Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-12-16
BIG BLAZE AT DURYEA.
LIFE AND PROPERTY LOST IN A FIRE
ON TUESDAY MORNING.

o'er Soo,ooo worth oil Damage Done in
II Few Hours in the Little Borough
Near Pittston-Mob Loots "A Company
Store-A Man Smothered.
The worst fire in the history of Duryea
destroyed large portion of the business
part of the town at an early hour Tues
day morning, entailing loss of $50, 600
William ii. Law, of West, Pittston,
perished in the flames while attempting
to save the books in his Office feat
nre of the fire was the looting of the
burning property by mob.
The fire originated in Geary Dils liy-
cry stable. In fifteen minutes after it
was discovered the barn was a mass of
flames. The horses were saved at great
risk. In the same block was Dil's un-
dertaking establishment, Fred Stuckey
barber shop and residence. This block,
with all its contents, was quickly
destroyed and the flames spread to
Simpson 4 Watkins company store,
which was also consumed, together with
its large stock. General Manager Allen.
who lived over the store, lost all his
furniture. The flames extended to the
large barn in the rear, which was soon
licked up with all its contents.
The flames next leaped across the
street, the livery stable of James Connell
first being ignited. With great difficulty
the horses were rescued, but the building
with all its equipment and contents
/ ~
was block of five houses. owned bv
Mr.. Freeman, the Pittston wholesale
liquor dealer. One house was occupied
as drug store by James Grisham. an
other by Thomas +. Brown as resi-
dence and two were unoccupied. This
block was burned to the ground.
1t was after midnight when the flames
caught Simpson & Watkins store. The
efforts of the volunteer fremen being
directed to the front, the mob of onlook-
ers attacked the rear of the building
and beat down the door. They seized
hams, dried meats, boxes of raisins and
pieces OF dry goods, and even rolled out
barrels of flour. These were pushed
down hill and taken off in the darkness.
The depredaUions were discovered, and
an attempt was made to stop them, but
the thieves took "A fierce satisfaction in
their work, for they hate the company
store system. Those who attempted to
stop them were roughly handled.
From the time the fire broke out at
midnight until 2.3o a crowd of volun-
teers fought the flames with ordinary
hose and all this time nobody ever
thought of sending to Pttston for the
fire department. The weak streams
from the hose had little or no effect in
checking the flames, and finally, when
the bulk of the damage had been accom-
plished. somebody suggested sending for
the Pittston engines. This suggestion
was acted upon, and the word was dis
patched to Pittston.
The department from that city arriv-
ed as promptly as possible, and it was
not long after the force began to play
on the burning buildings that the fire
was under control.
Some time after the fire was extin-
guished the family of William II. Law, of
West Pittston, notified the people around
the smonJering ruins that Mr.. Law
had not returned to his hotel after the
fire and they feared he was injured. A
search was made and his body was
found charred and black in the ruins of
his office.
Mr.. Law was the bookkeeper for the
Babylon Coal Company, and his office
was in corner room adjoining Simpson
| IL Watkins store. He worked quite
late Monday evening. 1t is quite GER
tain that Law entered his Office TO save
the pay roll and valuable books and
papers which were in the safe, that it
took him some time to open the safe
door and that he was overcome by the
| heat and smoke. The body was found
near the door of the safe Mr.. Law was
| 40 years old and is survived by wife
and five children. He was prominent
resident of WpSt pittston