The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-12-01

cellar door and calling piteousiy FOR soma
one to let her in as il was so cold outside
Mr. Kirktriie spoke to her and toid ner
to come anG hold the lower end of the
ladder. which she did while he put it
upon the roof He could not have done
il alone and had it not been for her it
is hard to tell just what might have oc-
CURED.
Mr.. Kirkbride's little son, Harvey, was
perhaps the coolest one Or them all. he
gathered all of his clothing ne could
find. and held to them until safely upon
the ground, and when safely there he
Immediately dressed himself. He is a
manly little fellow and he bears MS cwn
loss OF many keepsakes and piay6hings
OF which he had a great many, quite
philosophically. The family saved no
clothing beside what the grandmother
and little John carried out, and what
Robert Harvey threw from his window.
He also sustained a scorching Of his
whiskers and hair, while the comb in the
hair of one of the ladies. was twisted out
OF shape by the heat, although she her
self was untouched by the fire. 1t was a
very close call and they are very thank
fui that they got out alive. and besides
that they take the loss OF old keepsakes
and pictures and other things which can
never be replaced. very philosophically.
Mr.. kirkDride places the loss as rated
from the first cost al about $40, 0,000 Mrs
hlrkbTide had in the neighborhood of
81 200 worth of diamonds, while the
library was worth about $1,000. This be-
side all the clothing. jewslry, valuable
papers. pictures of great value, carpets,
furniture and all when counted up makes
somewhat over the sum mentioned.
IL is supposed that the fire originated
from the furnace, but Mr.. Kirkbride had
it looked over very short time ago by
one CT the most experienced men in the
city, who pronounced it one of the very
best in this locality, and the second best
IN the city that ne had had anything to
do with. All precautions had been taken
that it was possible to take, and if that
was the origin 1t cannot ever be told how
it came to be. On the other hand, there
was no other fire whatever in the house
and the center of the fire was immediate
ly over the region OF the furnace
Mr.. kirkbride recently purchased the
property of Rev. w. B. Hendryx, who
built in 1855, at a cost of about SO, 600.
He had recently put a considera bic
amount OF Improvement upon il, and
had been furnishing it just to his own
iikeing, and was soon to throw il open
to their many friends Several fine rugs
were placed in the hall only the day be-
fore all of which was burned with every
thing else. There was no money in the
house save a five dollar bill and about
thirty-fve dollars in silver Mr. Kirk
brides watch, his wife's jewelry which
she has had for a long time and every
fhipo-fh1 Of
years-all is destroyed.
The insurance upon the property is
very light. That upon the personal
property is $1,000, upon the house SO, 600,
and upon the barn $500. Mr.. Allison is
the agent for the company with whom
the former was taken out, while the
Policy for the two last is with the Glenns
Falls company of which Thomas and
Cole are the local agents. The adjusterS
have been telegraphed for, and mean
while a watchman is kept at the scene of
the fire night and day as a precaution.
There may be little left of value among
the debris which may be found when it
is cleared away, and Mr.. Kirkbride has
determined to have everything left in
tact just as the firemen left il until the
arrival of the insurance companies adj
justers Whatever is left will be small,
liiS iltui VI lHe was 50 lulSnSe
that all silyerware or anything else al
most would melt, but what metal there
was is still in the debris, and would be
searched for if a watch was not kept
over it.
Mrs. Emma Sample was taken to the
hospital Sunday morning. and last night
was doing very nicely. 1t was thought
at first that she had sustained fracture
of one or more ribs, and perhaps a frac>
ture OF the skull, but later ii was dis
covered that this supposition was with
out foundation. The cut upon her fore
head was quite severe and her night
dress was saturated with blood. The
family feel very grateful to her for rem
dering the assistance she did, in getting
them down from their perilous position.
Mr.. Kirkbride has a severely burned
face. and In going for the ladders be re-
members a slight pricking sensation In
one foot which afterward was found to
be a severe cut. Mr.. Harvey WAS burn
ed somewhat about the face and had his
eyebrows, beard and hair singed when
he opened the door leading out of his
room into the hall The others were not
burned but of course the shock was con-
sidera Bile. The family are residing tenn
porarily with Mr.. Smith, 1915 Hendryx
avenue, who are relatives.
Mr.. Kirkbride has been the recipient
of a number of kilograms expressing the
sympathy of friends in very substan-
tial manner. His family express great
gratitude for the many kinduesses shown
them by so many in their trouble.
The house was one Of the finest Of the
many elegant homes in this city. No
pains had been spared to make it the
beautiful home il was. II was only after
long deliberation that it's builder-Rev.
". g. Hendryx-consented to part with
IL. He removed with his family TO In
during the summer. The
wide hallway extended through the
house. the parlor on one hand. and the
music room and large dining room were
finished and furnished. The
handsomely carpeted stair and the large
library and bedrooms above were equal
ly as beautifully finished But of all
these, the wide porcl1es, the small gall
leries about the house with all the real
tiles of the memories with those to whom
it has been home, now lies only in the
ashes of it all