The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-03-20
THE FIRE FiEND
Visits Salisbury on Monday Night
and Wipes Out Loechel's Hotel
and Number Of Business
Houses and Residences.
LOSS BETWEEN $4,000 AND $4,000

The ancient village of Salisbury was the
scene ofa disastrous confiagra;ion Mon
day night, when all ofthe buildings on
the west side of Main Street between c.
1. Hays hotel aud Union street. aud all
o. the houses ON the opposite side of the
street between the late residence ofSamuel
tilotieliy and Union street, were wiped
from the face of the earth forever.
The buildings burned were Lochel's
new hotel, Saylor's & Livengood's cloth
ing house, Beachy Bros. hardware estab-
lishment, the DR.. Stutzman property. Dr.
! Speicher's handsome new residence aud
drug store, building occupied 10y Me-
henzie's saddiery and Shorts barber
shop, and the residence of Mrs. Oliver p.
Boyer.
The total loss is estimated at between
$4,000 and $1,000, partially covered by
insurance
| As near as can be learned the fire was
first discovered at a. IN. 10y Dr. Speieher.
whose attention was attracted by bright
glare in the office of p. l.. Liyengood's Ssar
job printing Office. located on the oppo-
site side OF the street from his residence.
over Saylor & Livengood's clothing
house. An alarm was raised AZ once but
the towns people were slow about re-
spending, and before twenty of them had
collected at the scene the entire building
was mass OF flames. The air was calm
and crisp but the fire soon created dragi
aad in remarkably short time the
HaImcs had leaped across the street and
communicated with DIR. Spcicher's resi-
dence, and few minutes afterwards
hal communicated with the adjoining
baildings.
The only means at hand for fighting the
fire demon was a bucket brigade, and
while the people of the town exerted
their best efforts to conquer the flames.
ali attempts proved futil until after all of
the buildings mentioned had crumbled
in ashes. \ frame building occupied by
W. J. Lichty's eating house, was torn
down in order to keep the flames FROM
communicating with other buildings on
the east side OF Main street.
The entire population of the town and
many people from the surrounding coun-
try, who had been attracted by the smoke
and flames, turned out and helped to
fight the fire and assisted in saving
household goods and merchandise from
destruction. Very little OF the latter.
however, was carried out Of the burning !
baildings, and much OF the household |
furniture saved was badly damaged.
At 2.39 \. NJ. the fire had spent its fury
but the people clustered around the
smouldering timbers until daylight
dawncl. Tho people of the town opened |
their homes to their unfortunate neigh
bors and provided places in which to store
the goods that had been saved.
The Loechel Hotel was erected less than
two years ago by Henry LocheI, who was
conducting IT at the time Of the fire. II
was a large frame structure, i:9ited by
steam and well-oquipod for entertaining
the public.
Ssyior and Livengood's clothing estab-
lishment was one OF the largest in the
south OF the county ana carried an inn
mcnse stock of goods.
Tns entire plant OF the Sior job printing
Office was wiped ont, entailing heavy
loss Oh the owner, Mr.. Il. /. Livengood,
late editor Of the sparkling Salisbury
SCR.
Beachy Bros hardware hoase. carried one
OF the largest lines of hardware, asricul-
tural implements, &c., in the county, and
was one of the most lourishing establish
ments in the Elk Lick region. The loss
10 this firm was very heavy, probably
Sls,091; insurance SS.0J0. Many OF the
people present at the fire hesitated about
entering the hardware store on account
OF the explosives contained therein, and
it Is perhaps as well that they did, because
when the stock of cartridges. powder and
oils, exploded, the noise and rattle Great
ed was deaicning and rcsembied the firing
Of artillery.
DR.. \. l.. SpeicheT's residence was com |
pleied since the first of the year. Ii was
fitted mp with modern Improvements and
WAS one of the most convenient and valn-
able properties in Sllisblry. 1t is re-
ported here that the DIR. clrried 5000 in
surance on his building, which will cover
only a little more than one half Of his to-
tai loss.
Mrs. Boyer's residence was a conven-
iently located frame building, erected Il
number Of years ago, and was one OF the
most comfortable homes in the town.
The other buildings destroyed, excepting |
the unOccupied brick residence of the |
late DR. S.utzman. were Of less value.
Elder John =. Davis. Of the Brethren |
Church, whose home i in Elk Lick
township. was a guest AZ Loecheis hotel. |
He was not aroused Until after the flames |
had commenced TO dcvo1r the building, |
and before he could adjust his clothing |
he became so agitatei that he experience |
ed some difficulty in escaping from the
Burning house.
The origin Of the fire is not known, but |
there is no doubt about its having been |
first discovered in the Office of the Star !
job printing Office. Mr.. Livcngood, the |
proprietor, was ia his Office some time |
earlier in the night, blt the fire had not /
asserted itself at that time.
The buildings were right in the heart Of /
the town and were among the most val |
liable properties i'm Salisbury. The loss |
20 the owners is helvy. bu: since they are |
most all active, erterprising business men |
il is more than probable that they will |
erect new houses on the old sites IS soon /
as possible.
An5sTson's Salty Dose.
4 djsnat.b from Nalparais0. Iud.. Mon /