The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-27
Business Portion Of
Dalton in Ashes.
ORIGIN IS A MYSTERY
First Discovered in the Postoffice-.
Occupants Barely Escaped With
lives..No Way Of Fighting
FIames..LoSs Will Reach
at Least $4,000.


issuing from f. l.. Van Fleets store,
stopped the train and sounded both
whistles continuously. with the result
that some Of the inhabitants were
aroused. and the alarm was instantly
given.
When the neighbors hastened to the
scene 1T was ascertained that the fire
had gained such a hold that any efforts
to save the store would be fruitless.
Buckets, pals and other articles were
soon collected and hundreds of willing
workers gathered together in a very
short space of time, in n united effort
to save the adjoining buildings, but
here again their efforts were fruitless.
as the fire had gained such great head
way that nothing short of complete de-
struction seemed to be in store.
The store dwelling. owned by A. c.
Eaton, occupied by f. L. Van Fleet.
and used as the postofIice, grocery
store, ETC., was the first to succumb.
So complete and quick was the de-
Struction that no time was left to save
the smallest article, and the members
of the family We're compelled to escape
in their sleeping apparel Mr.. Van
Fleet and his family were barely Juc-
cessful in escaping without injury, as
the flames had almost enveloped the
entire building and means of egress
was all but closed. The family were
hurriedly removed to neighbor's
house, from whence they witnessed the
entire demolition of their residence and
all their belongings
Fire Spread Rapidly.
From this point the fire spread with
fearful rapidity and, before 1t could
be realized. had attacked the lumber
yard of Francis & Dershimer, which
was also totally destroyed. causing a
damage of over, $4,000 The lumber
yard and its contents afforded ready
material for the flames and almost in
simultaneously flames were shooting
from all parts of the large yard, pre-
senting a grand, though lamentable,
spectacle The barn, which was
very extensive one, and was stored to
its utmost with valuable goods. was
also razed to the ground and nothing
save a blackened mass was left.
+. NJ. Francis, who is connected with
the lumber yard, resided in fine house
over the lumber yard and after he was
warned of the conflagration had no
time beyond that necessary to con-
yey his family to a place OF refuge.
All his furniture was consumed in IT'S
entirety, and he has nothing left him
from a large, expensive stock OF mousse
hold goods.
James Boardman, who lives nearby,
ATTEMPTED to rescue Mr.. Francis pri-
yate books, and in making his escape
fell from the second story and sus-
tanned serious injuries. He was re-
ported to be somewhat improved last
night.
While the large crowd which had
gathered in the vicinity We're devotlng
their attention to the body of the fire, the
baker shop and dwelling house owned
by w. A. Dean, and occupied by Robert
Turnball. was caught in the conflagra-
ton, and was soon burning in the seeth-
ing mass. Everything was consumed.
and all efforts to rescue a portion OF
the goods and furniture We're futile.
Another dwelling lsouse, owned by Mr..
Dean. and occupied by Perry Hetzel,
caught fire at the same time, and suf-
fered the same loss, all the furniture
and household effects sharing the same
fate.
The fury of the flames had by this
time approached an indescribable state,
and defied the united efforts of the hun
dreds who in vain attempted to check
the confagration. In very short time
the large store owend by oscar Stoll,
and occupied by Albert Davies. tim
smith, and Rice & Son, hardware'nen,
was completely wrapped in the frey
element and no opportunity was given
to remove even the most valuable or
the smallest articles.
Everything Was Destroyed.
Everything in the store was reduced
to a worthless mass, and the building
was converted into a wreck, within an
incredibly short time, so great was the
fury and heat Of the fire. William
Beagle who lived 'in the second story
of the floor, escaped with his family,
but an attempt to rescue his furniture
from it's fate was abortive, and all
his effects were consigned to their fate.
Another store also was totally des-
troyed, namely, the store owned by A.
c. Eaton, and occupied by r. L. Phil
lips, and a number of sheds, ice house
and barn, owned by Mr.. Eaton, were
caught in the confagration.
Mt estimates conld be made yesterday
of the amount of damage, but it will
be seen from the following schedule
that $4,000 Is n moderate estimate, con-
the large number of valuable
which have been completely
destroyed. Those named are.
Francis & Dershimer, contents of lumber
yard and barn, 10000
Baker shop and dwelling, occupied by
Robert Turnbull; owner, w. A. Dean.
Dwelling house occupied by Perry
Hetzel; owner, w. A. Dean.
Store occupied by Albert Davis; owner,
Oscar Stoll.
Store occupied by Rice & Son; owner,
Oscar Stoll.
Store and dwelling house, occupier, F. l..
Van Fleet; owner. A. c. Eaton.
Store occupied by Il. r. Phillips; owner,
A. G. Eaton.
Cause Of Firo Unknown
No cause whatever can be assigned
for the origin of the fire, although 1t Is
a certainty that 1t originat-
ed i'm the store of Mr.. Van Fleet. Ey-
erything was arranged and left as
usual on Saturday night, and the many
attempts made to discover the origin of
the conflagration have not thrown any
light upon the matter.
Notwithstanding the overwhelming
nature of the disaster and its serious
effects on the commercial life of the
small community of Dalton, a remark
able instance of enterprise and pluck
has been given In the announcement
made by Francis and Dershimer, who
have a large number of contracts for
ON hand. This firm have al
ready announced that as they have had
a number of cars of lumber shipped to
them during the past week. they will be
able to supply the demands of all their
customers without delay, and all orders
will be filled promptly. Their build
ings also, will be re-erected immedi-
ately after the insurance claims have
been adjusted.
Mr.. Turnbull, the baker, who has lost
all his property except the oven, which
raaiGtad the fro a1,cpaeafti11v will loo