Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1894-12-26
Fire at Alya.
Al. D>-f1-1

At three O'Clock this morning the cry
of fire. aroused the people Of Alva
from their slum5ers, to find the whole
town Illuminated by monster blaze.
Looking southwest they saw column
of flame and smoke that made them
heart sick as they realized the truth.
Our new school building, almost COM
pleted aud of which we were so proud,
was seethlng mass of flame and there
was no power to save 1t from complete
destruction. A hundred men were at
the scene ia few minutes, but they
could only watch the flying sparks, the
tongues of flame and the crumbling
walls of our first public ENTERPRISE. 1t
burned like finder, and it was not an
hour from the time the fire was first
discovered until only a smouldering
heap OF brick and embers marked the
spot where yesterday stood the rride of
our town.
OF the origin but little information
can be given. There was no fire inside
and apparently no way in which it
could have been the result of an accl-
dent. Perhaps the first to discover it
was John Williams. who meets the
ESQ train with his bus. He had re.
turned from the depot, The train having
been late. and put away his team. This
was about twenty minutes before three
O'Clock, and he says there was no fire
visible at that time. When he went
into the house he heard = noise like an
explosion, but paid no immediate at
tentiOn to it and went on with his prep.
arationS for bed. After blowing the
light out he discovered the reflection
from the fire and looking out saw that
the Whole upper story was solid blaze.
lie of course set about to arouse the
people but nothing could be accom-
Diished beyond saving a little loose
lumber. The explosion and the rapid
ity with which it burned leads to but
one conclusion, that of incendiarism.
1t had every appearance Of having been
set by gasoline or some equally inflama.
bic material. In this conclusion. how.
ever, the question is asked as to what
purpose such an act could have been
done. There vas no dissatisfaction
with the building, on the contrary ev-
eryone was apparently we'll satisfied
with such good structure at so low a
cost. No cause for such lawiess and
damnable action can be imagined. We
are slow to think that any human be-
ing could have the heart to do such
dastardly deed, but appearances war
rant no other opinion.
The building was nearly completed
and would have been ready for occu-
pancy Immediately after the holiday
vacation. Only the inside furnishing
were to be done, the building being all
completed yesterday, even to the corn
ice work. AS a public calamity the
county has suffered no more serious
loss, and the feelings of the people can
better be imagined than portrayed.
The board had not accepted the build
ing. and under the strict ruling of the
law the contractors and their bonds
men would suffer the entire loss; but
the disposition is to reimburse them in
some way. Being veneered structure
the cost completed was a little less
than So, 200, and it had both the appear.
ance and seryiceability of one costing
three times that amount. Appreciat-
ing the fact that We must have school
house the board will call meeting to
devise plans for future and immediate
action, which move should be backed
by all the enterprise the town can af-
ford. The deplorable loss does not les.
sen the necessity for a school building,
and we hope steps can be taken to i'm
mediately provide for the same.