. Some boys were |
noticed back of the sheds, on Mahoning |
street, but they may be innocent of the |
origin of the blaze. A gentleman who |
lives near the fair grounds says that the |
fire started in one of the stalls.