The leader., 1897-11-17
TRIED by FIRE.


as a printing Office and p. z. Jones as
law office, was destroyed by fire We'd
nesday morning between 8 and 0 o'clock.
The fire was caused by defective stove
fiue in The LEADERS composing room.
All of the Office force was busy at work,
the morning cold and crisp-the cold
est of the season-there was hot fire
in the stove, and the first intimation
of danger was when flames we're OBJ
served burning their way downward
through the ceiling from above around
the stove pipe. A few buckets of wa
ter then would have quenched the in
cipient confiagration but there was
no water in the house or yard, and be-
fore enough could be brought to avail
anything, the flames famed by strong
North wind, had passed beyond con-
troll.
Quick and hard work by willing
hands, saved all of our office books
type stands, cases, cabinets, II large
part of the type and most of the office
furniture. Three presses and paper
cutter, the heaviest pieces about the
office, were damaged or broken by the
heat or in the handling. The two
large presses could not be moved at
all. Our heaviest loss was on these,
but fortunately, this we believe, is
nearly or quite covered by insurance.
The type lost was also very nearly COW
cred by insurance. Our heaviest loss
will be in the way of job printing sta
tionery and number of items burn
ed on which there was no insurance
whatever and the disorganization Incl
dent to such catastrophe. In this
connection, however, we are glad to
say that we are making all plans and
arrangements necessary for carry
ing the paper right on without
the loss of an issue. We have
been delayed two days this week
by the unexpected disaster, but
have rented the old LEADER Office on
Cherokee street, and will soon have
every thing in smooth running order
once more, including a complete job
department. Our friends and patrons
have been literally favoring us with
their patronage in the job printing
line heretofore, and we bespeak a con-
tinuation of their generous support in
this line as soon as we are we'll on our
feet again. A few words more:
1t has been said that "the heaviest
debt is that of gratitude" We feel to-
day the burden of that debt. AS we
go over the hills and down into the
wales of life with the people of Brook
haven, we feel more and more that the
sun does not shine upon a more loyal,
generous and sympathetic people than
these we boast to claim as citizens, and
proudly and gratefully call our friends.
With an energy and determination,
and an unmindfulness of self, that
showed the warmest fellowship for a
brother in misfortune, hands and
hearts went into the work of rescue at
the fire and saved all that was in the
reach of human power. The unbound
ed thanks of wife and children mingle
with ours for every brave and helpful
deed performed, for every word of
kindly interest spoken and for the
magnanimity of many friends since the
direful misfortune, we have no words
so full, or free, or tender, as to convey
to them our humble gratitude, or to
tell them how light became the dark
places because of their kindness. May
the richest benedictions of Him, who
notes the sparrow's fall and most as
suredly records deeds of such benefi-
cence, rest upon each and every one.
To the Messrs. Bowen, of The Lin
coin County Times, who kindly ten
dered us their office, we are very greatly
indebted for the use of their press to-
day, as we'll as for valuable services in
rescuing a large part of our material
from the flames, and in return, we
trust that no such emergency may ever
come their way.