Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-09-30

Alton suffered a fire Friday
afternoon which made a clean
sweep of its business houses, not
a store being left, save possibly a
small one north of the track. The
alarm was given about $50 and in
an hour the flames were stayed,
simply by the want of other build
ings in reach to burn. AS most of
our readers know the main street
runs north and south; most of the
stores being heretofore on the west
side of the street. On the ex-
treme south end of the business
section was the Alton hotel, con-
Quoted by ]. H. Alley and back of
this on the same lot, was a barn
containing seventy tons OF baled
hay, the property of S. G. Victor.
The fire begun at this barn, just
how is not known definitely,
though some one reported having
seen an old man light his pipe
Just outside of the structure a short
time before. At the first an
nouncement Mr.. Alley hurried out
to his barn and attempted to save
his COWS and hogs. In this he was
partly successful but severely
burned his hands and also his
back. By the time he had gotten
back to the hotel it was too late to
save anything of consequence there
and his loss may be put down as
total, and would reach perhaps
$1,000.
From the hotel the flames trav-
eled north destroying the houses
in the order stated below.
J. L. Duncan, restaurant; total
loss, estimated at 5000.
r. A. Abney, general merchan-
disc; loss SO, 900; insurance 81, 100.
Mr.. Abney owned the house also
and estimated his net at 80, 600
but was glad to say that he owed
no one and was all right.
A. H. Shelton, barber; loss $50.
House belonged to W. H. Curtis
and was worth. perhaps $3.50.
J. R. D.lwson & Bro, brick drug
store, loss stock and building
ST. 100. No insurance.
/ Above this drug store, in the
back part, was the Office of the
Alton Advance, published by
Williams Bros, formerly of Sauls
bury, Mo. Their location wa
such that the smoke came across
from the hay barn and drove then
out and they saved nothing a
all but their clothes and one o
two of the Office books. One sid
of the paper had been printed an'
they were "making up" the torn
| for the other side but were unabl
to save it and so lost not onl,
their outfit but their weeks work
This week these gentlemen ar
ranged for the purchase of plan
at Miami which will be movs'
down Monday and they will re
sumo publication at once. Los
$500
James Lowe. general merchar
disc; loss $1,000; insurance So, ooO
This building was of brick ant
was owned by c. T. Moore; wa
valued at $1,000 and was insure'
for $500.
J. W. Lewis, groceries; rocl
building;loss total;insurance slOoO
w. H. Watkins, jewelry; los
s4OO. Building belonged to w
H. Curtis and worth $500.
Tom Lane, restaurant 800.
G. w. Edens, drugs; invoice'
81, 300; insurance 81 300
H. S. Hill, hardware; value o
stock $1,000; building 1000; few
goods saved.
J. P. Thompson, postoffice; los
of building and fixtures $3.50
Some of mail in the lock and cal
boxes destroyed; general deliver,
saved.
J. l.. Blevins, hardware. los
50, 800; building owned by +. NJ
Crowell and worth $500.
F. NJ. Crowell, general stool
valued at 5000; saved probabl.
half or two thirds of goods.
This was the extent of the fir,
on the west side of the street, tn,
next building being the depot
some distance away.
On the east side, at the soutl
end, was the England brick which
had been rented for a bank. /
was unoccupied and remains stand
ing.
North of this was H. H. Han
son, photographer; lost tent ant
some of his outfit.
Corn cribs, hog pens, etc, be
longing to J. S. Blevins and B. +
Nilstead; loss including three hog
$50 or 500.
Talon & Wright, restaurant
loss $50.