Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-02-09
FIRE.! FIRE! FREE!
Our Fine opera Block in
fishes.

!
the fire bell. AS usual they were
prompt to respond, and soop large
crowd were hurrylng TO the scene o.
the conhaRration, which even ther
lighted up the whole city. 1t wa:
soon apparent that our beautiful
opera block, the pride of our city
was doomed and, although every
thing possible was done 10 stay the
flames, they soon spread to every
part of the building and in less than
two hours nothing remained but the
bare and blackened walls.
The building was beautiful and
substantial stone structure about Ioc
feet square. The first story con
sisted Of four large business rooms
one of which was vacant. and the
others were occupied by G. & BeS-
tor, groceries and shoes, A. II. LAT
! lin, groceries and hardware, and &.
N. Gibson, dry goods. Most of the
goods were saved except Mr.. Lat
Inns which were entirely consumed
| We understand that MIR. Bestor and
MIR. Gibson were entirely protected
by insurance. Mr.. Lain was insur-
ed to .he amount of s. 900 and will
sustain considerable loss.
The second story was occupied by
the WORLD printing office. Nothing
belonging to this ofSce was saved,
not even the books. The files from
'78 were destroyed. Money never can
replace this loss. The files contain
ed complete history of 1reGo
county from prior TO its organic Ition
down TO the present time. 1t con
tanned a complete records of all the
births, deaths, marriages, TRAGEDIES
elections, improvements. of our
drouths and consequent crop fill
ures, of our boom period when lots
sold by the front foot, in short a
minute accoun! OF the happening OF
the past sixteen years. All gone p
in smoke and an irreparable loss not
only to US but to the citizens of IRE
go county generally. The OmniraCt
office was also on this floor and was
a total loss. Wa-Keeney lodge A.
F. & A. M. occupied the north suite
of rooms on the second floor and
they were elegantly furnished. Moth
ing was saved. Our fine opera hall
was also on this floor and shared the
same fate.
The origin cf the fire is a mystery.
When first d scovered it seemed to
be confined to the stairway on the
east side of the building. Of course
there ale theories, but none of them
seem based on anything tangible and
we might characterize them as con
lectures. The truth will probably
never be known.
The building was erected in 1880
by J + Keeney and others at an esti
mated cost of $4,000 to $4,000
The present owner is P Q Fellows,
of New Hampshire. Owing to the
general depression it is doubtful if it
will be rebuilt. although the walls
seem uRir"paired and the property
was reasonably productive.
All in all, it was the greatest pub
lie calamity that has ever visited our
city and this for the reason before
stated, that it is extremely lmprobA
bic that the block will be rebuilt, at
least not until times are better than
at present. 1t was an ornament and
at the same time it was almost in
aispensable. 1t leaves US without a
public hall, and actuIlly leaves us
without a sufficiencv of suit bile
rooms for Office and business pur.
poses. Following so closely on the
fire OF YEAR ago, when more thln
half the business of the city was de-
stroved, it makes US look desolate
indeed.
Mr. BeStor and Mr.. Gibst n cCCu
Ply Jointly the Schultz building and
will do business there until perma
nent arrangements can be made
We are not informed as to Mr.. LAT
Inns intentions.
The WORLD will continue to 70
tate although we are considerably
dishgured and must, for a shor. time
crave the Indulgence of the public
Phoenix like, we will rise from the
ashes. We have lost orr offce bu
our nerve remains.
To ONNIcRAT PATRONS: We have
been unfortunate in having our plant