The free press., 1895-03-28
THE FIRE.

"s'rous hre that originated In the
warehouse of j. M. Gam at 1:3O
o'clock last Friday morning. Oils
an6 other combustible materials,
aided by the wind, caused the fire
to spread with great rapidity. The
Carver stables across the street,
north of the warehouse, were soon
In ashes. The wind then changed,
and the handsome, two.story frame
store of ]. NJ. Gam was next in
flames, which also devoured his
stables and other outhouses. Prof.
W. G. Anderson's buildings, occu-
pied BY Elisha Howard, barber and
jeweler; H. II, Bilbo, dentist; Jno.
Brill, NJ. D., and Miss Mary Coch.
ran, milllner, were the next vic.
TINS of the fire fiend. The Masonic
Ball; the Reed building, occupied
by Prof. Thames as the high school
dormitory; Moore Brothers store,
the postoffice, the Carver store.
house, and the Gam residence, were
saved by heroic efforts and the free
use of water. The effects Of the
Marion drug store, the postofice,
Moore Brothers, Prof. Thames
and his 25 or 80 boarders, and those
of the students occupying the Ber-
cegeay cottage, were more or less
damaged by removal.
The following are the estimated
losses: Dan Carver, stable and out
houses, $75, no insurance; ]. NJ.
Gam, buildings and contents, $14.-
900, insurance $4,000; Prof. Ander.
sun, Two small buildings, $3.50, no
insurance. All the buildings on
this square buried except the Gam
residence, occupied by Will Ford,
which escaped by a "close shave"
We have worked at scores OF
fires and can Jruthfully say, that
we never witnessed a cooler, more
effective working crowd of men,
women and children as were pres,
ent on this trying occasion. Not-
withstanding inconvenience, unusu.
al physical labor and financial loss-
es, the best of order was observed
and good hunor prevailed. Where
faithful work was the general rule,
we deem it unnecessary to make
personal mention, but caunot re-
frain from saying that Mrs. s. E.
Miller, Mrs. j. Il. Mills and Mrs. e.
A. Briggs we're born fire fend
fighters.
The origin of the fire is mys.
terry, as no lights or fires had been
used in the warehouse.
Of course numerous amusing in :
cideuts came within range of our
observation end experience, but
space will only admit of mentlon-
Ing several: Some of the ladies were
shod as Mother Eve and clad a la
mode South Sea Islanders; one
lady had her dress on upside down:
Daisy Marion made a comical pic
ture as one of the useful little work
ers; although the walls were getting
hot, Rome Brown washed, carefully
dressed (some assert that he shay.
ed), so as to appear attractive in
the eyes of bis girl; some lady ad
mirer ornamented Herm Darling's e
hat with bonnet feather; We are
credited with having saved ten
cent straw hat. a thimble, an al
manac and pair of stockings, but
that we blushed and drew the line
when q corset was found in hand,
throwing that interesting article in
a corner to become food for flames;
the crowd cheered when Mrs. s. E.
Miller took Prof. Thames under
the protecting shadow Of her wings.
Religious people-of course all
women are Ch ristians-wil. under
no circumstances tempt man to
ain, neither will they place stumb.
ling blocks in the narrow path that
leads to the Celestial City. Hence,
We have no doubt but what the fol-
lowing lines will convey a gentle
hint, which, if acted upon, will
clear one obstacle from the road to
L L.